[D R E A M Z]

Hello Mr John D Clare

I absolutely loved the AQA History Spec B history examination sat on Wednesday 3rd of June.
Thank you for the link you sent me with how to answer the 10 mark questions if you remember. I stuck to that guide and hopefully achieved 10 marks on both the 10 mark questions.

However, in preparation for the exam next week, I would be ecstatic if you could provide me with information on how to answer the following types of questions as they will feature in my next exam.

SECTION A

a) Explain what you can learn from Source A about the reasons why Trotsky did not succeed Lenin. (5 marks)

In the paper on Wednesday, there were 3 mark questions identical to this, and I was wondering whether I can adopt the same "penny point" approach as I did on Wednesday (so instead of 3 simple statements, I make 5?), leaving enough time for higher tariff questions??

b)How does the content of Sources B and C differ? (6 marks)

c)Do you agree with the interpretation given in Source C about the success of Collectivisation?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your own knowledge. (10 marks)

d) How useful is Source D for studying the rule of Stalin in the 1930s?
Use Source D and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

e)In the years 1928–1941 Stalin started a series of Five-Year Plans for industry.
Use your own knowledge to explain how far these were successful.

SECTION B

d) Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in October/November 1917? ( 15 marks )

Thank you once again

[MrJohnDClare]

D R E A M Z, on Jun 5 2009, 12:39 AM, said:

In preparation for the exam next week, I would be ecstatic if you could provide me with information on how to answer the following types of questions as they will feature in my next exam.

To help you with technique on this paper you need especially to look at THIS PAGE, and you may also be interested in these simplified markschemes.

In particular, also:

Quote

SECTION A

a) Explain what you can learn from Source A about the reasons why Trotsky did not succeed Lenin. (5 marks)

In the paper on Wednesday, there were 3 mark questions identical to this, and I was wondering whether I can adopt the same "penny point" approach as I did on Wednesday (so instead of 3 simple statements, I make 5?), leaving enough time for higher tariff questions??

No - this LOOKS like a simple 'three-pointer factual' question, but if you look it has 5 marks and slightly different wording. This is the INFERENCE question, and it wants you to prove that you can draw inferences as well as factual information from a source. See here for a very detailed explanation of how the marks are awarded.

Quote

b)How does the content of Sources B and C differ? (6 marks)

See here for a detailed breakdown of how the marks are awarded.

Quote

c)Do you agree with the interpretation given in Source C about the success of Collectivisation?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your own knowledge. (10 marks)

This is a basic sourcework question - one paragraph on the content, one on the provenance, but make sure you only talk about the source's VALIDITY or its ACCURACY, and don't drift off into its reliability or utility.

Quote

d) How useful is Source D for studying the rule of Stalin in the 1930s?
Use Source D and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

See here for a detailed breakdown of how the marks are awarded.

Quote

e)In the years 1928–1941 Stalin started a series of Five-Year Plans for industry.
Use your own knowledge to explain how far these were successful.

See here for a detailed breakdown of how the marks are awarded for an EXPLAIN question. Here, the essential is to PEE every paragraph, and to take your explanation RIGHT THROUGH to the question.

Quote

SECTION B

d) Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in October/November 1917? ( 15 marks)

This is another EXPLAIN question - same as above.

Remember that you still need as much if not more factual information for this exam - not just the events/dates/names etc., but lists of ideas about why things happened.

[D R E A M Z]

Thank you so so much!
I will sit down over the weekend and really practise and familiarise myself with how to achieve top grades for each question.

I am really looking forward to the next history examination now. Thanks