What the examiners look for

  1. How much information you can remember
  1. Picking and choosing information to fit the question being asked instead of just writing everything you know
  1. Detailed descriptions or explanations on the topics, events and people you have studies
  1. Organising your answer into structured paragraphs
  1. An understanding of why something happened, what results it had and how it changed things.
  1. An awareness of the key features and characteristics of a period in time
  1. The ability to use sources well by gaining information from them and using them to make conclusions about a key question
  1. An understanding of why people have different ideas about an event, person or change

What makes an explanation?

In order to gain a C or above in the exam you must be aiming to explain all of your answers.

An explanation is a description that also gives reasons why things have happened or why something is important.

How can you make sure that you are explaining?

  1. Always include the word because in your answer. This will encourage you to give reasons.
  2. Make one point and give a series of reasons for it

e.g. There are many reasons why public health improved in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Firstly, governments were more likely to get involved in improving the health of its citizens. Until the outbreak of cholera in 1842 forced the government to get involved in matters of public health they took an attitude known as ‘Laissez-Faire’ which meant that they did not think the government should become involved in people’s lives and that they worked best when left alone. The outbreaks of cholera lead the government to create the Public Heath Act of 1842 and 1875 which made public health the responsibility of the Boards of Health. This meant that actions could be taken on a large scale.

What types of questions can I expect in the exam?

Paper One

For the American West section of paper one you will have to answer two questions.

The first question will be a compulsory source based question in three parts. Part A will require understanding of the sources, inference and the ability to combine the sources. The wording of the question will be along the lines of What can you learn from the sources about…..

Part B will be on the same topic as part A but you will not have to use the sources. The question could focus on key features, change, cause or consequence. Types of question you could see are

Describe the problems faced by/methods used by/impact of….

In what ways did…change?

What impact did….have on….?

Part C will also focus on key features, change, cause and consequence but as there are more marks available for that question you will have to add more detail to your answer.

The second American West question will be an essay style question. You will have a choice of two questions; each will be supported by source material. The source material is there to help you. You do not have to restrict yourself to only writing about the information you see in the sources and you will not lose marks by not referring to the sources in your answer. Types of questions you might see are

How important was….?

…was the main reason for…Do you agree?

What impact did…have on…?

How much did…change in….?

Why was…so difficult/important/weak in….?

For the Medicine section in paper one you will be required to answer TWO QUESTIONS

You have to do the first question. This tests your knowledge of the CORE CONTENT

You will then have a choice of THREE questions (the three extension units)

ONLY ANSWER ONE OF THESE!

. Types of question you could see are

Describe the problems faced by/methods used by/impact of….

In what ways did…change?

What impact did….have on….?

Questions could also focus on key features, change, cause and consequence but as there are more marks available for that question you will have to add more detail to your answer.

How important was….?

…was the main reason for…Do you agree?

What impact did…have on…?

How much did…change in….?

Why was…so difficult/important/weak in….?

You might also be asked to compare across periods

Did more important changes happen in…century or the…century?

How much did…change between…and…?

Or put events into context

Why was…used/done/approached in this way at these times?

Why was…changed/discovered in this period?

Paper Two

Paper two will be the second paper you sit. It is worth 30% of your final mark.

You will be provided with a set of 10 sources and you will have to answer 8 questions.

The sources will be based on part of the nominated topic.

The emphasis of the questions will be on source skills and while it is necessary to have knowledge of the nominated topic it is use of that knowledge IN COMBINATION with the sources that will get the best marks.

Types of questions you will see are:

  1. Comprehension and inference

e.g. What can you learn from these sources about…?

This question is designed to test your understanding of the source material. Highest marks will be given to candidates who take information from the sources and make inferences from them. You do not have to comment on what cannot be learned or any reliability issues.

  1. Analysis of sources

e.g. How can you tell that source…sympathises with…?

In what ways does source…try to persuade…that…?

For this question you will need to comment on the language/style used in the sources, the information included or left out in order to show the opinion of the author.

  1. Comprehension of the sources and use of own knowledge

e.g. Explain why…using the source and your own knowledge

Use the source and your own knowledge to explain how…changed

What part did…play in…? Use the source(s) and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

The key to this question is the combination of the source AND own knowledge. If you only do one you will restrict the number of marks you receive. The highest marks can be gained through use of the sources, own knowledge and a tight focus on the question being asked.

  1. Evaluation of reliability or utility

e.g. How useful are…to the historian studying…?

Do you think the statement in source…is reliable?

For this question you MUST read the information that comes with the source as this will help you answer the question. Do not waste time relating in detail what the source says. Look at what the source says in the light of where it comes from, why it was written and what needs to be found out.

  1. Analysis/evaluation of interpretations and representations

e.g. How are…portrayed in…?

How accurately does the author portray…?

Do you agree with the view that…?

Why is difficult to find out whether..?

It is important to understand that historians create views of history based on evidence and that evidence is open to interpretation. Therefore there is often more than one view of an issue within history. In this question you are asked to judge how effective a view is or how accurate.

  1. Cross referencing (testing your ability to use sources in relation to one another)

e.g. Does source y support/challenge…in source z?

How does…in source y help you understand…in source z?

Does source y suggest that…in source z is accurate?

Make sure you use both sources effectively with this question by clearly explaining HOW the sources agree/disagree with each other. The highest marks can be achieved by also considering the weight of evidence.

  1. Reaching conclusions

e.g. Do you think that…was the most important factor in…?

How important was…in…?

Use the sources and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

This is usually the last question in the enquiry. You must use at least TWO sources when answering this question and your own knowledge to support your answer.

What do I need to revise for Paper 1?

American West / Completed
The Way of life of the Plains Indians
Trailblazers, mountain men and trappers
The Pioneers
The Gold Miners
The Mormons
The Homesteaders
Cowboys and Cattlemen
The Plains Wars
Why the Plains Indians lost control of the West
Medicine Through time / Completed
Prehistoric Medicine
Ancient Egyptian Medicine
Ancient Greek Medicine
Roman Medicine
The Middle Ages
Islamic Medicine
Surgery through the ages
Renaissance Medicine (e.g. Vesalius)
Industrial Revolution
Twentieth Century medicine
Factors affecting medicine (war, chance, social and religious attitudes, communications, governments, science and technology, individuals and opposition to change)
Causes and cures of disease through the ages
Anatomy through the ages
Public health through the ages

What do I need to revise for Paper 2?

Completed
Women in Medicine 1850-2000 (as doctors, midwives and nurses)
The development and use of antibiotics
Alexander Fleming
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson