Course

Course Summary

Credit Type:

Exam

ACE ID:

CAIE-0021

Organization's ID:

History 9489

Organization:

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Location:

International

Length:

3 hours (AS); 3 hours (AL)

Dates Offered:

Credit Recommendation & Competencies

Level	Credits (SH)	Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate	6	History

Credit is recommended for candidates scoring “E” or higher on either AS or A Level Exams. This exhibit is being recommended for a total of six semester hours for students who complete both the AS and A level exams. For examinees completing only the AS level exam, three semester hours in history is recommended.

Description

Objective:

Students complete questions on one of these options:
• European option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921
• American option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941
• International option: International history, 1870–1945

US students are encouraged to choose a particular exam focus: International, European, or American History, by answering those questions specific to each option within each component. For example, choosing the European option for each Paper results in an overall emphasis in European History. The emphasis is then noted on the official grade results transcript. A student who answers questions from multiple options receives a “History” result on the transcript.

The AS Level History exam consists of two components. Paper 1 allows 1 hour and 15 minutes for students to consider two source documents on one aspect of the material AND how far the sources support a given statement. Paper 2 allows 1 hour and 45 minutes for students to consider the significance of factors and connections between causes AND consider the significance and relative importance of factors.

The A Level History exam requires an additional two components. Paper 3 is an Interpretations question answered over 1 hour and 15 minutes. Candidates will select one question from one of these options:
• Topic 1: The origins of the First World War
• Topic 2: The Holocaust
• Topic 3: The origins and development of the Cold War

One extract of no more than 600 words in length from an historian’s writing will be set on each of the topics. The author of the extract will not be identified, nor will candidates be asked to identify the author. There will be a single question, asking candidates what they can learn from the extract about the interpretation and approach of the historian who wrote it.

Paper 4 allows 1 hour and 45 minutes for a Depth study where candidates will select two questions on their chosen depth study:
• European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41
• American option, Depth study 2: The USA, 1944–92
• International option, Depth study 3: International history, 1945–92
Marks from Papers 1 and 2 from the AS Level are carried forward and combined with Papers 3 and 4 to comprise the complete assessment at the A Level.

Skills Measured:

There are four assessment objectives: 1) Recall, select and deploy historical knowledge appropriately and effectively; 2) Demonstrate an understanding of the past through explanation, analysis and a substantiated judgement of key concepts: causation, consequence, continuity, change and significance within an historical context, the relationships between key features and characteristics of the periods studied; 3) Analyze, evaluate and interpret a range of appropriate source material; and 4) Analyze and evaluate how aspects of the past have been interpreted and represented.

Instruction & Assessment