AQAGCSE353 resources

AQA GCSE History Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA GCSE History (8145) past papers and mark schemes. Germany, Russia, America, Elizabethan England & more. 353 resources from 2018 to 2024.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄353 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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353 of 353 resources — page 1 of 15

June 2023

6 files

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option D Restoration England, 1660-1685 – June 2023

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option C Russia, 1894-1945: Tsardom and communism – June 2023

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option C Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945-1972 – June 2023

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option C Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day – June 2023

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option D America, 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality – June 2023

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option D Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950-1975 – June 2023

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June 2022

4 files

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option D Restoration England, 1660-1685 – June 2022

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option C Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day – June 2022

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option D America, 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality – June 2022

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option D Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950-1975 – June 2022

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November 2021

7 files

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option C Elizabethan England, c1568-1603 – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option D Restoration England, 1660-1685 – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option B Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option C Russia, 1894-1945: Tsardom and communism – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option C Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945-1972 – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option C Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day – November 2021

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option D America, 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality – November 2021

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November 2020

8 files

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option D Restoration England, 1660-1685 – November 2020

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option B Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day – November 2020

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section B Option C Elizabethan England, c1568-1603 – November 2020

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GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option C Russia, 1894-1945: Tsardom and communism – November 2020

Question Paper

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📄

GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option C Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945-1972 – November 2020

Question Paper

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📄

GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 2 Section A Option C Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day – November 2020

Question Paper

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📄

GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section A Option D America, 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality – November 2020

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📄

GCSE History – Question paper: Paper 1 Section B Option D Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950-1975 – November 2020

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About AQA GCSE History

AQA GCSE History (specification code 8145) is assessed through two written papers, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 84 marks. There is no coursework or controlled assessment — the full grade comes from these two exams. The specification is modular, with schools choosing from a range of topic options in each section. Paper 1 covers 'Understanding the modern world' and is divided into two sections. Section A is a Period Study — four options are available: America 1840–1895, Germany 1890–1945, Russia 1894–1945, or America 1920–1973. Section B is a Wider World Depth Study covering conflict and tension — schools choose from topics covering WWI, the inter-war years, the Cold War, the Korean/Vietnam era, or the Gulf Wars. Questions involve source analysis, explanation of causes, and extended essay responses. Paper 2 covers 'Shaping the nation' and has a different structure. Section A is a thematic study covering a long stretch of British history — options include Health and the people (c1000 to present), Power and the people (c1170 to present), or Migration, empires and the people (c790 to present). Section B is a British depth study including a historic environment component — options include Norman England, Medieval England (Edward I), Elizabethan England, or Restoration England. The historic environment element of Paper 2 Section B is distinctive: students study a specific site chosen by AQA each year (announced in advance), and questions on the exam relate to this site in the context of the broader topic. This makes Paper 2 both the most open-ended and the most specific part of the course.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1No calculator

Understanding the Modern World

⏱ 2 hours🎯 84 marks📊 50% of grade

Period study (choice of 8 options)Wider world depth study (choice of 4 options)

Paper 2No calculator

Shaping the Nation

⏱ 2 hours🎯 84 marks📊 50% of grade

Thematic study (choice of 5 options)British depth study with historic environment (choice of 5 options)

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Specification Code	8145
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	2 written exams (no coursework)
Number Of Papers	2
Exam Duration	1 hour 45 minutes per paper
Total Marks	168 (84 per paper)
Calculator Status	Not applicable
Available Sessions	June 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources	353

Key Topics in History

Topics you need to know

Germany 1890–1945: Democracy and DictatorshipConflict and tension 1918–1939 (Interwar Years)America 1840–1895: Expansion and ConsolidationPower and the People: Britain 1170–presentElizabethan England c1568–1603Norman England 1066–1100Migration, Empires and the People

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Describe	Give an account of the main features or events
Explain	Give developed reasons why something happened, using specific evidence
Write an account	Narrate events in sequence, explaining how they are linked
How far do you agree	Weigh up evidence for and against a statement and reach a justified conclusion
Analyse	Examine causes or consequences, exploring their relative importance
Evaluate	Assess the usefulness or reliability of a historical source or interpretation
Which of these was the more important cause	Compare two factors and argue which had the greater impact, with reasons

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	79–89%
Grade 8	68–78%
Grade 7	58–67%
Grade 6	48–57%
Grade 5	39–47%
Grade 4	29–38%
Grade 3	20–28%
Grade 2	11–19%
Grade 1	1–10%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across two papers (168 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

How to Use AQA GCSE History Past Papers Effectively

AQA GCSE History has a distinctive question structure that rewards students who understand the mark scheme criteria before they start writing. On Paper 1, the analysis questions (worth 8 marks) are marked on two strands: Strand 1 is analytical complexity (what you argue and how well you develop it) and Strand 2 is use of knowledge (the specific detail you include). The mark scheme for these questions combines both strands, so practise deploying specific factual detail in service of an analytical argument, not as isolated bullet points. The 16-mark extended essay question on both papers is where the biggest mark differences appear. High-scoring essays do not simply describe events — they explain causation, assess significance, and reach a substantiated judgement. Use past papers to practise writing balanced arguments that weigh up multiple factors before reaching a conclusion. For the historic environment (Paper 2), download the specific site resource that AQA provides each year. The questions on the site change annually, but the types of questions are predictable — you'll typically be asked to explain how the site provides evidence for conditions at the time, or to evaluate how useful the site is as evidence. Practise linking what you can see/know about the site to the historical context. Source analysis questions on Paper 1 require you to analyse the content, origin, and purpose of sources. Don't just describe what a source says — make inferences and explain what the source reveals about the historical period or viewpoint.

More AQA GCSE Subjects

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AQA GCSE History Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

About AQA GCSE History

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in History

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Use AQA GCSE History Past Papers Effectively

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