History

What is it? The study of the past. You might look at the politics of the Tudor court or delve into the world of civil rights activists Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. What periods you study depends on your college. Some concentrate on a particular country such as the USA or Germany. Others approach the subject comparatively, for example studying the French and Russian Revolutions.

Why do it? "It gives you an insight into issues and dilemmas that are still with us today, such as the conflict in Northern Ireland," says Angela Leonard, chief examiner in history at Edexcel. "It's enjoyable to study people from a different time."

What skills do you need? It helps to have GCSE history, but the main requirement is good written communications skills. You'll need analytical skills and the ability to process and organise information and argue your case convincingly.

How much practical work is there? None.

Ratio of coursework to exams: It depends. The Edexcel syllabus allows schools a wide choice of modules, including the option to do an individual study on a topic of your choice. You could do 100 per cent exam or up to 30 per cent coursework.

Is it hard? Only if you neglect to keep up with your revision. "Students must revise what they've studied for the exam," says Edexcel's Angela Leonard. "Imagination is valuable for empathising with people in the past, but your essays must have a solid basis in facts."

Who takes it? An even number of boys and girls.

How cool is it? "If you measure coolness by popularity, it's very cool," says Angela Leonard.

Added value: There will be visits to museums and historical sites. Some colleges venture abroad, for example to Venice to study the Italian Renaissance.

What subjects go with it? Most students combine history with other arts subjects, but it goes with anything.

What degrees does it lead to? History, plus any subject that requires clarity of thought and argument such as law, economics and politics.

Will it set you up for a brilliant career? "It gives you an entry into anything that requires a trained mind," says Angela Leonard. "History students are snapped up by all sorts of companies, as they make sense of information quickly and clearly."

What do the students say? "We study the Edexcel course and it's really good," says Emily Hughes, also studying A-levels in law, physics and economics at Sussex Downs College. "I'm doing the Suffragette movement. Last year we did a fascinating module on Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. But we're doing too much German history – we studied it at GCSE."

Which awarding bodies offer it? AQA, Edexcel and OCR.

How widely available is it? Very.

c.rudebeck@independent.co.uk