Not all topics are equally likely to appear in your exam. Use this guide if your revision time is limited.
Tier 1 — MUST study (appear in nearly every sitting):
- Economic Boom (Topic 4) — WCRAM causes, Model T, credit, 5/5 sittings
- Causes of the Depression (Topic 10) — Wall Street Crash, bank failures, 5/5 sittings
- Segregation (Topic 16) — Jim Crow, Plessy v Ferguson, Brown v Board
- Birmingham 1963 (Topic 18) — Children's Crusade, fire hoses, March on Washington
- Voting Rights (Topic 19) — Selma, Voting Rights Act 1965, Mississippi 7% to 67%
Tier 2 — SHOULD study (appear frequently):
- Prohibition (Topic 8) — organised crime, Al Capone, 18th and 21st Amendments
- New Deal (Topic 12) — Three Rs, CCC/WPA/TVA, what it failed to do
- Direct Action (Topic 17) — Montgomery, Greensboro, Freedom Rides
- Black Power (Topic 21) — Carmichael, Black Panthers, Malcolm X
Tier 3 — IF TIME (appear less often but still valuable):
- America in 1920 (T3), Life Changes (T5), Wealth Inequality (T6), Women (T7), Intolerance (T9), FDR Election (T11), New Deal opposition and success (T13-T14), WW2 and Post-War (T15), Legacy (T22)
Time guide: 5 hours of revision → focus on Tier 1 only. 10 hours → Tiers 1 and 2. 15+ hours → all topics. Remember: AQA can set questions on any topic, but Tier 1 topics almost always appear.
This exam focus covers Study Prioritisation — What to Study First (Unit 2: America) within Key Dates and Statistics for GCSE History. Revise Key Dates and Statistics in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 12 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 14 of 15 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Practice questions for Key Dates and Statistics
On which date did the Wall Street Crash reach its worst point, known as 'Black Tuesday'?
What was the peak unemployment rate in the USA at the height of the Great Depression in 1933?