GCSE History
GCSE
CCEA is the examining body used by the College. The GCSE course runs for two years S1 and S2 and is examined in two papers at the end of S1 and S2 alongside a Controlled Assessment component which is worth 25% of the total GCSE mark.
The current Interim GCSE course runs from 2015-2018 and will be replaced by a new specification with first teaching in September 2017. In the academic year 2017/18 both the interim GCSE Specification and the New Specification will be taught.
The Units of Study for the Interim GCSE Specification are as follows:
- Weimar and Nazi Germany 1919-41.
- Northern Ireland 1965-85.
- Superpower Relations 1945-91.
- Controlled Assessment: Content changes each year.
Paper One examines the German and Irish aspect of the course in a two hour paper requiring a mixture of short and longer essay type answers.
Paper Two is a mixture of essay answers and source material concerning Superpower Relations during the Cold War which lasts for 1 hour 15 minutes.
The Controlled Assessment is completed in the first term of S2.
The Units of Study for the New GCSE Specification are as follows:
- Nazi Germany 1933-45.
- Northern Ireland 1965-98.
- The Cold War 1945-2003.
The Irish and German areas are examined in one paper which is completed in 1 hour 45 minutes at the end of S1 while the Cold War Paper is examined at the end of S2 in a 1 hour 15 minute paper. There is no Controlled Assessment in the New Specification.
