Qualification
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
International GCSE History specification 4HI1.
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE · Specification 4HI1
Online IGCSE History Course
Study Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History at home through
structured online lessons covering medicine, the United States,
Nazi Germany and the American civil-rights movement. Start at any
time while developing historical knowledge, source analysis and
confident written argument.
Immediate access to the online course
21 lessons across four examined History topics
Optional tutor marking, tutorials and printed materials
Start your History course
£14.99 / month
Today’s payment:
£24.99
Includes:
- Course materials subscription
- Academic induction session and booking fee
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£14.99 per month
🔒 Minimum 6 months subscription applies.
Course overview
History IGCSE course at a glance
Prepare for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History through a structured home-study course that develops factual knowledge, source analysis, historical interpretation and the ability to construct clear, evidence-based judgements.
Course structure
4 topics · 21 lessons
Study medicine, the USA between the wars, Nazi Germany and American civil rights.
Recommended study time
Approximately 200 hours
Work through the course at a pace that suits your timetable and intended examination date.
Enrolment
Start at any time
There is no fixed term date, so you can begin when it suits your study plans.
Assignments
8 Tutor-marked Assignments
Complete assignments throughout the four topic modules, followed by two full practice examination papers.
Assessment
2 written papers
Each examination lasts 90 minutes, carries 60 marks and contributes 50% of the qualification.
Historical evidence
Sources and interpretations
Learn to interpret, compare and evaluate evidence rather than accepting historical claims at face value.
Historical thinking
Cause · Change · Consequence
Explain developments, analyse significance and reach supported judgements about the past.
Understand the past and question the evidence
The course combines detailed historical knowledge with the skills needed to examine sources, recognise different interpretations and construct balanced arguments.
How it works
How your IGCSE History course works
Study through a clear sequence of online lessons, historical sources, activities and assessments designed to build your knowledge and examination skills progressively.
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Enrol and start online
Enrol at any time and receive immediate access to your online course. Your included academic induction session helps you understand the course and plan your studies.
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Learn how historians use evidence
Begin with a preliminary lesson on historical sources before studying the four selected Pearson Edexcel 4HI1 topics in chronological and thematic detail.
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Practise historical argument
Activities and assignments help you explain causes and consequences, compare sources, evaluate interpretations and construct supported historical judgements.
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Prepare for both examinations
Complete two full practice papers to develop your timing, factual recall, source analysis and confidence with the different question formats.
Flexible additional support
Add personal support when you need it
The course can be studied independently using the lesson materials and suggested answers. Tutor marking, mock-exam marking, email support, one-to-one tutorials and printed materials can be purchased separately when useful.
What you’ll study
Explore the IGCSE History course content
The course begins with historical-source skills before moving through four selected Pearson Edexcel topics and a final revision lesson with two complete practice examination papers.
Preliminary lesson Using Historical Sources Learn how historians use primary and secondary sources, evaluate reliability, identify limitations and reach evidence-based conclusions. Foundation skills
- Using Historical Sources
Module 1 Changes in Medicine, c1848–c1948 Explore developments in disease, surgery, public health, nursing, scientific discovery and the creation of the NHS. 5 lessons
- Progress in the Mid-19th Century: Nightingale, Chadwick, Snow and Simpson
- Medical Discovery and Development, 1860–75: Lister and Pasteur
- Accelerating Change, 1875–1905: Ehrlich, Koch and Chemistry
- Government Action and War, 1905–20
- Advances in Medicine, Surgery and Public Health, 1920–48: The NHS
Module 2 The USA, 1918–41 Study economic prosperity, social tension, the Wall Street Crash, the Great Depression and Roosevelt’s New Deal. 5 lessons
- The Roaring Twenties
- Increased Social Tensions in the 1920s
- The USA in Depression, 1929–33
- Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1933–41
- The Opposition to the New Deal
Module 3 Germany: Development of Dictatorship, 1918–45 Examine the Weimar Republic, Hitler’s rise, Nazi control, persecution, opposition and the impact of the Second World War. 5 lessons
- The Establishment of the Weimar Republic and Its Early Problems
- The Recovery of Germany, 1924–29
- The Rise of Hitler and the Nazis to January 1933
- Nazi Germany, 1933–39
- The Impact of the Second World War on Germany
Module 4 A Divided Union: Civil Rights in the USA, 1945–74 Explore McCarthyism, racial segregation, civil-rights campaigns, wider protest movements and the Watergate scandal. 5 lessons
- The Red Scare and McCarthyism
- Civil Rights in the 1950s
- The Impact of Civil Rights Protests, 1960–74
- Other Protest Movements: Students, Women and Opposition to the Vietnam War
- Nixon and Watergate
Final lesson Revision and Practice Examinations Bring together the four selected topics and practise the knowledge, source and interpretation skills required in both examination papers. 1 lesson · 2 mock papers
- Revision
Practice Exam — Paper 1
Practice Exam — Paper 2
Knowledge and historical skills developed together
The course combines detailed study of each period with regular practice in analysing evidence, explaining developments and evaluating different accounts of the past.
Exams and assessment
How the IGCSE History course is assessed
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History is assessed through two written examination papers. The course prepares students for four selected topics, combining factual knowledge with source analysis, historical interpretation and supported judgement.
Paper 1 · Depth Studies
4HI1/01
90 minutes
Exam duration
60 marks
Available marks
50%
Of the qualification
Students answer one question on Germany, 1918–45 and one question on civil rights in the USA, 1945–74. Questions test knowledge, explanation, judgement and historical interpretation.
Paper 2 · Investigation and Breadth Studies
4HI1/02
90 minutes
Exam duration
60 marks
Available marks
50%
Of the qualification
Students answer an evidence-based question on the USA, 1918–41 and a breadth-study question on changes in medicine, c1848–c1948.
Selected topics
Answer only the prepared options
Students must choose the four topics covered by this course rather than attempting questions on other specification options.
Source skills
Interpret and cross-reference
Questions may require students to extract information, make inferences and compare evidence from several sources.
Historical interpretations
Analyse different accounts
Students examine how and why historians or contemporary observers may interpret the same event differently.
Assessment route
Examination only
The qualification is assessed entirely through the two written papers, with no coursework component.
Arranging your examination
Exam entry is arranged separately
Home-educated students normally enter as private candidates at an approved examination centre. Examination entry and centre fees are not included in the course subscription.
Support and add-ons
Add extra History support when you need it
Your course subscription provides the structured online materials needed for independent study. Additional tutor support, marking and printed materials can be purchased separately whenever they would be useful.
Written feedback
Assignment marking
Submit individual assignments and receive detailed tutor feedback on factual knowledge, explanation, source analysis, argument and historical judgement.
Source work
Evidence and interpretation feedback
Develop your ability to make inferences, compare sources, evaluate provenance and analyse competing interpretations of the past.
Exam preparation
Mock exam marking
Complete full examination-style papers and receive feedback focused on timing, question selection, supporting evidence and examination technique.
Ongoing guidance
Email Tutor Support
Ask questions about course topics, historical evidence, interpretations and written assignments while working through the lessons.
Live tuition
One-to-one tutorials
Book an individual online session with a tutor to discuss a difficult topic, review an essay plan or prepare for a particular examination question.
Flexible by design
Choose only what you need
Add-ons are optional. Study independently, purchase support for selected assignments or combine several services as your needs change.
Explore your options
See all available learning support
Prospective students can compare the different support services. Existing students can purchase course-specific add-ons through their account.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the IGCSE History course
Find answers about starting the course, selected historical topics, examinations, course materials and additional tutor support.
Can I start the History course at any time?
Yes. There are no fixed term dates, so you can enrol and begin studying when it suits you. You can then work through the course at a pace that fits your intended examination date.
How long does the course take to complete?
We recommend allowing approximately 200 hours of study. The actual completion time will depend on your existing knowledge, weekly study schedule and examination plans.
Which examination specification does the course cover?
The course prepares students for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History specification 4HI1.
Which historical topics will I study?
You will study changes in medicine from 1848 to 1948, the USA from 1918 to 1941, Germany from 1918 to 1945 and civil rights in the USA from 1945 to 1974.
Do I answer questions on every option in the specification?
No. Pearson offers several topic choices, but this course prepares you for four specific options. In the examination, you should answer only the questions covering those topics.
Does the course include source analysis?
Yes. The course begins with historical-source skills and continues to develop inference, comparison, evaluation, cross-referencing and interpretation throughout the lessons.
Is there a coursework component?
No. The qualification is assessed entirely through two written examination papers, each lasting 90 minutes and contributing 50% of the final result.
Is tutor marking included in the subscription?
Tutor marking is not included in the monthly subscription. Optional marking can be purchased for individual assignments and the two complete practice examination papers.
Do I need to buy a textbook?
No compulsory textbook is required. The course is designed to be self-contained, although optional Pearson textbooks can provide additional reading and alternative perspectives.
What skills will I develop?
You will develop research, source evaluation, critical thinking, chronological understanding, written argument and the ability to reach balanced, evidence-based conclusions.
Course materials
No compulsory textbook required
The Oxford Home Schooling History course is designed to be self-contained and contains the core teaching material, historical
sources and activities needed to prepare for the selected Pearson Edexcel 4HI1 topics.
Optional general reference book
Students who would like an additional overview may use the Edexcel International GCSE History Student Book by Jane Shuter, Robin Bunce, Laura Gallagher and John Child, ISBN 9780435141905. This book is optional rather than compulsory.
Topic-specific additional reading
Pearson also publishes separate books covering Germany, Changes in Medicine, the USA from 1918 to 1941 and Civil Rights in the USA. These can provide additional examples and alternative perspectives but are not required to complete the course.
Ready to begin?
Start your online IGCSE History course
Enrol at any time and begin working towards the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History qualification through a structured, flexible home-study course.
- Start studying at any time
- Immediate access to the online course
- Develop historical knowledge, analysis and argument
Start your History course
Return to the enrolment panel to review today’s payment and add the course to your basket.