Paper 1 - Exam advice and key skills
Paper 1
- Section 1 – British (22 marks)
- Section 2 – European & World (22 marks)
- 44 marks in total
- 1 hour 30 minutes
Exam advice
You need to write two essays:
- one on the British history topic you have studied
- one on the European and world history topic you have studied
You won’t know the question you will be asked in advance so you should have prepared at least 4 of the 6 key issues in each of the British and European & World sections.
Read over carefully the questions in the topics you have studied.
Choose the question that you would consider to be your best essay in each section. (Usually this is your assignment question if it’s possible.)
Make sure you answer the question in the exam paper NOT a prepared answer.
The essays can be written in any order, but try to be consistent in your essay structure as each essay is worth 22 marks. Don’t spend all your time on the first essay and rush the second one.
Target your essay grade
‘C’ grade is a narrative response (saying what happened with little or no analysis). (11-13 marks)
‘B’ grade essay would normally be awarded for a response with analytical comments and may show some counter argument or limitation. (14-15 marks)
The ‘A’ grade essay will analyse the different factors in terms of the issue, showing counter argument, limitation or comparing the factors. Evaluative comments on the topic, isolated or in support of a line of argument will in most cases gain a mark between (16-22 marks)
