These specifications are designed to offer candidates and centres the opportunity to select from a wide variety of periods and topics in English, European and American history, from the medieval to the late 20th century. They offer candidates the opportunity to study history in length and breadth as well as in depth, to develop expertise in various skills (general as well as historical) and to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the periods studied. They give an opportunity to introduce more ‘stretch and challenge’ into A Level History. These specifications enable candidates to study: – Significant events, individuals and issues; – A range of historical perspectives; – The diversity of society; – The history of more than one country or state; – A substantial element of English history; – Continuity and change over a period of time. Students will cover the American Dream, South African Rainbow Nation and British Empire. Ultimately, they will learn how to construct an analytical historical argument and will assess the views of contemporaries, in order to reach independent judgements about some of the most fundamental periods of English, European and world history. A significant aspect of this course will involve students looking in detail at the interpretations of historians and critically evaluating the opinions of the experts. The Non-exam Topic Based Essay requires students to select a topic based on their own area of historical interest, choose an approved question and then research and construct their own essay. This element of the course mimics the type of task that undergraduates are often asked to complete.