OCR GCSE (9-1) History B (Schools History Project) (J411)
Exam structure at a glance for OCR GCSE (9-1) History B (Schools History Project): every paper with its time, marks and weighting, plus tiers, practicals and the links you need.
- Board
- OCR
- Specification code
- J411
- Tiers
- No tiers (one paper set for all)
- First teaching
- 2016
- First exams
- 2018
- Exam papers
- 3 · 4 h 30 min in total
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
The national curriculum has no KS4 programme of study for history (KS1-3 only).
Papers and weightings
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight | What it is (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component group 1: British history (thematic study and British depth study) | 1 h 45 min | 80 | 40% | Thematic study (40 marks): recall, structured account, explanation, 'how far' judgement. Depth study (40 marks): interpretations and a 'how far' judgement. |
| Component 21: History around us (site study) | 1 h | 40 +10 SPaG | 20% | Two questions from three about a historic site chosen by the centre, using its physical features and own knowledge. |
| Component group 3: World history (period study and world depth study) | 1 h 45 min | 80 | 40% | Period study (40 marks): recall, structured account, explanation, judgement. World depth study (40 marks): source analysis, usefulness of sources, judgement. |
Times are exam lengths; weightings are shares of the whole GCSE. Summaries are in our own words.
Good to know
- SPaG: 200 marks plus 10 SPaG marks in History Around Us (outside the weightings).
Not yet confirmed by us: cover says first assessment 2018 but page header says 2022. Check the specification.
Key dates
Summer 2027 exam series
- Entries deadline: Sun, 21 February 2027
- First exam: Mon, 10 May 2027
- Last GCSE exam: Fri, 18 June 2027
- Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
- GCSE results day: Thu, 19 August 2027 (from a provisional board timetable)
Sources: JCQ key dates June 2027 (final (JCQ key dates)); JCQ key dates and timetables; JCQ timetable commentary. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates. Last checked 2026-10-20.
Specification, past papers and grade boundaries
- OCR: Specification at a glance (board website)
- OCR: Specification (PDF, board website)
- OCR: Past papers and mark schemes (board website)
- OCR: Grade boundaries (board website)
Facts checked against: ocr.org.uk.
More packs
Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, tiers, codes) are taken from each exam board's own specification pages and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers or mark schemes are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.
Questions teachers ask
How long are the OCR GCSE (9-1) History B (Schools History Project) exams?
Component group 1: 1 h 45 min; Component 21: 1 h; Component group 3: 1 h 45 min.