History AS-Level (2027 exam) & A-Level (2028 exam) – Term 1 (Sept. 2026)

Course Overview

The first three terms of this course cover the content of the Cambridge International A-Level (9489) specification for AS-Level History. The remaining “A2” terms are for those students who intend to go further and sit the A-Level exams instead of the AS-Level exams. Thus, PX AS-Level History is a one-year course and PX A-Level History is a two-year course which includes the AS-Level course.

No prior knowledge of the course content is required for enrolling on this course, but a qualification in GCSE History is desirable though not essential. However, because the main form of assessment for this course is essay-writing, a qualification in English Language would be needed if the student has not already done GCSE History.

This course covers the following options of the Cambridge International A-Level (9489):

Year 1 (AS-Level)

Modern Europe, 1750-1921:

• France, 1774-1814
• Liberalism and nationalism in Germany, 1815-1871
• Russia from autocracy to revolution, 1881-1924

Year 1 Supplement (A2-Level only)

• Mussolini’s Italy, 1919-41

Year 2 (A2-Level)

1. Interpretations of the Holocaust
2. Depth study: European history, 1919-41

• • Stalin’s Russia, 1924-41
  • Hitler’s Germany, 1929-41

Course Method

Classes involve discussions on issues related to the content covered in the previous lesson and an introduction to the part of the specification to be covered in homework during the following week, directed particularly at developing key conceptual understandings. They also involve guidance and shared practice in writing exam-style essays.

The aim is to create a relaxed but purposeful atmosphere in which students feel free to ask questions and to share ideas with each other. Guidance is given on note-making, and templates are provided for students to use in structuring their own notes. Students should expect to spend six to seven hours per week on note-making and other tasks set each week.

Students will need to acquire the following coursebooks:

AS-Level

• Cambridge International AS-Level History Modern Europe 1774-1924 Coursebook by G. Goodlad & P. Walsh-Atkins (ISBN 9781009556200)

A2-Level

• Mussolini and Italy by E. Townley (ISBN 9780435327255)
• Stalin’s Russia, 1924-53 by M. Lynch (ISBN 9780340965894)
• Hitler and Germany by W. Simpson (ISBN 9780521376297)
• Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust by A. Farmer (ISBN 9780340984963)

Tests of exam-style questions are set at the end of each topic and marked by the teacher. A bank of questions is also provided for students who wish to do extra practice and answers to these can also be submitted to the teacher for marking.

If notice is given in advance of a lesson that a student will not be able to attend, a video recording may be made, to be temporarily available after the lesson.

Course Details

Term 1 covers France, 1774-1814 and part of Liberalism and Nationalism in Germany, 1815-1871. It comprises 28 lessons. Each lesson lasts 60 minutes.

This PX Classroom is held on Tuesdays at 11.30am and Wednesdays at 9.30am (London time zone), starting on Tuesday, 8th September 2026. There will be no lessons during the half-term week which commences 26th October. The last lesson is due to be on Wednesday, 16th December 2026.