AQA 7042/C
- Weight and marks
- 20%, 40 marks
- Length or time
- 3,500 to 4,500 words. A hard limit: over length loses 5 marks
- Approval
- Required. Question approval form by 20 October 2026
- Key deadline
- Marks to AQA by 15 May 2027
A Level · NEA · 20%
A Level History coursework
Askel keeps track of title approvals, sources and draft feedback for the History NEA, following each board’s rules. NEA (non-exam assessment) is coursework marked in school, then checked by the exam board.
Where it is in the build order
Next
Stop 2 of the build order
Planned order, not dates. Pilot schools can move a subject up.
See the build orderWhat the boards ask
Three boards, three sets of rules.
One row per board, for students sitting in June 2027.
| Board and code | Weight and marks | Length or time | Approval | Key deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA 7042/C | 20%, 40 marks | 3,500 to 4,500 words. A hard limit: over length loses 5 marks | Required. Question approval form by 20 October 2026 | Marks to AQA by 15 May 2027 |
| OCR H505, unit Y100 | 20%, 40 marks | 3,000 to 4,000 words | Required. Titles through OCR’s proposal tool. First-time centres by 31 January 2027 | Marks to OCR by 15 May 2027 |
| Pearson 9HI0/04 | 20%, 40 marks | 3,000 to 4,000 words. Much over 4,000 can’t reach the top level | Optional. Up to 5 titles per form, reply in 10 working days | Marks to Pearson by 15 May 2027 |
OCR H505, unit Y100
- Weight and marks
- 20%, 40 marks
- Length or time
- 3,000 to 4,000 words
- Approval
- Required. Titles through OCR’s proposal tool. First-time centres by 31 January 2027
- Key deadline
- Marks to OCR by 15 May 2027
Pearson 9HI0/04
- Weight and marks
- 20%, 40 marks
- Length or time
- 3,000 to 4,000 words. Much over 4,000 can’t reach the top level
- Approval
- Optional. Up to 5 titles per form, reply in 10 working days
- Key deadline
- Marks to Pearson by 15 May 2027
Eduqas has no A Level History in England.
Where the admin piles up
Every board does it differently.
Approval dates that differ by board
AQA needs every question approved by 20 October. OCR uses its own proposal tool. Pearson’s check is optional.
Source rules, and students using the same sources
Each board sets how many sources, and what kind. Students in one class mustn’t all use the same ones.
Feedback rules that differ by board
AQA allows no comments on how to improve a draft. OCR allows one general review. Pearson requires a review of the first full draft.
What Askel records
Built around each board’s rules.
Every feature sits under one of the five steps.
Prepare
Title approvals, tracked
Keeps track of which titles have been approved, and by when, with each board’s deadline.
Show
A list of sources, checked against the rules
Students log each source. Askel checks it against the board’s rules, and shows teachers where students in a class overlap.
Show
Draft feedback that follows the board
Comments on drafts follow each board’s rule. Any help beyond that is written down.
Show
A fingerprint for each draft
So you can show the essay grew over time, without the essay leaving your school.
Prove
Word counts, counted the board’s way
Each board counts words differently. Askel uses the right rule and fills in the forms.
What stays where it is
The essay stays where your school keeps it, for example in OneDrive or Google Drive. Askel keeps a link and a fingerprint of each draft.
Key dates 2026-27
From approval to marks.
Board dates are fixed. Your school’s dates are Askel’s defaults, and you can change them.
- 20 Oct 2026AQA question approval forms dueExam board · Passed
- 31 Jan 2027OCR title proposals due, for first-time centresExam board · Next date
- 5 Feb 2027First complete draftYour school
- 19 Mar 2027Final version handed inYour school
- 15 May 2027Marks sent to the exam boardExam board
AI rules for History
What each board adds.
AI tools, like ChatGPT, can write or change text for you. JCQ’s rules apply to every board: students say which AI tools they used, and keep their prompts and what the tool gave them. Each board adds its own notes.
PearsonAI must not choose a student’s works, plan the essay or write it. The authentication sheet includes the AI statements.Pearson guidance
Askel has no AI in it, and never sends students’ work to AI companies.
Register interest
Register interest in History.
We’ll tell you when History reaches pilot, and ask what you need first. Pilot schools can move a subject up the order.
Thanks. We’ll tell you when History reaches pilot, and ask what you need first.
See the build order
Sources
- AQA A Level History 7042 specification
- OCR A Level History A H505 specification
- Pearson Edexcel A Level History 9HI0 specification
- JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments 2026-27
- JCQ AI Use in Assessments, September 2026
Checked on 1 Nov 2026
We check these again each September, when the JCQ documents change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.