A leading history journal
for high-school scholars.
Aiming for a global top 30 university?
Challenge yourself to research deeper, think independently and produce work that stands out.
Aim higher. Go deeper. Make your work count.
An exceptional academic challenge
An original history paper. A demanding editorial standard. An opportunity to show how deeply you can think.
An international journal publishing outstanding history research by secondary students. Since 1987, it has given young historians a platform for substantial, original scholarship.
Choose a question that matters to you. Investigate the evidence. Build an argument worth reading.
Meet the journal ↗Where published authors have gone on to study
Author destinations reported by The Concord Review. These are journal-author outcomes, not ACE student results or a guarantee of admission.
Two formats. Real teacher support.
Learn at your own pace with personal feedback and accountability, or let a teacher guide you through the entire programme.
20 lessons. Four clear milestones.
Choose a stage to explore its lessons, or view the entire course.
| Lesson | What you learn | Student deliverable · what you complete |
|---|---|---|
| STAGE 1Research & Writing Foundations4 lessons · Foundation portfolio | ||
| 01 | What Is Historical Research?Connect questions, sources and arguments; assess research and writing skills. | Interest map and a 300-word diagnostic analysis |
| 02 | How Published Essays WorkAnalyse a published essay’s question, structure, evidence, conclusion and references. | Completed essay analysis and reading plan |
| 03 | Finding and Evaluating SourcesDistinguish primary and secondary sources; examine context, perspective and reliability. | Source log and three source-evaluation records |
| 04 | Writing Historical AnalysisLink claims, evidence and reasoning; practise quotation, paraphrase and citation. | Two analytical paragraphs with citations |
| STAGE 2Topic Development & Research Design4 lessons · Research proposal | ||
| 05 | Choosing a Researchable TopicDefine period, place and scope; assess significance and access to sources. | Two topic briefs and a feasibility comparison |
| 06 | Finding a Scholarly DebateCompare historians’ explanations and identify a precise question. | Research question and comparison of three interpretations |
| 07 | Building the Evidence BaseCollect and cross-check sources; connect textual or numerical evidence to claims. | Annotated bibliography and claim-evidence matrix |
| 08 | Research Proposal WorkshopDefend the topic, test a working thesis and organise the argument. | 500–800-word proposal and detailed outlineSELF-PACED 1:1 · OUTLINE |
| STAGE 3Argument Development & First Draft6 lessons · Complete first draft | ||
| 09 | Developing the Central ArgumentRefine the thesis and assign each section a distinct analytical purpose. | Thesis statement, section plan and evidence map |
| 10 | Drafting I: Context and ExplanationSelect essential context and develop an explanation of causes or change. | First body section with endnotes |
| 11 | Drafting II: Evidence and ComparisonAnalyse texts, events or data and explain how comparisons support the argument. | Second body section with endnotes |
| 12 | Drafting III: Alternative ExplanationsAddress counterevidence, compare rival explanations and qualify claims. | Remaining sections and counterargument analysis |
| 13 | Writing the Introduction and ConclusionEstablish the question and scholarly context; explain findings and significance. | Draft introduction and conclusion |
| 14 | Completing the First DraftIntegrate sections; check argument, transitions, endnotes and bibliography. | Complete first draft and self-review checklistSELF-PACED 1:1 · FIRST DRAFT |
| STAGE 4Research Refinement & Final Manuscript6 lessons · Submission package | ||
| 15 | Full-Manuscript Review I: StructureEvaluate the thesis, sequence and gaps; prioritise substantial revisions. | Annotated draft, written feedback and revision plan · Written teacher feedback in the live course |
| 16 | Deepening the ResearchResolve evidence gaps, corroborate sources and rewrite weak analytical sections. | Updated evidence matrix and rewritten sections |
| 17 | Full-Manuscript Review II: InterpretationTest competing explanations and clarify the contribution and limits of findings. | Revised manuscript, written feedback and response log · Written teacher feedback in the live course |
| 18 | Refining Academic EnglishImprove paragraph focus, transitions, precision, concision and readability. | Language-edited manuscript |
| 19 | Full-Manuscript Review III: AccuracyAudit facts, quotations and citations; check consistency and presentation. | Written feedback, verified source log and final candidate · Written teacher feedback in the live course |
| 20 | Final Defence and Submission PreparationExplain findings, complete final corrections and review submission requirements. | Final Word manuscript, word count and submission checklistSELF-PACED 1:1 · FINAL DRAFT |
Every lesson ends with work you can show. Submit the set task and reading summary. Human progress checks help you stay on track.
Choose your support →Why prepare with ACE Achievers?
Learn to read critically, ask sharper questions and explain a defensible argument.
Four stages, four concrete outputs. See what you need to finish before taking the next step.
Lesson tasks and reading summaries are checked, with personal feedback at the key moments.
Build skills in a deliberate sequence, from evaluating a source to producing a sustained piece of scholarship.
Start from November 2026
Choose the rhythm that works for you. Keep the same ambitious target.
| Your course | When & how | Teacher support | Course fee | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported self-paced20 online lessons | Study at your paceAccess arrangements confirmed at enrolment | 3 one-to-one reviewsPlus lesson-task and reading-summary checks | A$798 | Choose self-paced |
| Teacher-led Zoom4 students per group | November 2026 intake20 × 90 minutes · 12 weeks | Guidance throughoutLive teaching, discussion and manuscript feedback | A$1,998 | Join November |
Zoom session dates, times and time zone will be confirmed with your group. Allow 8–10 hours of independent work each week on the live programme.
International secondary students, including Australians. Complete the paper before finishing school and submit before university enrolment. Write an original, sole-authored English history paper.
The journal suggests 5,000–10,000+ words including notes and bibliography, with Chicago-style endnotes. Submit one Word or RTF file.
Official submission requirements ↗Standing annual rules for 2026–2027. US issue names; check the organiser’s deadline time.
Official eligibility & deadlines ↗Before you begin
20 lessons, guided reading, task and reading-summary completion checks, and three one-to-one teacher feedback sessions: outline, first draft and final draft. Course fee: A$798.
A teacher leads a group of four students through 20 sessions of 90 minutes over 12 weeks. The November 2026 intake includes guided reading, research, discussion, writing and three written full-manuscript reviews. Course fee: A$1,998.
A substantial independent history paper, a research portfolio and a revision record. The course planning range is 6,000–8,000 words of main text, adjusted to your topic, plus endnotes and bibliography. You also complete ten published-essay analyses.
Published TCR authors have gone on to leading universities. Each university makes its own admission decisions, and the journal makes its own editorial decisions. Our course helps you develop your research, writing and original work.
The course fee covers ACE Achievers teaching and support. The journal charges its own submission fee separately. Check its official submission page for current fees.
We contact you to discuss readiness and confirm access or class arrangements. This enquiry form does not take payment or confirm a class place.
A bigger goal starts here
Choose your course. Bring your curiosity.
Start building a paper you can be proud of.
Request enrolment now. We’ll confirm arrangements before payment.
ACE Achievers is an independent education provider. Students complete their own research and writing. Journal marks and cover imagery identify The Concord Review; no affiliation is implied.
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