Pearson Edexcel International A Level History (WHI01–WHI04): syllabus, papers and marking

Includes the South Asian option on the Raj to Partition. Essays and source questions marked in levels, with the descriptor reached shown at the line where it was earned.

Specification Issue 6 (July 2021), first teaching 2015; options are chosen per unit · January and June series · grades A*–E

IAL History: where the marks go

Edexcel IAL History is four 2-hour, 50-mark units: a depth study with interpretations, a breadth study with source evaluation, a thematic study with source evaluation and an international study with historical interpretations. Each unit asks for two answers, and each answer is marked in levels. The South Asian route is Unit 2 option 1A, India 1857–1948: the Raj to Partition. Pearson’s reports say the commonest loss is an essay that argues a different factor to the one the question named, and a source answer that paraphrases instead of drawing inferences.

Our papers are original, with source extracts written for each question, and the marking returns the level reached with the descriptor quoted. The Unit 2 India option is built first because of its relevance to candidates in Pakistan.

How we mark a real script

Paper structure and what we mark

PaperTimeMarksWeightQuestions
WHI01 — Unit 1: Depth Study with Interpretations2 h5050% AS · 25% A LevelTwo 25-mark essays from a choice of four, on one option: France in Revolution, Russia in Revolution, Germany 1918–45, or Britain 1964–90
WHI02 — Unit 2: Breadth Study with Source Evaluation2 h5050% AS · 25% A LevelSection A a compulsory two-part source question; Section B one essay from three. Options: India 1857–1948, China 1900–76, Russia 1917–91, South Africa 1948–2014
WHI03 — Unit 3: Thematic Study with Source Evaluation2 h5025% A LevelSection A a compulsory source essay; Section B one essay from two. Options: USA 1763–1865, British warfare 1803–1945, Germany 1870–1990, Civil rights in the USA 1865–2009
WHI04 — Unit 4: International Study with Historical Interpretations2 h5025% A LevelSection A a compulsory interpretations question; Section B one essay from two. Options: Modern Europe 1805–71, The World in Crisis 1879–1945, Superpower relations 1943–90, Cold War and hot war in Asia 1945–90

Syllabus outline

  1. Unit 1: one depth study — France in Revolution 1774–99, Russia in Revolution 1881–1917, Germany 1918–45, or Britain 1964–90
  2. Unit 2: one breadth study — India 1857–1948, China 1900–76, Russia 1917–91, or South Africa 1948–2014
  3. Unit 3: one thematic study — USA 1763–1865, British warfare 1803–1945, Germany 1870–1990, or Civil rights in the USA 1865–2009
  4. Unit 4: one international study — Modern Europe 1805–71, The World in Crisis 1879–1945, Superpower relations 1943–90, or Cold War and hot war in Asia 1945–90
  5. Skills: analysing and evaluating sources, historical interpretations, causation, consequence, significance

How each paper is marked here

Where IAL History candidates lose marks

  1. Introducing a different factor and arguing for it — On “which was more significant” essays, a new factor pulls the answer off the comparison asked for, and the judgement is lost.
  2. Source paraphrased, not interrogated — Marks go on inferences about the stated enquiry, supported by provenance and context, not on restating what the source says.
  3. Context used as free-standing knowledge — Knowledge must be tied to a specific inference or claim in the source, not added alongside it.
  4. Source answers with almost no reference to the sources — A well-informed essay on the enquiry still scores low on AO2 when the sources themselves are barely used.
  5. Judgement missing from a long answer — The level rises on a supported overall judgement; a well-organised list of points stays in the middle.

Sample papers, mark schemes and marked reports for IAL History

See a real handwritten script marked by eight examiners at admitportfolio.com/examiners.

Questions teachers ask

Is the India option included?
It is Unit 2 option 1A, the Raj to Partition, and it is the first option planned.
Can I use an option you have not built?
Tell us which options your school teaches; they are added in order of how many schools ask.
Are source extracts real?
No. Every extract is written for the paper and invented as a source; nothing is copied from Pearson papers.
Is this official Pearson Edexcel marking?
No. Pearson Edexcel International marks the real exam. This is examiner-style marking of mocks and homework for IAL History. Only you see the marking, and you decide what reaches the student.
Do you reproduce past-paper questions?
No. Every WHI01–WHI04 paper here is original and written to the specification issue 6 (july 2021), first teaching 2015; options are chosen per unit, in the same structure as the real papers shown above.
Which papers are marked?
None yet are marked question by question. Practical exams sat at the centre are not marked here.
How is the next paper chosen?
From the marks a student lost: the concepts behind them are ranked by marks dropped, and the new paper weights those topics. It is the same syllabus and structure, with new questions.
When are the exams?
January and June series. Grades A*–E.

Other Pearson Edexcel International A Level courses

Start marking History scripts · See a real marked script