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OCR A-Level History A (H505): how the British study, non-British study, thematic study and coursework fit together

A complete guide to OCR A-Level History A (specification H505). Explains the option-based structure of Unit 1 (British period study and enquiry), Unit 2 (non-British period study), Unit 3 (thematic study with interpretations) and the Unit Y100 coursework, the three assessment objectives, the mark tariffs, and how to revise the most popular options.

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OCR A-Level History A (specification H505) is an option-based course: there is no single fixed syllabus that every candidate studies. Your school chooses the taught options from OCR's published lists, so the periods you study can differ completely from another OCR History student. This page explains how the four components fit together and how this site is organised around the most popular options.

The four components

Unit 1: British period study and enquiry (25%)
A British period of about a century, examined in 1 hour 30 minutes for 50 marks. Section A is a compulsory enquiry on four primary sources (30 marks, AO2). Section B is a period study essay from a choice of two (20 marks, AO1).
Unit 2: Non-British period study (15%)
A focused non-British period, examined in 1 hour for 30 marks. You answer one two-part essay from a choice of two (a shorter part and a longer part, AO1).
Unit 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations (40%)
The largest paper, examined in 2 hours 30 minutes for 80 marks. Section A is an interpretations essay weighing two historians' extracts (30 marks, AO3). Section B is two thematic essays from a choice of three, each across the whole period (25 marks each, AO1).
Unit Y100: Topic-based essay, the coursework (20%)
An independent essay of 3000 to 4000 words on a debated issue, marked out of 40 and testing all three assessment objectives. It is school-assessed and moderated by OCR.

The three assessment objectives

  • AO1 (60%). Analyse and evaluate to reach a substantiated judgement, using knowledge of cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference and significance. The dominant objective in every essay and the coursework.
  • AO2 (20%). Analyse and evaluate primary sources in their historical context. Tested in the Unit 1 enquiry.
  • AO3 (20%). Analyse and evaluate the differing interpretations of historians. Tested in the Unit 3 interpretations section.

Knowing the target AO is half the battle: the enquiry wants source evaluation against context, the interpretations essay wants you to weigh historians, and a period or thematic essay wants your own argument.

The options on this site

This site covers popular options across all four components plus the skills shared between them:

  • Unit 1 British study: England 1485 to 1558 the Early Tudors, and Britain 1930 to 1997.
  • Unit 2 non-British study: Russia 1894 to 1941, and Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919 to 1963.
  • Unit 3 thematic study: Civil Rights in the USA 1865 to 1992, and Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors.
  • Skills and coursework: evaluating primary sources for the enquiry, analysing historical interpretations, planning analytical essays, and the Y100 coursework enquiry.

How to study an option-based A-level

Work from OCR's named key topics for your options, because the essays are written directly from them. Build a precise evidence bank for each theme, then practise the three skills in isolation: source evaluation for the Unit 1 enquiry (AO2), interpretation comparison for Unit 3 (AO3), and analytical essay planning across all (AO1). Start the coursework question early and keep it distinct from your exam content. Always rehearse with OCR past papers for your exact options.

History guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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History practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The A-LEVEL-OCR system, explained

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Common questions about History

How is OCR A-Level History A (H505) structured?
OCR A-Level History A is option-based with four components. Unit 1 is a British period study and enquiry worth 25 per cent, with a source enquiry (30 marks) and a period essay (20 marks). Unit 2 is a non-British period study worth 15 per cent, answered as one two-part essay (30 marks). Unit 3 is a thematic study with historical interpretations worth 40 per cent, with an interpretations essay (30 marks) and two thematic essays (25 marks each). Unit Y100 is the coursework essay worth 20 per cent. Schools choose the taught options, so two OCR History students may have studied entirely different periods.
What are the assessment objectives in OCR A-Level History A?
There are three. AO1, worth 60 per cent overall, is the ability to analyse and evaluate to reach a substantiated judgement, and dominates every essay. AO2, worth 20 per cent, is the analysis and evaluation of primary sources in context, tested in the Unit 1 enquiry. AO3, worth 20 per cent, is the analysis and evaluation of historians' interpretations, tested in the Unit 3 interpretations section. The coursework draws on all three. Knowing the target AO tells you whether to focus on sources, interpretations or your own argument.
What is the difference between the OCR History units?
Unit 1 pairs a source enquiry (AO2) with a British period essay (AO1) over about a century. Unit 2 is a focused non-British period study assessed as a single two-part essay (AO1) in one hour. Unit 3 is the largest paper at 40 per cent: it opens with an interpretations essay weighing two historians (AO3) and then asks two synoptic thematic essays across the whole period (AO1). Unit Y100 is an independent 3000 to 4000 word coursework essay testing all three AOs.
What is the coursework in OCR A-Level History A?
The coursework is Unit Y100, a non-examined assessment worth 20 per cent of the A-level and marked out of 40. It is an independent essay of 3000 to 4000 words on a question of the student's choice, usually a debated historical issue, and must not duplicate the content of the examined units. You evaluate primary sources (AO2), weigh differing interpretations (AO3) and reach a substantiated judgement (AO1). It is marked by your school and moderated by OCR.
Which OCR A-Level History options are most popular?
Widely taught options include England 1485 to 1558 the Early Tudors and Britain 1930 to 1997 (Unit 1), Russia 1894 to 1941 and Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919 to 1963 (Unit 2), and Civil Rights in the USA 1865 to 1992 and Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors (Unit 3). This site covers these alongside the source, interpretation, essay and coursework skills every option needs.
How should I revise an option-based History A-level?
Revise the content of your specific options against OCR's named key topics, because the essays are written from them. Build a bank of precise evidence (dates, figures, names) for each theme, then drill the three exam skills separately: evaluating primary sources for the Unit 1 enquiry (AO2), weighing historians' interpretations for Unit 3 (AO3), and planning analytical essays for AO1. Start the coursework early and rehearse with OCR past papers for your exact options.