How convincing is A about…? (8 marks) - The Elizabethans - exam preparation - AQA - GCSE History Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer an 8 mark question in history GCSE? ›

You have to be very careful not to simply tell the story of the events in the order they happened. Be sure to explain the causes and consequences in your answer. You could start by explaining a few of the key events and the wider context. Remember to link the events to the developing crisis.

Interpretation A is very convincing because we know Elizabethan theatre was enjoyed by the public. The interpretation mentions 'all sorts of people watched plays'.

Interpretation A is convincing because it states that Elizabeth's 'death before 1587 would probably have led to a civil war' implying that before 1587 nothing was secure in terms of marriage and succession.

This type of question assesses your analysis of an interpretation, such as a photograph or painting, and your contextual knowledge of the topic. Example: How convincing is Interpretation A about Elizabeth I's relationship with Mary, Queen of Scots?

Do not simply write all you know - you will need to be selective to make sure that your answer is focused and relevant and that you fully explain the points which you are making. 8 marks available. You should spend approximately 10 minutes on this question.

An 8 mark question allows you to talk about two key points. Each point will need an example and then an explanation of the example in relation to the topic in the question.

The council met every day and was the most powerful part of the machinery of the government. They advised on domestic and foreign issues such as how to handle challenges and threats, when to go to war, relations with foreign ambassadors, and supervising the enforcement of the Religious Settlement.

Tips: You need to discuss more than one of the key features of the interpretation; and you should evaluate the interpretation as having some convincing elements, but pointing out aspects that are not so convincing. Make sure that you use plenty of your own knowledge in this question.

Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on her half-sister's death in November 1558. She was very well-educated (fluent in five languages), and had inherited intelligence, determination and shrewdness from both parents. Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history.

In conclusion, achieving a grade 9 in GCSE History requires a combination of strong content knowledge and effective exam technique. However, it's important to remember that preparation is only one piece of the puzzle. Exam technique, time management, and stress management are also critical components of exam success.

How to answer GCSE history aqa? ›

Step 1: Use contextual knowledge to explain why the statement is correct. Step 2: Use the sources to support your contextual knowledge. Step 3: Use contextual knowledge to explain why the statement is incorrect. Step 4: Use the source to support your contextual knowledge.

Is History a hard GCSE? GCSE History has a pass rate of 64%, the content is quite complicated, and there's a whole range of skills you need to have mastered before entering your exam. You need to be able to write extended answers, analyse and discuss reasons and ideas behind major historical events.

For this question you need two paragraphs – 'PEEE' (point, evidence, explain, expand) or PEEL (point, evidence, explain, link to sociologist/theory). You need to explore at least 2 reasons linked to the question focus.

(8 marks) This type of question requires you to analyse and evaluate a source to find out how useful it is to you as a historian. Example: How useful are sources B and C for an enquiry into the reasons for the recovery of the German economy between 1924 and 1929?

You should aim to write 3 paragraphs, one on the beginning, one on the middle, and one on the end of the text. Remember to include evidence and exploration of the writer's reasons for choosing particular structural devices. There are 8 marks for this question, and spend about 10 minutes on it.