How is OCR GCSE History B assessed?

Three papers. Paper 1 (British History: Thematic Study + British Depth Study, 1h 45m, 80 marks) is 40%. Paper 2 (History Around Us, 1h, 40 marks + 10 SPaG) is 20%. Paper 3 (World History: Period Study + World Depth Study, 1h 45m, 80 marks) is 40%. All sat at the end of Year 11.

What's Schools History Project?

SHP is a pedagogical approach to history teaching that emphasises historical skills: enquiry, source evaluation, interpretation analysis. Rather than memorising fact lists, students learn to think like historians. OCR B is the current SHP-aligned GCSE spec. Content is delivered around historical questions and skills.

What's History Around Us?

Paper 2 is a site study. The site is chosen by your centre and must be approved by OCR. You study the site's history, purpose, layout and its wider significance. The paper is 1 hour and carries 40 marks plus 10 SPaG marks.

Which options should we study?

Your school picks: 1 thematic study (e.g. Crime and Punishment), 1 British depth study (e.g. Elizabethans), 1 world period study (e.g. Making of America), 1 world depth study (e.g. Living under Nazi Rule), plus the chosen History Around Us site. Check with your teacher which options you're studying.

How does OCR B differ from OCR A?

OCR A (Explaining the Modern World) focuses on international relations, non-British and British studies with a modern history emphasis. OCR B (Schools History Project) emphasises historical skills across thematic, depth and site studies. OCR B is enquiry-led; OCR A is content-led. Same level of demand.

Does Cognito cover OCR GCSE History B?

Cognito has past papers and mark schemes for OCR GCSE History B (J411). Use them for timed practice and check your answers against the official mark schemes as you go.

OCR B GCSE History (J411) Specification

OCR GCSE History B: Schools History Project (J411) is a single-tier linear qualification with three papers. Paper 1 (British History: Thematic Study + British Depth Study) is 40%; Paper 2 (History Around Us, a site study) is 20%; Paper 3 (World History: Period Study + World Depth Study) is 40%. SHP emphasises historical enquiry, sources and interpretations.

Download the official spec (PDF)

specification overview

1. Thematic Study (choose one)
Paper 1
- Choose 1 from: The People's Health c.1250-Present / Crime and Punishment c.1250-Present / Migrants to Britain c.1250-Present
2. British Depth Study (choose one)
Paper 1
- Choose 1 from: The Norman Conquest 1065-1087 / The Elizabethans 1580-1603 / Britain in Peace and War 1900-1918
3. History Around Us (site study)
Paper 2
- Centre-selected site (must be approved by OCR)
- Study the site's history, purpose, physical features and its wider significance
4. World Period Study (choose one)
Paper 3
- Choose 1 from: Viking Expansion c.750-c.1050 / The Mughal Empire 1526-1707 / The Making of America 1789-1900
5. World Depth Study (choose one)
Paper 3
- Choose 1 from: The First Crusade c.1070-1100 / Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest 1519-1535 / Living under Nazi Rule 1933-1945

subject content

Paper	What's assessed	Length	Marks	Weight	Question types
Paper 1 (British History: Thematic Study + British Depth Study)	Chosen thematic study + chosen British depth study	1h 45m	80	40%	Section A: Thematic study extended-response essays. Section B: British depth study structured and source-based questions
Paper 2 (History Around Us)	Centre-selected site study	1h	40	20%	Structured and extended-response questions on the chosen site. 10 SPaG marks added to the paper total
Paper 3 (World History: Period Study + World Depth Study)	Chosen world period study + chosen world depth study	1h 45m	80	40%	Section A: Period study structured and extended-response questions. Section B: World depth study source-based and extended-response questions

PaperPaper 1 (British History: Thematic Study + British Depth Study)

What's assessedChosen thematic study + chosen British depth study

Length1h 45m

Marks80

Weight40%

Question typesSection A: Thematic study extended-response essays. Section B: British depth study structured and source-based questions

PaperPaper 2 (History Around Us)

What's assessedCentre-selected site study

Length1h

Marks40

Weight20%

Question typesStructured and extended-response questions on the chosen site. 10 SPaG marks added to the paper total

PaperPaper 3 (World History: Period Study + World Depth Study)

What's assessedChosen world period study + chosen world depth study

Length1h 45m

Marks80

Weight40%

Question typesSection A: Period study structured and extended-response questions. Section B: World depth study source-based and extended-response questions

SHP emphasises historical skills: enquiry, source analysis, evaluating interpretations. Paper 2's site is chosen by the centre (and must be approved by OCR) and carries 10 extra SPaG marks. Paper 1 pairs a long thematic study with a shorter British depth study.

assessment structure

AO	What it means	Overall
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.	35%
AO2	Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.	35%
AO3	Analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements.	15%
AO4	Analyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations of the past.	15%

AOAO1

What it meansDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.

Overall35%

AOAO2

What it meansExplain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.

Overall35%

AOAO3

What it meansAnalyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements.

Overall15%

AOAO4

What it meansAnalyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations of the past.

Overall15%

assessment objectives

Learn your chosen options cold
OCR B offers many combinations. Your school picks: 1 thematic study, 1 British depth study, 1 world period study, 1 world depth study, plus the centre-selected History Around Us site. Focus revision on your options.
Master the History Around Us site
Paper 2 is a site study chosen by your centre. Learn the site's history, purpose, layout, evidence and how it reflects wider historical themes. 10 SPaG marks are added to the paper.
Practise source analysis (AO3)
SHP emphasises sources. Learn to comment on: provenance (who, when, why), content, tone, purpose, reliability, usefulness. Cross-reference sources with your own knowledge.
Master interpretation analysis (AO4)
AO4 tests historians' interpretations. Learn to identify what interpretations say, why historians differ, and how to evaluate using knowledge and other views.
Learn thematic study chronology
Thematic studies span 750+ years (c.1250-present). Learn key turning points by period: medieval, early modern, industrial, modern. Prepare change/continuity arguments.
Practise extended-response essays
OCR B extended-response essays reward: intro, 3 developed points with evidence, considered judgement. Drill until automatic.

key tips for success

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GCSE History (OCR B)

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GCSE History (J411) Specification

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