Study Guides

The collision between the Aztec Empire and Hernán Cortés's Spanish expedition between 1519 and 1535 represents one of history's most consequential encounters: a sophisticated Mesoamerican civilisation of millions was brought to its knees within two years, reshaping the Americas forever. For OCR GCSE candidates, this World Depth Study demands precise causal analysis — explaining not just what happened, but why a handful of Spanish soldiers, allied with tens of thousands of indigenous warriors and aided by catastrophic disease, could topple an empire that dominated central Mexico. Mastering this topic means understanding the interplay of military technology, biological catastrophe, indigenous alliances, and Aztec internal divisions — and being able to deploy that understanding fluently under exam conditions.

From the sweeping welfare legislation of the Liberal Reforms to the militant campaigns of the suffragettes and the total mobilisation of the Home Front during the First World War, Britain between 1900 and 1918 was transformed beyond recognition. This study sits at the heart of OCR GCSE History, demanding that candidates demonstrate precise factual knowledge, analytical explanation of causation and consequence, and sophisticated evaluation of primary sources. Master this period and you will have the skills — and the marks — to succeed across the entire paper.

Crime and Punishment in Britain, c.1250 to present, is a sweeping thematic study that traces over 750 years of law enforcement, criminal justice, and penal policy — from the community-policed medieval village to the professional, state-run systems of the modern era. Candidates must demonstrate mastery of Second Order Concepts — Change, Continuity, Causation, and Consequence — to access the highest mark levels, making this a topic that rewards analytical thinking over simple storytelling. Examiners consistently credit responses that connect shifts in crime and punishment to wider historical forces: urbanisation, religious change, political reform, and evolving attitudes towards justice and human rights.

This OCR GCSE History guide explores how the Nazi regime used a combination of brutal terror and sophisticated propaganda to control Germany between 1933 and 1945. It provides essential knowledge on the mechanisms of the police state, the changing lives of ordinary people, and the escalating persecution that led to the Holocaust, all tailored to secure maximum marks in your exam.

This guide provides a comprehensive, exam-focused breakdown of the OCR GCSE History 'History Around Us' local site study. It equips candidates with the specific analytical skills, architectural vocabulary, and historical context needed to transform site observations into high-mark answers.

This OCR GCSE History study guide provides a comprehensive analysis of migration to Britain from c.1250 to the present. It is designed to help candidates master the key themes of change, continuity, causation, and consequence, equipping them with the specific knowledge and exam techniques required to achieve the highest marks.

This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of late Elizabethan England (1580-1603), focusing on the critical themes of religious conflict, social instability, and cultural change. It is designed to equip OCR GCSE History candidates with the specific knowledge and analytical skills required to excel in their examinations.

This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the First Crusade (c.1070-1100) for OCR GCSE History students. It unpacks the complex motivations, key events, and critical factors behind the Crusader victory, providing the specific knowledge and exam technique needed to achieve top marks.

This study guide for OCR GCSE History explores the dramatic transformation of the United States from 1789 to 1900. It covers the key themes of westward expansion, the Plains Wars, the Civil War, and the diverse cultures that shaped modern America, providing exam-focused analysis to help candidates secure top marks.

This comprehensive study guide for OCR GCSE History delves into the Mughal Empire (1526-1707), a pivotal World Depth Study. It is designed to equip candidates with the precise knowledge and analytical skills needed to deconstruct exam questions, evaluate historical change, and secure top marks by focusing on key individuals, administrative systems, and cultural achievements.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 was a pivotal turning point, replacing the Anglo-Saxon elite with a Norman aristocracy and fundamentally reshaping English society, politics, and culture. This guide unpacks the critical events, from the succession crisis to the Domesday Book, providing the specific knowledge and analytical skills required to excel in your OCR GCSE History exam.

This guide provides a comprehensive, exam-focused analysis of the OCR GCSE History thematic study, 'The People\'s Health, c.1250 to present\'. It traces the crucial developments in public health, from medieval miasma theories to the foundation of the NHS, equipping candidates with the specific knowledge and analytical skills required to achieve top marks."

This comprehensive study guide for OCR GCSE History delves into the dynamic period of Viking expansion from c.750 to c.1050. It moves beyond the stereotype of raiders to explore the Vikings as traders, settlers, and empire-builders, providing the specific knowledge and analytical skills needed to achieve top marks.