7042 · AQA A Level
History 7042 Exam Tips
To secure an A* in AQA A Level History (7042), you must transition from a narrator of the past to an analytical judge. The exam is divided into two 150-minute papers: Component 1 (Breadth Study) and Component 2 (Depth Study), each worth 80 marks. Top scorers know that AQA examine…
Source: AQA
Papers
2
Total marks
160
Time limit
5h
Grade scale
A*ABCDEU
Additional note
Calculator policy
A calculator is not normally required for this subject.
Assessment objectives
AO2). The secret to a Level 5 response is integrating provenance, tone, and content into a single thematic framework. Avoid evaluating the sources in disconnected, isolated paragraphs. Instead, assess their value by exposing the hidden agendas of the authors. If you are analyzing a source by Roger of Wendover, do not treat it as a neutral account; actively address his monastic bias and the fact that he wrote with the benefit of hindsight after King John’s defeat. Similarly, analyze the tone: is it inflamed, defensive, or highly critical? Connect this tone directly to the political realities of the time, such as the vacant bishoprics during the Papal Interdict.
2
Papers
6
Strategies
6
Mistakes
- To secure an A* in AQA A Level History (7042), you must transition from a narrator of the past to an analytical judge. The exam is divided into two 150-minute papers: Component 1 (Breadth Study) and Component 2 (Depth Study), each worth 80 marks. Top scorers know that AQA examiners do not award marks for simply telling the story of King John’s reign or the crusader states. Instead, they look for thematic organization, precise contextual knowledge, and ruthless critique of historical sources and interpretations.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.