Is A Level History Hard?

Written by: Zoe Wade

Published

28 April 2025

Illustration of a teacher thinking, next to text: "Is A Level History Hard? A Teacher’s Perspective" on a pink background with faint Spartan helmet.

Contents

A Level History is often seen as one of the more challenging subjects, and it’s easy to see why. With detailed content, complex essay writing, and source analysis, many students worry about whether they’ll be able to keep up.

Having taught A Level History, I’ve seen firsthand the difficulties students face. However, I’ve also seen how, with dedication and resilience, they can excel. While A Level History is demanding, it is also highly rewarding and teaches valuable skills that go beyond the classroom.

In this article, we’ll explore exactly why A Level History is considered difficult and, more importantly, how to overcome its challenges. I’ll also answer some common questions, including how hard it is to achieve an A*, whether it's difficult to pass, and whether History is a good A Level choice.

So, is A Level History hard?

Yes, A Level History is one of the more challenging subjects due to its depth of content, emphasis on independent research, and the requirement for strong analytical skills. Many students find the transition from GCSE to A Level demanding, particularly when it comes to writing structured, argument-driven essays.

However, with the right study techniques, consistent practice, and good time management, A-level history is completely manageable. For students who enjoy learning about the past, it can be one of the most engaging A-level subjects.

What makes A Level History difficult?

Historical knowledge

A Level History covers a large amount of content, which students are required to understand and consistently apply to complex historical skills. Students often struggle to remember and apply this knowledge, especially in exam conditions.

Essay-based exam questions

The majority of the exam questions at A Level are essay-based questions. These require a structured logical answer, with detailed evidence, evaluation and sometimes source analysis. Students find these questions difficult as they require a lot of skills and time. However, with practice and time, they become easier to manage.

Source and extract analysis

In comparison to GCSE, A Level History has more of an emphasis on evaluating primary sources and historical interpretations. As more analysis and evaluation of the sources and extracts are needed, most students find this challenging.

The step up from GCSE to A Level

The step up from GCSE History to A Level History is one which some students struggle with. In comparison to GCSE History, A Level History requires:

Independent learning
Greater depth of knowledge and understanding
Reading beyond the syllabus recommendations

Students often struggle to manage these changes; however, with practice, dedication and time, they become more manageable, and students tend to become more confident.

Coursework

Depending upon which A Level you are sitting, this is called something different. AQA A Level students will know this as the NEA; Edexcel A Level students will know this as coursework, and for OCR students, it is called the topic-based essay.

In my experience, coursework is often the biggest challenge an A Level History student faces. They are required to complete a large and complex piece of work independently. Students often leave this until the last minute and, therefore, do not get the grade of which they are capable.

How to overcome the challenges of A Level History

Be organised

In most cases, you will be juggling either three or four very demanding and time-consuming subjects, each with its own requirements and unique challenges. Therefore, you need to be organised and create a revision and study timetable to ensure you complete all assignments, homework, and coursework on time.

Do not neglect the coursework

Students often think that the coursework is not as important as their exams and therefore neglect it. Neglecting the coursework or leaving it until the last minute will result in a poor grade and will have a negative impact on your overall grade.

Therefore, treat the coursework with the same importance as your exams. Start early, plan carefully, and seek feedback throughout.

Practice essay-based questions

Regularly practice writing essays under timed conditions. This will help you improve your structure, argument development, and timing for the real exam.

Once you have practiced these essay-based questions, you should ask your teacher or tutor for feedback.

Use Save My Exams to access past papers for your A Level exam board:

Revise using historical sources

Finding historical sources to practice source analysis questions can be difficult as there are so many to choose from. However, revising using historical sources, which can be found on past exam papers or in textbooks, is very valuable.

These sources and extracts will help you to build your source evaluation skills. You can design source inference grids or apply techniques like OPVL (Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation) to help you improve your source evaluation skills.

Manage your time effectively

The average A Level student will be studying 3 or 4 A Levels. Each A Level has its own demands and challenges, and managing your time effectively is essential to ensure success in History A Level.

Make sure that you divide your time evenly between all of your subjects as well as additional requirements, such as coursework.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to get an A* in A Level History?

As in any other subject, achieving an A* in A Level History is difficult but not impossible. In 2024, only 5.7% of History A Level students achieved the top grade, which increased from 5.5% in 2023.

In my experience, students who achieve an A* in A Level History do the following:

Ask for help and guidance when needed
Act upon help, feedback and guidance
Read outside of the classroom requirements. Ask your teacher for suggested readings, such as historians’ work, academic magazines or journals
Practice exam questions
Go above and beyond in their studies, especially in the coursework

Is A Level History hard to pass?

In A Level, anything above an “E” is considered a pass at A Level. In 2024, 98% of A Level History students achieved a grade E or above.

Grade	Percentage pass rate in 2024
E and above	98.8%
D and above	94.6%
C and above	81.2%
B and above	55.6%
A and above	24.3%
A*	5.7%

Although the pass rate for A Level History is high, achieving the top grades is hard as it requires students to consistently show:

detailed specific and relevant knowledge
a high level of analysis and evaluation
effective time management

Students usually find these difficult to do at a high and consistent level, which makes achieving top grades at A Level History difficult.

Is History a good option for A Level?

Absolutely! A Level History is an excellent choice because it develops critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to construct persuasive arguments. All of these skills are highly valued by universities and employers.

A Level History is the right choice for students who are passionate about History. A Level History allows students to act like historians as they explore more primary sources and have the opportunity to create their own piece of research through the coursework option.

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