1. Knowledge and Understanding Questions
Exam Technique
Knowledge and Understanding Questions

2. Types of Questions There are three main types of questions: Describe
Explain
How Important

3. Types of Questions At credit level questions will be worth
between 4-8 marks. Your answer must
be entirely from recall.
At general level questions will be worth
3 or 4 marks. You must use a source
AND recall to answer the question.

4. How To Answer a KU Question
Write in sentences and pargraphs.
No lists or bullet points – you will be given half marks for this.
Remember to PEE
P oint
E xplain
E xample

5. The Short Essay Question
This will only appear in the credit
exam. The question will:
say you need to write a short essay
give you a choice of questions
be worth 8 marks.

6. The Short Essay Question
Brainstorm
What are the key words in the question?
What evidence/points could I make in my answer?
Introduction
1-2 sentences long
Write the question in your own words and outline the main factors.

7. The Short Essay Question
Main Section
Write in sentences and paragraphs.
Take a new paragraph for each new factor and PEE!!
Use between 3-6 pieces of evidence
Conclusion
1-2 sentences long
Clearly answer the question by identifying the most important reason or piece of evidence in your essay.

8. To what extent was women’s work during the First World War the most important reason why women won the vote in 1918?
Introduction
Women’s work during the First World War helped them to get
the vote in However there were also other factors which
played a part such as the Suffragist and Suffragette Campaign.
Main Section
Suffragists – organisation, tactics, success.
Suffragettes – organisation, tactics, success
First World War – jobs carried out by women, Suffragist aand Suffragettes ended their campaign.
Other countries were giving women the vote.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the work that women did during the First World War
was the most important reason why they won the vote as they finally proved that they were responsible and deserved the right to vote.

9. Types of KU Questions Describe Something or Someone
Usually starts with words like:
* Describe….
* Give….
* What ….
Example: Give reasons why so many Scots decided to emigrate between

10. Types of KU Questions 2) Explain The Causes or Results of Something
Usually starts with words like:
* Why did….
* Explain why ….
* What were the results of...
Example: Explain why the health of Scottish people improved by 1930?

11. Types of KU Questions 3) How Important Was Something or Someone
Usually starts with words like:
* How important….
* How far ….
* To what extent...
Example: How important were ‘push factors’ in causing Scots to emigrate abroad?

12. How Important Was Something
or Someone
* Identify the main factor in the question.
* Think of other factors which were important.
* Answer the question at the end of your answer – Very important? Quite important? Not important?

13. KU Questions – General Level
Most of the answer is in the source.
Must include at least one piece of recall.
Do not copy the source word for word.
Take a new sentence for each point.

14. Sample Question – General Level
In 1914 about 60% of men but no women could vote
in parliamentary elections. By 1918, when voting
became an automatic right for all men, the
government also took the opportunity to give the
vote to women. However, while men got the vote at
age 21, women had to be aged 30 and over and be a
householder or married to a householder. Women
were also allowed to become MPs.
Describe the changes to voting introduced in the twentieth century (3 marks)

15. Sample Answer In 1918 all men got the vote (S). Infact
all men over 21 could vote in elections
(S). Women over 30 also got the right
to vote in 1918 (S). In 1928 all women
over 21 finally got the vote as well (R).

16. KU Questions – Credit Level
There is always an 8 mark short essay.
Your entire answer must be from recall.
Remember to PEE – take a new sentence for each point.
Look at how many marks the questions is worth – 1 clear point = 1 clear mark.
A developed (explained) point = 2 marks.

17. Sample Question – Credit Level
Explain why people emigrated from
Scotland between
(4 marks)

18. Sample Answer There were many reasons why people
emigrated from Scotland between
Some people left because of the
Highland Clearances when people were
forced off their land to make way for sheep.
People had no land to farm so they were
attracted to other countries where people
were offered a grant of land. People also left to join relatives who had already gone to live in another country. Unemployment also caused people to leave because they were struggling to make a living in Scotland.

19. Sample Question – KU3 How Important
How important was poverty in causing
Scots to emigrate abroad?
(4 marks)

20. Sample Answer – KU3 How Important
Poverty caused many Scots to emigrate abroad
because people were very poor and struggled to
make a living from farming. Others worked in
factories in the towns and were very poorly paid.
However there were other reasons why Scots
emigrated. People also left Scotland because of the
Highland Clearances when they were forced off
their land to make way for sheep. People were
attracted to other countries by the offer of free
land and this meant they could make a living for
their families. Overall, poverty was very important
in causing Scots to emigrate.