Cambridge AS and A Level History - 'What you need to know' factsheet
Cambridge International AS & A Level History (9489) What you need to know
The Cambridge International AS & A Level History (9489) syllabus is changing. This factsheet gives an overview of the main changes and explains how our resources will support you and your students with the updated syllabus for examination from 2027.
To develop our revised syllabus and new published resources series, we talked with history teachers and educational experts in Cambridge and globally. Their insights have helped us develop a syllabus and resources that encourage students to accelerate their learning and develop skills for life.
Cambridge International AS Level
Key change
Important information
From 2027, this syllabus will not be available to schools in the US. We have created new qualification routes specifically for the US.
The AS Level subject content has been revised for each option on Paper 1 and Paper 2. Key questions have been reviewed and amended, some content has been added and some content removed. We have added more details to each topic to make the syllabus content clearer.
The AS Level topics for each of the options have been reduced from four topics to three:
• European option – Industrial Revolution in Britain, 1750–1850 has been removed.
• International option – China and Japan, 1912–45 has been removed.
• American option – the amended content has been restructured into three topics.
What this means for you
We have revised the subject content, removing the least popular topics.
The further detail added to the syllabus to exemplify the content will help understanding of the scope of the topics.
While the content may look different, many sections remain largely the same.
How we support you
We have added specific support for addressing language barriers to help you help students who may struggle with the language demands of historical study.
Each AS Level topic (European and International options only) now has its own chapter in the new coursebooks, with added detail to clarify teaching points.
There will also be specimen papers and mark schemes, specimen paper answers, learner guides and schemes of work that include guidance on working with sources to support your teaching on our School Support Hub.
We have rewritten the mark schemes for Papers 1 and 2 to clarify what examiners expect in candidate responses. While the style of questions remains unchanged, these enhancements will support you in preparing students more effectively for their exams.
There will be updated specimen mark schemes available on the School Support Hub.
Cambridge International AS & A Level History (9489)
What you need to know
Cambridge International A Level
Key change
The topics for Paper 3 Historical Interpretations are unchanged.
The A Level subject content for Paper 4 Depth Study has been revised for each option. Key questions have been reviewed and amended, some content has been added and some content removed. Further detail has been added to all topics to exemplify the syllabus content.
The topics for each of the options on Paper 4 have been reduced from four topics to three:
• European option – Britain, 1919–39 has been removed.
• International option – content has been revised throughout. New content covers the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe, the end of minority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the route to independence in Malaysia and Indonesia. The topic on conflict in the Middle East has been removed.
• American option – the amended content has been restructured into three topics.
What this means for you
For Paper 4, you will need to review our updated key questions and adjust your lesson plans to focus on the three revised topics for each option.
How we support you
There will be specimen papers and mark schemes, specimen paper answers, learner guides and schemes of work to support your teaching on our School Support Hub.
Cambridge International AS & A Level History (9489) What you need to know continued
Our published resources
The series supports both students’ and teachers’ journey through history with a skills-based approach. It is packed with activities, source work and practice questions that help students develop and apply historical skills effectively.
This series is endorsed for the Cambridge Pathway to support the full Cambridge International AS & A Level History syllabus (9489) for examination from 2027. Available in print and digital.
Coursebooks with digital access
• ‘Getting started’ activities at the start of each chapter are designed to encourage students to reflect on what they already know about the topic, to help them prepare for each lesson.
• Varied activities provide many opportunities for in-class practice and help students apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, with a strong emphasis on developing analytical writing skills and critical reflection.
• Each chapter begins with a detailed timeline to help aid understanding of the chronological order of significant events.
Digital teacher’s resource
• Detailed answer keys for all activities and worksheets save time and provide clear benchmarks for efficient and accurate marking.
• Specific support for addressing language barriers enables you to support students who may struggle with the language demands of historical study.
• Practical support, including academic writing activities, worksheets, and tasks focusing on key vocabulary enable you to help your students understand topic-specific language.
• Create a free teacher account and activate the code from your book to access additional support, including answers to all activities in the coursebook, via Cambridge GO.
Cambridge Pathway
The Cambridge Pathway offers five stages of education from age 3 to 19, with curriculum, resources and assessment. Registered Cambridge International Schools benefit from high-quality programmes, qualifications, assessments and a wide range of support so that teachers can effectively deliver in the classroom. Visit cambridgeinternational.org/pathway for more details.
