AQA A-level history (Germany 1918-45 and The Tudors)

Hi, I am taking A-Level history as a year 12 and am aiming for an A* as I love this subject sm and I want to potentially do it at university too! The thing is, I’m confused on how I should go about this. Some say you have to do wider reading to get a top grade, some say you don’t but I’m just confused. I’ve been making flashcards after every lesson but I haven’t done any exam practice because I haven’t learned how to do it yet. Anyone who has achieved a high grade in A-level history, could I get some advice on how to go about it? And if wider reading is necessary, how much and what do I need to take from it? Thanks!

Hi there, @cargoesbroom
My name is Harvey, and I am a third-year History student at Bournemouth University. I also did AQA A-Level History before coming to university. It's amazing you are aiming high!! I'm going to address you message in two sections, so that I can help you the best.
So, exam structure. This, yes, is a really important thing to master for your exams, as it will help make sure you're hitting the right criteria on the mark scheme. However, structure is 10 times more useful when you're confident in the course content, so I would recommend you focus on mastering the content you're learning whilst you wait for your teacher to explain the structure -- I can see you are already doing this with your flashcards 🙂
When sat my A-Level's, I found past papers the most useful resource. They will help you think like an examiner wants you to. I often "sat" the papers myself and then cross referenced with the mark schemes to see where I had dropped marks. You can even ask your teacher if they'd be happy to mark your home papers for you.
In regard to wider reading, yes there is a lot of value in reading beyond the specified content, but that doesn't mean its essential. I utilised extra reading to help clear up any of my weak spots. Your examiners will mark your answers based on the mark scheme criteria, so by reading further you are increasing your chances of hitting these marks. That being said, though, where wider reading isn't essential, you would, by no means, be at a disadvantage if you chose not to - I would say its completely personal preference.
I hope this helps dispel any confusion. Please let me know if I can help any further,
Harvey - Official BU Rep