[Ras17]

(Original post by Cameron10)
I enjoyed the subject in school a lot. I was two marks of an A* on my second coursework. Unfortunately I came out with a B grade though. Anyway since I left school my passion for history has increased a lot, and when I enrolled to start my A levels this year I had no doubt in my mind I was choosing a good subject.

When it comes to coursework, and essay writing, It's my strongest point. However what's been worrying me is how people have been describing it as one of the hardest subjects to take. Seriously? I don't consider myself to be incredibly academic, but people have been comparing it to Math and the sciences in terms on difficulty- for which I got D grade's on at GCSE..

Is it as really hard as people make out? Or is it just down to personal preference and the individual? I'm studying History, Gov+Politics and Media and Film studies for my A levels, and I'm hoping to study History at uni after. But yes, you guessed, at a less-renowned institution.

Do I have a lot to worry about before taking the subject?

Thanks..

A Levels aren't easy anyway, but some are harder than others. Although History may rank as one of the tougher ones, but it's no harder than a field of Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English Literature, Religious Studies etc

[tehforum]

(Original post by a_j_r)
If you want a totally honest answer- yes, it is hard!
I got an A* at GCSE and so I went into AS History assuming I would find it easy, but I personally didn't.

It's more so about engaging in Historical debate between schools of though such as the Whig's and Revisionists (honestly- nothing like GCSE)

But, if you really enjoy it (like I do) and you're willing to work your ass off, then you'll be fine! I'm studying for my A2 history exam, and it's hard but I still enjoy it!

X

Are you doing AQA HIS3F?

[tsveta]

i think so. i sailed through gcse and got an A, and had to really step up and work hard for AS - got a B, scraped it by the skin of my teeth. the problem with me is that im really good at learning facts, can learn them then recite a 100 onto a page, which is fine for gcse, but not for A level as you have to grasp the technique of the essay which i think is pretty tough. im sitting my AS paper tomorrow for the 3rd time. it used to be my favourite subject and now i wish i'd never taken it.

however, if you absolutely love the subject and are not adverse to working very hard, definitely go for it! some people just seem to have a natural flare for it, and that might be you

[aksuzberp]

Ive just finished as history, a really good as but u need to put the effort in.

[a_j_r]

(Original post by tehforum)
Are you doing AQA HIS3F?

Erm, I'm doing HIS3B at the moment (Elizabeth I)
HIS3F is stability and War I think?

I did the Normans and the rise of Germany last year- they've all been interesting

[ktlaurenroe]

The content is easy, it's the skills based source questions/essays that make it harder than GCSE (on OCR at least).

[tehforum]

(Original post by a_j_r)
Erm, I'm doing HIS3B at the moment (Elizabeth I)
HIS3F is stability and War I think?

I did the Normans and the rise of Germany last year- they've all been interesting

Indeed it is.
No one does HIS3F.

it's all lonely here.

[Roshniroxy]

Depends on the exam board and syllabus your school does at AS. Personally I find it quite hard, and my friend who does Chemistry, Maths, Physics and History does not find physics her hardest subject like most but she finds history more difficult so that says something; but then again she's more mathematical minded. However I'm more essay minded and yet I struggle a lot with it as well.

[ChemicalBond]

Hey. I do WJEC history, and our course is based around the English civil wars and the German Reformation. It is the hardest of my A levels, but that's not to say that it isn't enjoyable. I think the majority of people find it interesting, but a lot of people will find the answering style difficult. I think that if you're passionate about history, you shouldn't have a problem at all as long as you work hard and practice your answering skills. By the way, I do chemistry, maths, further maths and history.

Good luck, OP, and all the best!

[a_j_r]

(Original post by tehforum)
Indeed it is.
No one does HIS3F.

it's all lonely here.

Haha, how is it? Interesting?
Elizabeth is good but there's so damn much on Foreign Policy (and trust me, it is the worst)

[Playa10]

Why do history.....it's so yesterday

[PinkMobilePhone]

I dropped History in Year 9, so I didn't take it to GCSE. Despite this, I took it up at AS level....and found it very difficult. I gave up with it - quit it half way through the year, so never did get an AS in it.

[FloydRix]

Its easy

[LETSJaM]

(Original post by Keckers)
I found it easy because I'm a cynical git so find it relatively easy to question the reliability of sources and the opinions of historians and what not; so that helped for exam technique.

The A level history modules my school were areas that I found interesting so I absorbed the information anyway. It was the A level I did the least work in and was my best grade.

Ultimately it depends if you enjoy the period you are studying and if you have the right sort of thinking process to produce analytical and quality essays.

Hehe. That tends to help

<3 x

[tj hughes]

(Original post by Cameron10)
I enjoyed the subject in school a lot. I was two marks of an A* on my second coursework. Unfortunately I came out with a B grade though. Anyway since I left school my passion for history has increased a lot, and when I enrolled to start my A levels this year I had no doubt in my mind I was choosing a good subject.

When it comes to coursework, and essay writing, It's my strongest point. However what's been worrying me is how people have been describing it as one of the hardest subjects to take. Seriously? I don't consider myself to be incredibly academic, but people have been comparing it to Math and the sciences in terms on difficulty- for which I got D grade's on at GCSE..

Is it as really hard as people make out? Or is it just down to personal preference and the individual? I'm studying History, Gov+Politics and Media and Film studies for my A levels, and I'm hoping to study History at uni after. But yes, you guessed, at a less-renowned institution.

Do I have a lot to worry about before taking the subject?

Thanks..

I did OCR, and found AS easy, and am finding A2 a LOT harder... Very different to anything I've done before, or am doing in other subjects.

However, tbh it depends on you, your enjoyment for history and your ability. I personally prefer the sciences, so may be why I'm finding history harder. However, I would state that A2 history coursework is the hardest thing I've ever done

[sr90]

It's easy if you put the work in.

AS is a huge jump from GCSE but once you get used to it, its really not that challenging. Same with A2, its a new experience but if you put the work in you'll be fine. Having a passion for the subject obviously helps, i did OCR History and certainly revising for my A2 exam last year, it was a massive help that i actually found the content interesting and wanted to know more.

(Original post by tj hughes)
I did OCR, and found AS easy, and am finding A2 a LOT harder... Very different to anything I've done before, or am doing in other subjects.

Doing the synoptic paper i take it?

Honestly, just do a ton of practice essays. Only 30% of the marks are for content, and you do pick up how to structure them correctly eventually

[tj hughes]

(Original post by sr90)
Doing the synoptic paper i take it?

Honestly, just do a ton of practice essays. Only 30% of the marks are for content, and you do pick up how to structure them correctly eventually

Haha, thanks for the advice! I'm doing okay with the exam papers, I just hated the historiography essay for the coursework... just couldn't get my head round it! Once you adjust to the style it seems okay though...

[KiwiBerry]

Despite what everyone is saying about how it's easier than the sciences - I do chem and bio, and I find them MUCH easier than history, history is reallllly picky, and so much to learn If I could go back a year I'd take Maths or RE instead ... Anything but history tbh :/

[LizzyMarrington]

For me, AS history is very hard. But if you enjoy it, you should definitely take it. I really enjoy the course I do because it's so interesting. It's about the learning and the enjoyment, aswell as doing well in the course. You will gradually pick up the skills and get better as you go through the course anyway. I have no regrets with taking History I hope you choose it!

[Flying Pig]

PLEASE READ:

Before you take the course, make sure you know what areas you will be studying so you don't get let down (like I did). It varies from school to school what unit you get taught.

Check before choices!!