THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Heroes, drama, power and religion form the four strands. Classical Studies is separate from the Latin and Ancient Greek language subjects.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Classical Studies assessed?
- Written examination: 80%.
- Research study: 20%.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Use the texts, sources and research brief selected under your official programme; the topic groups below are not a replacement reading list.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
The world of heroes
Heroic figures, values and narratives.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What makes a character heroic within the values of a text?
Distinguish a modern judgement from the expectations represented in the source.
Drama & spectacle
Performance, audiences and the ancient world.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How might an audience respond to a dramatic conflict?
Link the scene to performance and context, not just its storyline.
Power & identity
Authority and the ways identities are represented.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does an image or text promote a view of power?
Identify the intended message and consider the interests behind it.
Gods & humans
Religious ideas and relationships between divine and human action.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a source present the relationship between belief and behaviour?
Use details from the evidence rather than generalising about all ancient people.
Interpreting sources
Comparing literary, visual and material evidence.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What can an object tell us that a text cannot?
Explain both the usefulness and limits of each kind of source.
Research study
Investigation, evidence and a supported conclusion.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Does each section advance the research question?
Remove interesting but irrelevant background and strengthen the evidence for the argument.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Match each claim to a text, image or object.
- Practise short source responses as well as extended arguments.
- Review research sources for relevance and limitations.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Classical Studies (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Classical Studies: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: The four strands and assessment, printed pages 15–22.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.