1. GCSE EXAM QUESTION GUIDANCE
THE COLD WAR (53 marks)
Question marks - 3min
“Give two reasons from Source A which show…”
- Identify two pieces of information from a source
Question 2 – 4 marks - 7min
“Outline two…”
- Identify two actions/decisions/causes/ factors for change
Question marks - 15 min
“How useful are Sources A and B as evidence of…”
- Make a judgement on utility of BOTH sources
- Identify where a source is useful (e.g. The source is useful because.)
- Identify where it is limited (e.g. The source is limited because…)
- Consider content AND NOP
- Use own knowledge, particularly when identifying limitations
Question marks - 9min
“Describe the key features of…”
- Make 3 points and develop them
One key feature was… This meant..
A second key feature was… This meant…
A third key feature was… This meant…
Question 5 – 15 marks – 22min
“Explain the importance of the following in international relations”
- Pick 3 out of 4 events listed in the question
- State its importance
- Provide factual detail on the event]
- Explain why it was important to international relations (did it increase or reduce tensions?)
Question 6 – 13 marks + 3 SPAG -19min
“Explain why relations changed in the years…”
- 3-4 reasons
- Link them
- Prioritise them
- Prioritise one over at least two others and explain your priority in the conclusion
GERMANY (54 marks)
Question 1(a) 4 marks 6min
“What can you learn from Source A about…?”
- Make 2 inferences
The source suggests… because it shows…
Question 1(b) 6 marks 8min
“Describe the key features of…”
- Make 3 points and develop them
One key feature was… This meant..
A second key feature was… This meant…
A third key feature was… This meant…
Question 1(c) 8 marks 12 min
“Explain the effects of…”
- 2-3 consequences + explanation
- Link them
- Prioritise them
One effect was…
This can be linked to…
A second effect was…
The most important effect was…
Question 1(d) 8 marks 12 min
“Explain why…”
- 2-3 causes + explanation
One reason why ___ was…
A second reason why _____ was …
The most reason was
Question 2 8 marks 12 min
“Explain how…”
- 2-3 reasons for change + explanation
One reason was…
A second reason was…
The most important reason was
Question 3 16 marks + 4 SPAG 25 min
“Was _____ the main reason for ________ ? Explain your answer.”
- 3-4 reasons
- Prioritise one over two others and explain
- State that one factor alone could not have explained why ____ happened
BRITAIN (53 marks)
Question marks - 10min
“What can you learn from Source A about…?”
- Make 2 inferences
The source suggests… because it shows…
Question marks - 12min
“What was the purpose of Source X?”
- Consider purpose (why it was made)
- Explain the context the source was made in using precise contextual knowledge
- Consider the message (What is the source saying in order to achieve the purpose)
- Make 3 valid points.
Question marks - 12min
“Explain why…”
- Identify one reason something happened by making an inference from the source.
- Explain two other reasons using precise contextual knowledge
Question 4 Option marks - 12 min
“How reliable are Sources A and B as evidence of…”
- Make a judgement on reliability of BOTH sources
- Identify where the source is reliable
- Identify where the source is unreliable
- Consider content AND NOP
- Use precise contextual knowledge, particularly when identifying limitations
Question 4 Option marks - 12min
“How useful are Sources A and B as evidence of…”
- Make a judgement on utility of BOTH sources
- Identify where a source is useful
- Identify where it is limited
Question 5 16 marks + 3 SPAG – 20min
“You are given a hypothesis. How far do you/the sources agree with the hypothesis?”
- Group sources together that agree and that disagree.
- Make a judgement on how far they agree/disagree and explain.
- Make a judgement on the strength of each source by commenting on its reliability.
- Use precise contextual knowledge
Offer an overall conclusion saying how far you agree

2. Exam Preparation: Nazi Germany - 1 hour and 15 minutes
Question 1(a) 6min
“What can you learn from Source A about…?”
- Make 2 inferences
The source suggests… because it shows…
Question 1(b) 8min
“Describe the key features of…”
- Make 3 points and develop them
One key feature was… This meant..
A second key feature was… This meant…
A third key feature was…
This meant…
Question 1(c) 12 min
“Explain the effects of…”
- 2-3 consequences + explanation
- Link them
- Prioritise them
One effect was…
This can be linked to…
A second effect was…
The most important effect was…
Question 1(d) 12 min
“Explain why…”
- 2-3 causes + explanation
One reason why ___ was…
A second reason why _____ was …
The most important effect was
Question 2 12 min
“Explain how…”
- 2-3 reasons for change + explanation
One reason was…
A second reason was…
Question 3 25 min
“Was _____ the main reason for ________ ? Explain your answer.”
- 3-4 reasons
- Prioritise one over another and explain
- State that one factor alone could not have explained why ____ happened

3. Exam Preparation: Cold War - 1 hour and 15 minutes
Question marks - 3min
“Give two reasons from Source A which show…”
- Identify two pieces of information from a source
Question 2 – 4 marks - 7min
“Outline two…”
- Identify two actions/decisions/causes/ factors for change
Question marks - 15 min
“How useful are Sources A and B as evidence of…”
Make a judgement on utility of BOTH sources
Identify where a source is useful
(e.g. The source is useful because.)
Identify where it is limited
(e.g. The source is limited because…)
Consider content AND NOP
Use own knowledge.
Question marks - 9min
“Describe the key features of…”
- Make 3 points and develop them
One key feature was… This meant..
A second key feature was… This meant…
A third key feature was…
This meant…
Question 5 – 15 marks – 22min
“Explain the importance of the following in international relations”
Pick 3 out of 4 events listed in the question
State its importance
Provide factual detail on the event]
Explain why it was important to international relations (did it increase or reduce tensions?)
Question 6 – 13 marks + 3 SPAG -19min
“Explain why relations changed in the years…”
- 3-4 reasons
- Link them
- Prioritise them
- Prioritise one over at least two others and explain your priority in the conclusion