A truly international specification, which engages students with modern international relations, relevant and contemporary themes and perspectives, and long-term global historical developments.
- For first teaching from 2026, with first exams from May/June 2028.
- A clear and accessible assessment structure, with pre-released sources to facilitate accessibility and deeper thinking while also maintaining fair and reliable assessment.
- A carefully chosen set of popular modern topics to choose from, with new thematic topic areas that focus on the history of technology and medicine.
- A relevant, engaging and up-to-date specification developed with teachers to motivate and challenge all students, regardless of their academic ability.
Book your place for the Teaching OxfordAQA International GCSE History online training session to gain clear guidance on curriculum planning and insights into the wide range of teacher resources, from Lead Developer Richard Staton.
Register your interest to receive email updates containing resources and support to help you teach this new qualification, including access to digital inspection copies of the Student Books from Oxford University Press.
International GCSE History (9245)
OxfordAQA provides resources and advice you need to teach the International GCSE History specification effectively.
- Download the specification.
- The switching guide will be available soon.
- View our resources page for this qualification.
- View our training courses to help you deliver OxfordAQA International GCSE History
- From Oxford University Press: fully-matched Student Books and digital teaching resources available ahead of first teaching in 2026 – register your interest to request a digital inspection copy.
Paper 1 – International Relations Depth Studies: Conflict and Peace in the 20th Century
Section A: One from two optional depth studies:
• Peace-making and the League of Nations, 1918–1939
• Crises of the Cold War, 1960–1975
Section B: One from four optional depth studies:
• The origins of the First World War, c1890–1915
• Hitler’s foreign policy and the origins of the Second World War, 1933–1941
• The origins and development of the Cold War, 1945–1960
• Détente and the collapse of Communism, 1969–1991
• Written exam
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• 60 marks
• 50% of GCSE
Paper 2 – Studies in Change
Section A: One from three optional studies looking at societies in change:
• Life in Germany, 1919–1949
• Life in Russia and the USSR, 1914–1953
• Life in the USA, 1919–1968
Section B: One from two thematic studies:
• Technology and change, c800–present day
• Medicine and change, c800–present day
• Written exam
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• 60 marks
• 50% of GCSE
Take a look at:
- Example specimen exam paper and mark scheme for Paper 1.
- The OxfordAQA International GCSE History switching guide will be available soon.
You must be an approved OxfordAQA centre to enter students for our exams. Make sure you become an OxfordAQA centre before you start teaching a course.
