Choose an A Level History tutor who knows your child’s exam board and the specific period options they study, teaches essay argument and source evaluation, and supports the coursework within the board’s rules. A Level History rewards sustained, analytical argument rather than knowledge alone. This guide explains how the boards differ, where students lose marks and how to choose a tutor.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company.

Key takeaways

• Boards offer many period options; the tutor should know your child’s.
• Most marks depend on argument, not narrative.
• Source and interpretation questions need specific technique.
• UK boards include a non-exam assessment (NEA); Cambridge 9489 does not.

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How do the boards compare?

Board	Structure	Coursework
AQA 7042	Breadth study, depth study, historical investigation	NEA (20%)
OCR H505	British period study, non-British period, thematic study	NEA
Pearson Edexcel 9HI0	Routes with breadth, depth and coursework	Coursework
Cambridge 9489	Document question, outline, depth and interpretation papers	None

Check the current details on the board’s site, such as the AQA A Level History page.

Where do A Level History students lose marks?

• Narrative instead of argument: telling the story rather than answering the question.
• Not addressing the exact question, such as “how far” or “to what extent”.
• Weak source evaluation: comments on provenance without linking to the question.
• Interpretations treated as facts rather than arguments to assess.
• Conclusions that don’t reach a clear, supported judgement.

What should an A Level History tutor offer?

What to check	Why it matters
Board and options	Content and question styles differ
Essay technique	The main source of marks
Source and interpretation skills	Specific to each paper
Marking against level descriptors	Shows how to reach the top band
NEA approach	Must follow the rules

You can browse A Level History tutors, including Cambridge 9489 tutors in London and other cities.

How to write a stronger History essay

1. Answer the question in the introduction with a clear line of argument.
2. Organise by argument, not chronology.
3. Use precise evidence: dates, names, figures.
4. Weigh factors against each other in every paragraph.
5. Reach a judgement that follows from the argument.

How should a tutor support the NEA?

By teaching research, source evaluation and essay skills; the investigation is the student’s own.

Allowed	Not allowed
Explaining the criteria	Writing any part of the investigation
Teaching how to evaluate historians’ views	Choosing the title for the student
Practising essay structure on another topic	Editing drafts

How to choose a tutor: step by step

1. Confirm the board and period options.
2. Share a recent marked essay.
3. Book a trial lesson focused on one essay question.
4. Ask how the tutor teaches argument and judgement.
5. Agree a plan covering content, essays and the NEA timeline.

What does a good lesson look like?

1. Unpack one past-paper question and its command phrase.
2. Plan an essay together: argument, factors, evidence.
3. Write one paragraph under time.
4. Mark it against the level descriptors and improve it.

Signs your child needs a History tutor

• essays described as “narrative” or “descriptive”;
• low marks on source or interpretation questions;
• not finishing essays in time;
• uncertainty about the NEA title or historians’ views.

How much tutoring is enough?

One hour a week suits most students, with more before mocks. Essay practice between lessons, marked by the tutor, adds a lot of value.

Questions to ask an A Level History tutor

1. Which of my child’s options have you taught?
2. How do you teach source and interpretation questions?
3. How do you mark essays?
4. How do you support the NEA within the rules?

Does online tutoring work for this subject?

Yes. Tutors share sources and extracts on screen, annotate them with the student, and mark practice essays in advance so lessons focus on improving argument. Online lessons also make it easy to fit regular essay practice around a busy Year 12 or 13 timetable.

How Tutopiya tutoring works

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online A Level History tutoring.

• A tutor matched to the board and options.
• A free first trial lesson, with no card needed.
• From 4 hours a month per subject. Each tutor sets their own rate, which you see before booking.
• AI lesson analysis gives a summary, flashcards and quiz questions after each lesson.

See our A Level tuition page.

Year 12 vs Year 13 priorities

In Year 12, focus on essay technique and the first component’s content; in Year 13, on the NEA, timed essays and full past papers. Starting essay practice early means Year 13 can concentrate on refining argument rather than learning how to structure an answer.

Common mistakes

• Learning content without practising essays → write weekly.
• Chronological essays → organise by argument.
• Ignoring command phrases → answer the exact question.
• Leaving the NEA late → plan it early.

Talk to us

For IB students, see our guide to choosing an IB History tutor. To compare services, read our guide to online A Level tutoring services, or contact our team.

Summary: choose an A Level History tutor who knows your board and options and teaches argument, source evaluation and essay structure, with NEA support that stays within the rules.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for in an A Level History tutor? +

Experience with your child's board and the specific options they study, strong teaching of essay structure and argument, confidence with source and interpretation questions, and an approach to the NEA that stays within the rules.

Why do A Level History options matter? +

Each board offers many period options, such as Tudor England, the Cold War or Russia. A tutor who knows your child's options can teach the content and the specific question styles efficiently.

Can a tutor help with the A Level History NEA? +

Yes, within the rules. A tutor can teach research and essay skills and explain the criteria, but the investigation must be the student's own work, supervised and authenticated by the school.

Where do A Level History students lose marks? +

Usually by describing events instead of arguing, not answering the exact question, weak evaluation of sources and interpretations, and conclusions that don't follow from the essay.

Does Tutopiya offer A Level History tutors? +

Yes, for UK and international boards. The first trial lesson is free with no card required, and each tutor's rate is shown before booking.

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