History

1. 1.

   A minister's public speech during a wartime shortage claims that supplies are plentiful. Explain how you would evaluate this source's usefulness to a historian studying public morale.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Evaluate provenance and purpose in relation to the specific enquiry, then distinguish official messaging from lived experience.
   2. Consider the speaker's position, audience and purpose, including reassurance or propaganda.
   3. The speech may reveal the message authorities wanted people to believe, even if supplies were scarce.
   4. Corroborate with ration records, private accounts or other independent evidence.
   5. Distinguish evidence of official messaging from evidence of actual public morale.

   Marking points

   • Consider the speaker's position, audience and purpose, including reassurance or propaganda.
   • The speech may reveal the message authorities wanted people to believe, even if supplies were scarce.
   • Corroborate with ration records, private accounts or other independent evidence.
   • Distinguish evidence of official messaging from evidence of actual public morale.

   Examiner tip: A potentially misleading speech can still be useful evidence of government intentions or propaganda.

2. 2.

   Explain the difference between a long-term cause and a short-term trigger of a revolution, using a historical case you have studied.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Select one accurate case and show how a trigger interacted with conditions that had developed over time.
   2. A long-term cause develops over time, such as inequality or political exclusion.
   3. A trigger is a more immediate event that precipitates action.
   4. Identify a specific case and accurate examples of both.
   5. Explain how the trigger interacted with underlying conditions, rather than treating it as the sole cause.

   Marking points

   • A long-term cause develops over time, such as inequality or political exclusion.
   • A trigger is a more immediate event that precipitates action.
   • Identify a specific case and accurate examples of both.
   • Explain how the trigger interacted with underlying conditions, rather than treating it as the sole cause.

   Examiner tip: A trigger is not necessarily the sole cause; chronological proximity alone does not establish causal importance.

3. 3.

   A historian argues that economic conditions were the main cause of a political change. Outline how you would construct an evaluation of this claim.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Define the event and weigh rival explanations with specific evidence before deciding their relative importance.
   2. Define the political change and relevant period.
   3. Assess specific economic evidence and explain its causal importance.
   4. Compare other factors, such as leadership, institutions or ideology.
   5. Reach a supported judgement about relative importance and interactions between factors.

   Marking points

   • Define the political change and relevant period.
   • Assess specific economic evidence and explain its causal importance.
   • Compare other factors, such as leadership, institutions or ideology.
   • Reach a supported judgement about relative importance and interactions between factors.

   Examiner tip: A historical judgement needs evidence from the period; general causal labels are not enough.

Original, unofficial practice questions from SubjectScout — not official past-paper questions.