Is GCSE History tiered?
GCSE History is not tiered. Every student sits the same two papers and can be awarded any grade from 1 to 9, so there is no foundation or higher tier to choose.
Is GCSE History tiered?
No. Under the AQA specification (8145), both papers are taken by all students, and grades 1 to 9 are available across the whole qualification. This means you do not need to choose a tier when you enter, and your school does not need to decide on a tier for you.
What this means for revision
Because there is one set of papers, revise the full course for both exams. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 is a strong pass, and both papers carry equal weight at 50 percent each.
Read the full GCSE History guide for the paper breakdown and dates, or try the GCSE History sample test.
