Guidance

GCSE subject-level conditions and requirements for history (2022)

Published 11 November 2021

Applies to England

Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in 2022.

We have developed these requirements with the intention that GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) should provide:

• evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content

• a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment

• a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students, if required

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCSE Subject Level Conditions for History (2022). These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in History for Learners completing the qualification in 2022, except where the General Qualifications Alternative Awarding Framework applies.

It also sets out our requirements in relation to:

• interpretation of the content document - an awarding organisation must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE (History)1.1(c)

• assessment objectives. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE (History)1.2

With respect to GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in History in 2022, awarding organisations must also comply with:

• our General Conditions of Recognition, which apply to all awarding organisations and qualifications

• our GCSE Qualification Level Conditions

• all relevant Regulatory Documents

With respect to GCSE qualifications in History taken by Learners completing the qualification in 2023 and after, an awarding organisation must continue to comply with the GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for History.

Subject Level Conditions

GCSE Subject Level Conditions for History

Condition GCSE (History) 1: Compliance with content requirements

GCSE (History)1.1

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in History which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

• comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘History GCSE subject content’, document reference DFE-00346-2014,

• have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and

• interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCSE (History) 1.2

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in History which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Subject content requirements

Requirements in relation to subject content for GCSE Qualifications in History

The subject content for GCSE Qualifications (graded 9 to 1) in History is set out in the Department for Education’s History GCSE subject content, document reference DFE- 00346-2014 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCSE (History)1.1(c) requires awarding organisations to interpret the Content Document in line with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, published by Ofqual.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE (History)1.1(c) below.

Breadth of assessment

Paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Content Document state that Learners will be assessed on five elements -

1. (a) a British depth study,
2. (b) a Non-British depth study,
3. (c) a period study,
4. (d) a thematic study, and
5. (e) the study of a historic environment.

An awarding organisation must interpret the Content Document as if Learners must be assessed on -

1. (a) one or more of those five elements as specified by the awarding organisation, and
2. (b) sufficient of the remaining elements such that no Learner is assessed on all five elements. Where all five elements are assessed separately, then Learners must be assessed on four elements. Where two elements are combined and the structure of the assessment is in four parts, Learners must be assessed on three of those parts.

In respect of (a) above, an awarding organisation must ensure that the element it specifies is either a British depth study, a Non-British depth study, or a period study.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives - GCSE Qualifications in History

Condition GCSE (History) 1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for GCSE Qualifications in History.

The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE (History)1.2. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCSE Qualifications in History they make available or propose to make available.

Assessment objective	Description	Weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.	35%
AO2	Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.	35%
AO3	Analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements, in the context of historical events studied.	15%
AO4	Analyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations (including how and why interpretations may differ) in the context of historical events studied.	15%

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in History which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) ensure that the total mark for the qualification consists of -
   1. (i) marks allocated to assessment objectives AO1 to AO4 in line with the weightings outlined above (the ‘subject marks’), and
   2. (ii) marks used to credit the accuracy of Learners’ spelling, punctuation and grammar and their use of specialist terminology,
2. (b) take all reasonable steps to ensure that the number of marks available to credit the accuracy of Learners’ spelling, punctuation and grammar and their use of specialist terminology is equal to 5 per cent of the subject marks.