How to Get an A* in A Level History

Written by: Zoe Wade

Published

26 June 2025

Contents

Achieving an A* in A Level History is a highly rewarding yet overwhelming challenge. In fact, only 5.7% of A Level History students achieved the top grade in 2024.

There are numerous hurdles that A Level History students need to overcome. Many students struggle with remembering all the required facts and dates, mastering critical thinking, and handling the pressure of writing structured, evidence-driven essays under exam conditions.

But don’t worry, it’s not only possible to achieve an A* in A Level History. Having taught A Level History and guided students through the process of achieving top marks, I’ve seen firsthand how small changes in study habits can lead to massive improvements in performance.

This article will provide you with the top tactics that will set you on the path to achieving an A*, along with tips on common mistakes to avoid.

Tactic 1: Master Essay Writing

A significant portion of A Level History exams involves essay writing. To secure an A*, you need to perfect your ability to write structured, evidence-driven essays.

Start by practising PEEPL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Prioritise, Link) paragraphs to ensure you develop coherent arguments. Focus on:

Strong introductions that address the question directly.
Clear body paragraphs with well-organised arguments, supported by facts and quotes from sources or interpretations.
Concluding statements that link back to the question and summarise your key points.

Many students can achieve an A* grade in lessons and homework by spending multiple hours on a single question. However, the key is to be able to perform at the top level within the exam timings.

With each essay you answer, give yourself 5-10 minutes less than you previously spent. This will ease you into being able to answer essay questions within timed conditions.

Tactic 2: Perfect Your Source Analysis Skills

Source-based questions are a key part of A Level History. To stand out, you need to critically engage with sources and evaluate their significance. Try using techniques like OPVL (Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation) to break down sources during your revision.

Finding historical sources to practice source analysis questions can be difficult as there are so many to choose from. However, revising using historical sources, which can be found on past exam papers or in textbooks, is very valuable. Practice all aspects of source analysis, from annotating sources to writing source analysis answers.

A handwritten analysis of a historical question with notes in coloured ink, surrounded by an excerpt from "Twilight for Women, 1870-1914" on a printed sheet.

An example of how to annotate sources in A Level History

Tactic 3: Focus on Historical Interpretations

A key part of A Level History is understanding and evaluating historical interpretations. To earn an A*, you need to demonstrate knowledge of different historians’ viewpoints on key events.

Start by building a list of major historians and their interpretations of events that you are studying. This will help you not only write more analytical essays but also reference historians in your exam answers.

When I taught A Level History, I was responsible for the Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855–1964 side of the AQA course. I always advised my students to learn key historians, like Orlando Figes. However, A Level students would struggle to read A People’s Tragedy, an 800-page book! Find excerpts from historians to make this more accessible. For this example, Orlando Figes’ website has free excerpts from his book, organised by time and event, making this process easier.

Tactic 4: Don’t Neglect the Coursework

In A Level History, coursework is a crucial part of your grade. AQA A Level students will know this as the NEA; Edexcel A Level students will know this as coursework, and for OCR students, it is called the topic-based essay. It’s an independent piece of work that can account for a significant portion of your final grade.

Coursework can be overwhelming, but starting early is essential. Don’t leave it until the last minute. In my experience, successful students begin planning and researching their topic well in advance. Regularly seek feedback from your teacher to refine your research and writing.

Tactic 5: Practice Past Papers Regularly

Past papers are your best friend when it comes to A Level History revision. They help you familiarise yourself with the exam format, practice answering under timed conditions, and develop your essay-writing and source analysis skills. Regularly reviewing past paper answers and examiner comments will give you invaluable insight into what’s required for an A* answer.

Find the relevant past papers and mark schemes for your exam board using Save My Exams:

AQA A Level History

Edexcel A Level History

OCR A Level History

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Relying Too Heavily on Memorisation

It’s easy to think that simply memorising facts will earn you an A*, but A Level History is not just about memorising events and dates. It’s about applying your knowledge critically and constructing well-supported arguments.

Instead of cramming for exams, focus on understanding the why and how behind key events. This depth of understanding will serve you much better than just remembering facts.

Read our article on How to Revise A Level History for more revision tips.

Mistake 2: Poor Time Management

Most A Level students are balancing three or four subjects, each with its own set of challenges and demands. To succeed in A Level History, it's crucial to manage your time effectively. Ensuring that you allocate time not only for your history studies but also for other subjects and requirements like coursework will help you stay on top of everything.

In my experience, students often spend too much time revising content they are comfortable with rather than plugging gaps in their knowledge. Ensure your revision timetable allocates more time to historical topics that you struggle with.

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Feeling stressed ahead of your exams? Join over 2 million students who use Save My Exams, the leading online revision platform.

On average, students who use Save My Exams improve by two grades thanks to our comprehensive resources. From past papers and revision notes to exam-style questions tailored to your specific course, our revision tools help you to study smarter, not harder.

Created by teachers and examiners who know exactly what you need to revise to achieve the best grades, our resources help students to save time and get straight to the content you need.

Explore Our A Level History Revision Resources