History

1. 1.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Explain why two month names may be used for each revolution.

   [2 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. The labels refer to calendar systems, not four separate revolutions. State which calendar you use so that chronology stays consistent.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Russia then used the Julian calendar while the Gregorian calendar gave different dates.
   • February/October conventional names correspond to March/November in the Gregorian calendar.

   Examiner tip: Do not count the alternative calendar names as additional events.

2. 2.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Explain what 'dual power' means in the 1917 setting.

   [2 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. Authority did not rest in one uncontested centre. Formal office and influence over politically mobilised groups could diverge, making policy implementation difficult.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • The Provisional Government held formal governmental authority.
   • Soviets exercised competing influence among workers and soldiers.

   Examiner tip: Dual power is not two tsars ruling together.

3. 3.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Explain how continuing the war could undermine the Provisional Government.

   [3 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. A political change did not immediately remove the burdens that had weakened the monarchy. Continuing war gave opponents a concrete policy against which to mobilise, alongside other disputes.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Casualties and military hardship maintained soldiers' grievances.
   • War pressures aggravated economic and supply problems.
   • Opponents could contrast peace demands with the government's continued commitment.

   Examiner tip: Show how a policy affects legitimacy rather than merely stating war was unpopular.

4. 4.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Analyse the fictional letter's value and limits for studying soldiers' attitudes.

   [3 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. Use the stimulus to practise interpreting tension between rights and obligations. An actual inquiry would require authentic letters from varied units and evidence of censorship and survival patterns.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • It contrasts promised political participation with continued military orders.
   • The assigned soldier perspective makes disappointment a plausible focus for the exercise.
   • One invented voice cannot establish the prevalence of that attitude among actual soldiers.

   Examiner tip: Do not cite this invented letter as a real archival witness.

5. 5.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Assess whether war is sufficient to explain the Bolshevik seizure of power.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. War helps explain the opportunity but not why this party used it successfully at that moment. A causal judgement must link broad dissatisfaction to organisation and action rather than assuming discontent selects a winner.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • War contributed to grievances and weakened government support.
   • Land demands and economic hardship also shaped opposition.
   • Bolshevik organisation, slogans and decisions helped turn discontent into a seizure of power.
   • Weighs conditions against agency and accepts supported alternative relative weight.

   Examiner tip: Distinguish weakening a government from explaining who replaces it.

6. 6.

   Factual framework: Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar). The Provisional Government and soviets coexisted; the Bolsheviks took power in October (November Gregorian). Fictional skills source: an invented soldier's letter during 1917 says, 'They promise a vote, but order us back to the trench.' This is not an authentic soldier's quotation and cannot represent all soldiers. Assess the claim that February and October were the same kind of political change.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

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

   1. Both disrupted authority, but they removed different regimes and involved different patterns of mobilisation and leadership. Shared context does not make the political processes identical.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • February ended the tsar's rule and led to a Provisional Government.
   • October brought a Bolshevik seizure of power against that government.
   • Both were connected to war and contested authority, providing meaningful similarities.
   • Judges similarities and differences in actors, mechanisms or political outcomes.

   Examiner tip: Keep the two changes distinct before comparing their shared conditions.

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