OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) specification
The specification (J410) is OCR's own description of the History A (Explaining the Modern World) course: what you can be examined on, how the exams are set out and how they are marked. The link below opens the board's PDF on ocr.org.uk, so you always get its current version.
Open the J410 specification (PDF) (opens ocr.org.uk in a new tab)Everything for OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World), with the past papers, grade boundaries and the notes and flashcards people have shared.
How OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) is examined
From OCR's grade boundaries for June 2026. Some boards list every optional paper or time-zone variant, so you sit only the ones for your route; the specification says which.
| Paper | Marks | Next exam |
|---|---|---|
| Int Rltns:changing int order 1918-c.1975 with China 1950-1981: People & the StateJ410/01 | 105 | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning |
| Int Rltns:chngng int order 1918-c.1975 with Germany 1925-1955: People & the StateJ410/02 | 105 | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning |
| Int Rltns:chngng int order 1918-c.1975 South Africa 1960-1994:People & the StateJ410/05 | 105 | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning |
| Int Rltns:chngng int order 1918-c.1975 The USA 1919-1948:People & the StateJ410/06 | 105 | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning |
| Int Rltns:chnging int order 1918-c.1975 with The USA 1945-1974:People & the StateJ410/07 | 105 | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning |
| Migration to Britain c.1000 to c.2010J410/08 | 50 | Friday 28 May 2027, morning |
| Power: Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c.1000 to 2014J410/09 | 50 | Friday 28 May 2027, morning |
| War and British Society c.790 to c.2010J410/10 | 50 | Friday 28 May 2027, morning |
| The impact Empire on Britain 1688-c.1730 Urban Envrnmnts: Patterns of MigrationJ410/11 | 55 | Wednesday 9 June 2027, afternoon |
| The English Reformation c.1520-c.1550 with Castles:Form & Function c.1000-1750J410/12 | 55 | Wednesday 9 June 2027, afternoon |
| Personal Rule to Restoration 1629-1660 with Castles:Form & Function c.1000-1750J410/13 | 55 | Wednesday 9 June 2027, afternoon |
Turn a mark into a grade · OCR GCSE exam dates · Extra time and access arrangements
Revising from the History A (Explaining the Modern World) specification
Work through the specification's content list and mark what you are unsure of, then practise those parts with OCR's past papers and read your marks against the same year’s grade boundaries.
Common questions
Where can I find the OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) specification?
The link on this page opens OCR's own copy of the History A (Explaining the Modern World) specification (J410), a PDF on its website, so you always get the current version. We link to it rather than keep a copy.
What is in the History A (Explaining the Modern World) specification?
A specification is the board's own description of the course: the content you can be examined on, how the exams are set out and how they are marked. It is the most useful single document to revise from, because every exam question has to come from it.
Can I make practice questions from the specification?
Yes. cookie can make exam-style questions from a specification and mark your answers, so you can practise the parts you are least sure of once you run out of past papers.
More specifications: every GCSE specification we link.
cookie is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam board. Every paper here is a link to the board's own copy on its own website, and the papers belong to the boards that set them. If a link has stopped working, the board's own past paper page is linked on each course.