Exam Technique

Question 1

What is the value and purpose of Question One?

Answer 1

Question One gives the instruction to use a source and our own knowledge to describe a subject. It is worth 6 marks (8 mins).

Question 2

How many points should be included in question one?

Answer 2

• A description of the source and its circumstance (2 marks).
• Four points of own knowledge, including statistics.

Question 3

What is the value and purpose of Question Two?

Answer 3

Question Two requires the description of an event or phenomenon. It is worth 8 marks, and approximately 11 minutes.

Question 4

How many points should be included in question two?

Answer 4

• A brief introduction, and summary of the subject (try to get at least two points in).
• Specific factual information (3 points).
• Context for that information (3 points).

Question 5

What is the value and purpose of Question Three?

Answer 5

Question three asks us to judge the purpose of a source, using knowledge of the era to improve our argument. It is worth 8 marks.

Question 6

How many points should be included in question three?

Answer 6

• Select and describe details from the caption and source (2 points).
• Use historical context to develop argument (3 points).
• Conclude the purpose of the source. This will require detailed analysis to achieve full marks (look at previous responses). This should include a minimum of three points.

Question 7

What is the value and purpose of Question Four?

Answer 7

The purpose of question four is to evaluate and contrast the relative usefulness of two sources (12 marks).

Question 8

How many points should be included in question four?

Answer 8

• Begin with judgement, and summary of two sources, and provide brief overview of the content of the sources.
• Evaluate the utility of source A, including judgements on content, authorship, context, and ultimately reliability: what point is it making?
• Condlude and assess previous paragraph.
• Take the same two steps for source B.
• Provide an overall judgement, rationalising decision.

Question 9

What is the value and purpose of Question Five?

Answer 9

Question Five is the essay question, probably asking us to assess the relative importance of an entire topic or phase (eg. cinema) during the era; it is nominally worth 16 marks, but the three points provided separately for punctuation really shouldn’t be missed.

Question 10

How many points should be included in question five?

Answer 10

• Introduce the topic, attempting to include as many facts and statistics as possible; try to contrast the essential differences between the given topic and your opposing argument early on.
• Include three PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. The link section must always, always be included) paragraphs for each the topic and the opposing argument, totalling six for this section. Each one should aim to include three marks.
• Give an overall judgement, including another two points, and explaining answer in detail.