History Continued

History as a Subject

The subject is taught in 2 levels; key stage 3 and key stage 4.

In Key stage 3, pupils cover a range of topics starting from introduction to History, sources of History, medieval England (the department introduced the history of Kenya in Year 9 with an emphasis on colonization of Kenya -in the academic year starting 2010).

In key stage 4, students are prepared for their IGCSE examinations. The topics are in various themes that the pupils select from a pool. Four themes are to be examined. The department has put on measures to cater for the new syllabus change of Edexcel Examinations.

In terms of performance, the department has continued to register very good results with not a single “U’ grade in the last three years. The department aims for better results in the future.

The department personnel includes:

Mr. S. Kibiku

Mrs Muraguri

Mr. F. Oremo

The Key features and benefits

There are several features and benefits of the History syllabus, they include:

• has no tiers of entry – which means accessibility for all students
• has no compulsory content – teachers choose the areas of study which suit their needs and resources
• has questions on all themes and topics in every examination session
• provides progression to Edexcel GCE AS and Advanced Level in History, or equivalent qualifications.

Specifics at a glance

The Edexcel IGCSE in history comprises one external examination

Paper 1                                                                        Paper Code 4HI0/01

• External assessed
• Availability: June Series
• First assessment: June 2011 1

View of the content

• Section A: students select two themes from a choice of 10
• Section A: students select one depth study from a choice of 6
• Section A: students select one study in change from a choice of 8

Overview of assessment:

• The examination paper has three sections
• In section A, students answer one question worth 25 marks
• In section B, students answer one question worth 25 marks
• The total mark available is 100 and the time allowed for the examination will be 2 hours and 30 minutes

What sections are covered in the syllabus?

Section A

Students study at least two themes from this list A1-A10:

A1 Development of a nation: Unification of Italy, 1852-70

A2 Development of a nation: Unification of Germany, 1848-71

A3 Development of dictatorship: Germany, 1918-45

A4 Development of dictatorship: Italy, 1918-43

A5 Russia: Autocracy and revolt, 1881-1914

A6 Russia: Dictatorship and conflict, 1924-53

A7 A divided union. Depression and recovery in the USA, 1929-45

A8 A divided union. Civil rights in the USA, 1945-74

A9 A world divided: International relations between the wars, 1919-39

A10 A world divided: superpower relations, 1945-62

Section B

Students choose one depth study from this list B1-B6:

B1 The French Revolution, 1789-94

B2 The First World War, 1914-18

B3 Russia in Revolution, 1914-24

B4 The USA, 1917-29

B5 Colonial rule and the nationalist challenge in India, 1919-47

B6 The fall of communism in Europe, 1979-91

Section C

Students choose one study in change from this list – C1-C8:

C1 Revolution and change in Europe, 1789-1848

C2 The changing nature of warfare, 1803-1905

C3 Changes in medicine, c1845-c1945

C4 The changing role of international organisations: the League and the UN, 1919-2000

C5 Conflict, crisis and change: The Middle East, c1919-c1973

C6 Conflict, crisis and change: China, c1934-c1989

C7 Change in Africa from colonialism to independence, 1945-2000

C8 The Changing Nature of Warfare, c1936-c2003

Assessment overview

Examination 2 hours and 30 minutes

The examination is an untiered paper, targeted at grades A* to G. The paper consists of three sections, A, B and C.

Assessment summary

The examination paper comprises three sections.

• In Section A, students answer two questions, each on a theme, each question is worth 25 marks.
• In Section B, students answer one question worth 25 marks.
• In Section C, students answer one question worth 25 marks.

The total mark available is 100 and the time allowed for the examination is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Assessment Objectives and weightings

	% in IGCSE
Student  should AO1: Recall  select, organize and deploy knowledge of the specification content and communicate it through description, explanation and analysis of: The events, people, changes and issues studied The key features and characteristics of the periods, topics and societies studied	61%
A02: Show that they understand and can analyze and interpret historical sources in context	31%
A03: Show that they can comprehend, analyze and evaluate how  and why events, people, situations and changes have been interpreted and represented in relation to the historical themes and periods studied	8%
TOTAL	100%