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AQA · GCSE

AQA GCSE World History

World History for AQA GCSE (syllabus 8145) — what the qualification covers, and the study material Marlbridge publishes for it.

Syllabus
8145
Board
AQA
Qualification
GCSE

At a glance

Qualification
AQA GCSE World History
Spec code
8145
Does Marlbridge teach it?
Yes
Are resources available?
Yes — 10 published
Is enrolment open?
Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
Where was this verified?
2026-08-18, official AQA specification

Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official AQA specification on 2026-08-18.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.

The qualification

AQA GCSE History (8145)

AQA's GCSE History enables students to study different aspects of the past, so they can engage with key issues such as conflict, understand what drives change and how the past influences the present. — AQA, official syllabus page

Subject content is organised into two components: 'Understanding the Modern World' and 'Shaping the Nation', including a historic environment study of specified sites (the specified sites are refreshed periodically — the 2026-2028 series list was current at verification).

Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the AQA syllabus page for your examination year.

Assessment structure

Linear qualification

Assessment components for AQA World History 8145
Component Duration Marks Weighting Type
8145/1: Paper 1: Understanding the modern world (Section A period study + Section B wider world depth study) 2h 84 50% Written exam
8145/2: Paper 2: Shaping the nation (Section A thematic study + Section B British depth study incl. historic environment) 2h 84 50% Written exam

Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against the official AQA specification-at-a-glance page. NAMING NOTE: AQA itself calls this qualification plain 'History' (8145) -- there is no separate AQA 'World History' title -- but this record uses subjectSlug 'world-history' to match this site's existing subject categorisation for this combination. Linear, not tiered, two written papers, each 2h/84marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar)/50% of GCSE, total 168 marks. Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world): Section A -- choice of ONE period study from four options (America 1840-1895, Germany 1890-1945, Russia 1894-1945, or America 1920-1973), six compulsory questions, 40 marks; Section B -- choice of ONE wider world depth study from five conflict-and-tension options, four compulsory questions, 40 marks. Paper 2 (Shaping the nation): Section A -- choice of ONE thematic study from three long-run Britain options, four compulsory questions, 40 marks; Section B -- choice of ONE British depth study (incl. historic environment) from four options, four compulsory questions, 40 marks. Options are declared at point of entry. First teaching September 2016.

Assessment FAQs

How is AQA World History (8145) assessed?

AQA World History (8145) is assessed through: 8145/1 (Paper 1: Understanding the modern world (Section A period study + Section B wider world depth study)) — 2h, 84 marks, 50% of the qualification; 8145/2 (Paper 2: Shaping the nation (Section A thematic study + Section B British depth study incl. historic environment)) — 2h, 84 marks, 50% of the qualification. It is a linear qualification. Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28.

The subject

World History teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.

All World History at Marlbridge

Syllabus topics

The 2 topics below are the official subject content of AQA GCSE History (8145), for the first teaching 2016 examination series, reproduced from the AQA syllabus document.

A topic listed here is part of the syllabus. It does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it — topics with resources are marked. Marlbridge currently has resources for 2 of 2 topics.

  1. 1 Understanding the Modern World

    3 Marlbridge resources

    Section A: Period Studies — choice of America 1840-1895; Germany 1890-1945; Russia 1894-1945; America 1920-1973 · Section B: Wider World Depth Studies — choice of Conflict and Tension: WWI, the inter-war years, East and West 1945-72, Asia 1950-75, or the Gulf and Afghanistan 1990-2009

  2. 2 Shaping the Nation

    3 Marlbridge resources

Source: AQA — official specification pages — first teaching 2016 series. Verified 2026-09-02. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.

Study resources

Revision material

Exam preparation

World History at other qualifications

These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.

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