Possible to do A-Level History in one year?

.ACS.

I've slightly been regretting not doing A-Level History, and have the chance to take it up next year - either as the new specification on AS or do the old as a whole A-Level in one year.

My school does Edexcel with the following modules:
AS- Russia in Revolution
AS- Italian Unification
AS- Life in Hitler's Germany
A2- Individual Assignment
A2- Decolonisation of Britain
A2- Power and Control in the Nazi State

If I did it wholly in one year, I'd pretty much need to cover the three AS modules between now and January, which I think would be possible.

So my question is this: would it be better to do the new spec. AS-Level next year, or do the full A-Level and self-study the three AS modules? Also, the thing about the latter is that I am interested in maybe choosing other modules which interest me more (Economy and Society in the USA 1917-33, Reform and its Impact in Nineteenth Century Britain, Welfare and the Constitution: the Liberal Governments).

So, firstly which would be advisable? I'm supposed to also be self-studying Economics and Politics, although to be honest I've become a bit lazy in that respect, so doing the whole A-Level in one year would advantage me most (i.e.: allow me to stop the self-study of Economics and Politics).

And if I do go for whole A-Level in one year, would it be better to follow all six modules my school is doing or choose my own for AS (those I already know a bit about and am very interested in) and then the school's choice for A2?

Cheers

Reply 1

Malsy

no comment due to the lies :biggrin:

Reply 2

artorscience?

I had a friend who did the whole course in a year sitting with both the AS class and the A2 class (she's not the brightest cookie and all that - so the general concept is fine).

If you feel confident with self-study, you'll be happier and more likely to achieve higher if you took the modules that you wanted to do and know about. If your school is very supportive then you'll benefit from the books/other resources that are available if you stick to the modules that have been taught there. It depends whether you like learning solely from books or would appreciate having teachers who know the course.

Either way, the whole A-level is not at all unachievable if you have the time and do the reading.

Reply 3

Tyrotoxism

AS history alone requires you to be able to remember a lot. The main drawback to taking the AS and A2 in one year would be the sheer amount you would have to remember.

However, if you are determined, have the time (and skill), it is feasible.

Reply 4

Greatleysteg

I know someone who's done it before, but she complained an awful lot about the sheer volume of notes she had to make and reading she had to do.

Isn't History going to be a four module A-Level as of next year? I thought all A-Levels were going to be four modules, bar Maths and Further Maths?

Reply 5

_-_MandsSs_-_

Hi, I'm doing AS and A2 History in a year, but different topics. It's alot of work, so you have to be interested. I don't know the new syllabus but just choose what you think you can get involved in.
And with regard to doing your own AS modules, it depends on how good your teachers are, as History is the sort of thing where teachers input is useful, you can't learn it from a book as much as economics for example.
I'm doing it differently and have all my exams in summer, so much of it is down to personal preference. It's definately do-able. But don't expect it to be easy. Good Luck what ever you decide to do

Reply 6

helen_11

A-level History is ALOT of work. There's soo much to learn and remember like others have said on here. Is one of your A2 modules a coursework? I did History AS, and didn't really enjoy the topics we were studying, so I think if you do want to do the whole A-Level it's best to choose something you're already interested in, otherwise it could become more of a chore rather than an interest. But yeah, if you really like it and reckon you could handle all the work, I'd say you should go for it.

Reply 7

kashmir.noir

Totally doable.

I did it.

Just one thing to do, and make sure you do this.
As you read make notes. And keep them. Then revise those before the exams. Seriously helps loads.

Reply 8

smalltownboy

kashmir.noir

Just one thing to do, and make sure you do this.
As you read make notes. And keep them. Then revise those before the exams. Seriously helps loads.

I'm sure she wasn't planning on learning by osmosis :p:

Reply 9

rkd

The two-module AS comes in next year, but not the A2, so one-year A-levels still have to be done on the six-unit specification.

OP: I'd say go for it, but what subjects are you doing alongside it? If you're picking your own AS modules, it might be an idea to pick ones similar to the A2 ones and your individual assignment topic (e.g. a module on the British Empire to go with the Decolonialisation one), so that you already know the context and have the books.

Reply 10

kashmir.noir

smalltownboy

I'm sure she wasn't planning on learning by osmosis :p:

No its just some people read- then go over again and make notes. With so much to read/do with A-level history especially in a short span of time its a total waste.
And some people base revision on past papers- but that only helps your essay technique,structure etc.

Like the sheer amount of stuff you have to read- drives me bonkers, as it is right now. I regret just reading stuff and thinking, bah if i read it enough it will sink in!!

Which usually works with all the books I read, but with history...I dont know..

Reply 11

*Miss-Brightside*

smalltownboy

I'm sure she wasn't planning on learning by osmosis :p:

Haha my History teacher said that to me today cos I ditched my French textbook in his class :wink:

and left it over Easter ... and said he couldn't quite figure out how I was going to do any work, unless I learnt by osmosis or broke into the school at night!

Reply 12

Hannah_Jeffries

If you prefer to have teacher guidance then it would probably be better to follow your schools topics, but on the other hand your more likely to do better if you like the topic... I got an A on Boom and Bust (USA) in Jan, but now its Italian unification and i dont think i'm going to do as well :biggrin:

Reply 13

nbak

It is possible to an A-Level History in one year (I've seen many do it and well) but you have to be wholly committed to it. There is really no other way. By all means cheat on the coursework (by "cheat" I mean agree with the tutor what you're doing and do it before you arrive in September) and, by all means, focus exclusively on exam technique for the AS exam and get them over with in January. Beyond that, you're in the lap of the Gods, as they say. If you're smart and dedicated enough: anything is possible.
One last point. By the looks of it you're taking Edexcel. If you're going to do history in one year do it now! Don't wait for the new post-08 syllabus because it is totally different from the older one and your tutor will be spending as much time as you trying to figure what the hell it's all about. Once again: if it's one year, do it now!!!!

Reply 14

User188463

Hey! What would be a good topic to do my A2 coursework on. (Can be anything from history after 1st century). What are people planning on doing? Thanks

Reply 15

allieRAWR!

I'm sure it's doable, but, History is a very big workload, so, yes you can do it, but, would you want to put yourself through that?

For a "slight regret", AS might be better.

Reply 16

magicbuspass

I would say definately not for OCR as the essay writing specifications are more highlighted. So an A essay at GCSE would be a D essay at A-Level. Plus the workload is massive tagging with your other subjects there is alimit on how much you can really read and absorb in a year.

I am not sure about Edexcel though. Personally I wouldn't put myself through that stress unless I did 2 A Levels.

Reply 17

Kagutsuchi

Look at it this way, i only started to seriously revise my Tudor and Germany modules (AS) a week before the exam and ended up with an overall B (Russia seriously plunged my grade down).

so yea, possible. If you have endless amounts of coffee.