OCR A Level Ancient History (H007/H407/2017) Past Papers 2026

H407/11–13 — Greek Period Study + Depth Study (choose ONE)

Duration: 2h 30m

H407/21–23 — Roman Period Study + Depth Study (choose ONE)

Duration: 2h 30m

H407/11–13 — Herodotus erroneously described as Athenian in source evaluation

Across all three Greek components in 2023, examiners noted 'the usual common remark that he was an Athenian (which he wasn't) and so biased.' This stock error — misidentifying Herodotus' origins and using it as a readymade bias point — produced generic rather than substantiated evaluation.

H407/11, H407/12, H407/13

H407/11–13 — Serpent Column: confusion over what it records and how many states it lists

Multiple 2023 Greek component reports noted 'some confusion over what it tells us with several candidates claiming it told us how many men and/or ships each state supplied and that it represented all who contributed throughout the wars rather than just at Plataea. There was also confusion over the exact number of states on the column (31).'

H407/11, H407/12, H407/13

H407/11–13 — Modern interpretation (Question 3): evaluating ancient sources instead of the scholar's argument

In 2024, many H407/11 responses still contained 'examples of ancient source evaluation in the answer to Question 3.' Candidates reverted to discussing what Herodotus or Thucydides says rather than engaging with whether the scholar's interpretation of those sources is convincing.

H407/11, H407/12, H407/13

H407/21–23 — Senate under the Principate: conflating Republican Senate with Imperial Senate

All three Roman components in 2023 noted 'some candidates did not notice that the question concerned the Senate and senators under the principate not in the Republic.' Lengthy description of Cicero's Senate or Republican constitutional arrangements was 'not relevant' to questions covering Augustus to Nero.

H407/21, H407/22, H407/23

H407/21–23 — Suetonius incorrectly identified as a senator with anti-imperial bias

In every Roman component in both 2023 and 2024, examiners noted 'Suetonius was often termed a senator. He is said to have a bias against emperors in support of the Senate. He was, in fact, an equestrian.' This stock error undermines source evaluation across all Roman depth study questions.

H407/21, H407/22, H407/23

H407/21–23 — Tacitus incorrectly cited for the reign of Gaius (Caligula)

Across all Roman components in 2023, examiners flagged that 'Tacitus was, too often, referenced as a source for Gaius — that portion of the Annals is lost.' Citing Tacitus for Gaius is a factual error that undermines AO1 and the source evaluation built on it.

H407/21, H407/22, H407/23

H407/13 — Alexander's campaigns treated as a military catalogue with little source engagement

In 2023, some H407/13 responses on Alexander 'confined their scope to the military aspects of Alexander's career, a catalogue of the battles and this often had the consequence of limiting their answers.' The highest responses integrated analysis of Arrian and Plutarch with evaluation of Alexander's character and decision-making, not just a list of battles.

H407/13

H407/23 — Roman Britain chronology: confusing events from different governorships or extending outside the specified date range

In H407/23 June 2023, candidates answering Question 6 (northern frontier AD 77/8–122) 'started as early as AD 43, or AD 60. Some recounted the difficulties in Wales in the 50s and 60s before the Silures and Brigantes were subdued.' Incorrect chronology also appeared in the invasion narrative, with Tacitus mistakenly cited for events of AD 43.

H407/23