Guidance

Ancient history: grade descriptors for GCSEs graded 9 to 1

Updated 6 September 2017

Applies to England

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1. Grade 8

To achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate relevant and comprehensive knowledge and sophisticated understanding of key features and characteristics of historical periods
  • critically analyse historical events and periods, and provide a lucid explanation to reach reasoned, substantiated judgements
  • critically analyse and evaluate ancient sources, in context, and use these to reach reasoned, substantiated judgements and evidence-based conclusions about:
    • historical events and periods
    • how the portrayal of events by ancient writers/sources relates to the contexts in which they were produced

2. Grade 5

To achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate mostly accurate knowledge and clear understanding of key features and characteristics of historical periods
  • analyse historical events and periods, and provide a coherent explanation to reach plausible judgements, which are supported by some evidence
  • analyse and provide some evaluation of ancient sources, in context, and use these to reach plausible judgements and conclusions, which are supported by some evidence, about:
    • historical events and periods
    • how the portrayal of events by ancient writers/sources relates to the contexts in which they were produced

3.  Grade 2

To achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate generalised knowledge and basic understanding of some key features and characteristics of historical periods
  • use a basic line of reasoning to describe historical events and periods and reach straightforward judgements
  • express some opinions about historical events, with limited use of ancient sources and limited regard for the contexts in which they were produced
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