The following grade descriptors are published by the AQA Examination Board to indicate the level of attainment characteristic of the given grade at GCSE. They are useful in outlining the expectations your examiner will have of you in the Summer Examinations!!
They give a general indication of the required learning outcomes at each specific grade. The grade awarded will depend in practice upon the extent to which the candidate has met the assessment objectives overall. Shortcomings in some aspects of the examination may be balanced by better performances in others.
Grade A: Candidates recall, select, organise and deploy historical knowledge of course content accurately, effectively and with consistency, to substantiate arguments and reach historical judgements. Candidates produce developed, reasoned and well substantiated explanations which consider the events, people, changes and issues studied in their wider historical context. They also consider the diversity and, where appropriate, the interrelationship of the features and ideas, attitudes and beliefs in the periods, societies and situations studied. Candidates evaluate and use critically a range of sources of information in their historical context to investigate issues and reach reasoned and substantiated conclusions. They recognise and comment on how and why events, people and issues have been interpreted and
represented in different ways and consider their value in relation to their historical context.
represented in different ways and consider their value in relation to their historical context.
Grade C: Candidates recall, select, organise and deploy historical knowledge of the specification content to support, generally and with accuracy and relevance, their descriptions and explanations of the events, periods and societies studied. Candidates produce structured descriptions and explanations of the events, people, changes and issues studied. Their descriptions and explanations show understanding of relevant causes, consequences
and changes. They also consider and analyse key features and characteristics of the periods, societies and situations studied, including the variety of ideas, attitudes and beliefs held by people at the time. Candidates evaluate and use critically a range of sources of information to investigate issues and draw relevant conclusions. They recognise and comment on how and why events, people and issues have been interpreted and represented in different ways.
and changes. They also consider and analyse key features and characteristics of the periods, societies and situations studied, including the variety of ideas, attitudes and beliefs held by people at the time. Candidates evaluate and use critically a range of sources of information to investigate issues and draw relevant conclusions. They recognise and comment on how and why events, people and issues have been interpreted and represented in different ways.
