Paper Two Markscheme

These markschemes will allow you to gauge the standard of your own work.

Why not give them to your parents, or email them to your teacher or an A-level or university student friend with your answers, and ask them to mark your work.

Eventually, you should be able to work out accurately what mark your work will be worth - and this is an important step to improving your answers.

The Basic Principle:

Note that GCSE History questions are marked by judging the ‘level of response’ – more sophisticated answers score at a higher level according to a hierarchy of understanding.

Therefore:

The first thing you do when marking an answer is to work out what Level it is at.
Then - depending on the depth of explanation and amount of factual knowledge shown - allocate a score within the range of marks allocated to that Level.

When marking

1. Gauge the LEVEL.

2. Gauge the depth of explanation and amount of factual knowledge.

Note:

These are GENERAL templates. You will need to assess the depth of explanation and the amount of factual knowledge for each question:

Factual knowledge: look at the revision sheet for ideas about the kinds of facts that ought to be included.

Explanation: a good explanation is clear, refers directly to the question asked, and takes the argument right through to the question. Look out for connectives such as 'so', 'therefore', 'however', 'nevertheless' etc.. The best explanations have multiple ideas (e.g. 'This worked in two ways, firstly...')

Levels of Response

AQA markschemes have FOUR levels of response.

I have simplified things to reduce most to three levels.

Different Types of Question:

There are SIX different kinds of question you will meet in Paper Two.

Each one is marked in a different way:

Types of Question

1. Extraction

2. Comparison of content

3. Why are sources different?

4. Utility

5. Evaluation of an interpretation

6. Description

7. Explanation/analysis.

Extraction from a Source (5 marks)

Explain what an historian might learn from Source A about....

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts)

Answer that draws relevant facts from source.

Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the number of inferences and clarity of explanation)

As well as drawing relevant facts from the source, the answer draws inferences/ deductions/ generalisations from the source, using the source to explain how they were made.

Level 3 (scores 5)

Answer develops sophisticated inferences from the source - e.g. links together two facts/ inferences from the source to make a deduction.

Comparison of Content Sources (6 marks)

How does the content of source B and C differ?

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts)

Answer selects details from the sources to contrast the content.

Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the depth and number of ideas)

Also draws out differences of approach, tone, inference or emphasis

Sees ways that the sources agree and disagree

Level 3 (score 5–6 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

Answer examines source at text level and compares inference, tone and intent to reach a conclusion.

Why Sources are different (10 marks)

Do Sources B and C agree about...? Explain your answer using Sources B and C.

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts)

Contrasts provenance or content with little or no explanation.

Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth and number of ideas)

Answer uses the origin of the source or own knowledge to explain in general terms why the sources are different (i.e. 'he would have been biased').

Level 3 (score 6–8 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

Answer uses the purpose of the author or own knowledge about the context to make an explanation which addresses the sources in specific terms.

Level 4 (score 9–10 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

As L3, but uses purpose AND own knowledge to develop an argument with a judgement.

Utility (9 marks)

How useful is Source D to an historian studying...? Use Source D and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

DO NOT CREDIT ANSWERS WHICH ASSESS RELIABILITY RATHER THAN UTILITY.

CANDIDATES MUST USE OWN KNOWLEDGE TO GET MORE THAN HALF MARKS.

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

generic statements about the source’s usefulness, either taken from the provenance, own knowledge or content (e.g. ‘It is useful because it tells us that…’.)

Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas about usefulness derived from the ORIGIN or content of the source.

Level 3 (score 6–7 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas about usefulness derived from the PURPOSE and content of the source.

Level 4 (score 8–9 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas derived from the PURPOSE of the source, properly illustrated by reference to the content and own knowledge, and coming to a conclusion about HOW USEFUL (rather than simply 'whether useful').

Reliability/ Utility/

Evaluation of an interpretation

Use:

1. the provenance, including not only ORIGIN but, more importantly, PURPOSE

2. the content

but you MUST

ANSWER THE QUESTION

Evaluation of an Interpretation (10 marks)

How accurate an interpretation is Source E of ...? Use Source E and your own knowledge to explain your answer.

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts)

generic statements about the validity of the interpretation, using either the provenance, own knowledge or content (e.g. ‘It is useful because it tells us that…’.)

Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas about validity of the interpretation derived from its ORIGIN or content.

Level 3 (score 6–8 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas about validity of the interpretation derived from its PURPOSE and content.

Level 4 (score 9–10 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof)

explained ideas derived from the PURPOSE of the source, properly illustrated by reference to the content and own knowledge, and coming to a conclusion about HOW VALID (rather than simply 'whether valid').

Description (5 marks)

Describe....

Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information)

generalisations/ shallow treatment of some relevant facts/ aspects

Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information)

EITHER correct general understanding of the story/situation OR treatment of ONE relevant aspect showing a depth of specific knowledge. (e.g., in a question about the terms of Versailles, would know the names of the lands Germany ceded).

Level 3 (score 5)

Account including in-depth treatment of at least TWO relevant aspects.

Explanation and Analysis (15 marks)

Explain....

Level 1 (score 1–3 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information)

simple, general or purely factual statements (e.g. simply describes relevant facts with little or no explanation)

Level 2 (score 4–8 depending on the depth of the answer and explanation)

EITHER makes a number of 'points + explanations' which answer the question

OR 'develops' one point with relevant supplementary evidence/ aspects to explain the question.

Level 3 (score 9–12 depending on the number of reasons, depth of answer and factual information)

EITHER makes a number of 'developed' points explained in depth and supported with a depth of factual knowledge

OR develops an extended, coherent argument which answers the question, properly supported with evidence and coming to a conclusion based on the arguments given.

Level 4 (score 13–15 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information)

A number of 'developed' points organised into a logical and coherent argument, with links made between the points and the paragraphs, which comes to a considered judgement which weighs the points made.

A Judgement

A judgement is like a conclusion, but it contains a NEW IDEA - it is not just a summary of points already made.

Paper Two Markscheme
These markschemes will allow you to gauge the standard of your own work. Why not give them to your parents, or email them to your teacher or an A-level or university student friend with your answers, and ask them to mark your work. Eventually, you should be able to work out accurately what mark your work will be worth - and this is an important step to improving your answers.
The Basic Principle: Note that GCSE History questions are marked by judging the ‘level of response’ – more sophisticated answers score at a higher level according to a hierarchy of understanding. Therefore: The first thing you do when marking an answer is to work out what Level it is at. Then - depending on the depth of explanation and amount of factual knowledge shown - allocate a score within the range of marks allocated to that Level.	When marking 1. Gauge the LEVEL. 2. Gauge the depth of explanation and amount of factual knowledge.
Note: These are GENERAL templates. You will need to assess the depth of explanation and the amount of factual knowledge for each question: Factual knowledge: look at the revision sheet for ideas about the kinds of facts that ought to be included. Explanation: a good explanation is clear, refers directly to the question asked, and takes the argument right through to the question. Look out for connectives such as 'so', 'therefore', 'however', 'nevertheless' etc.. The best explanations have multiple ideas (e.g. 'This worked in two ways, firstly...')	Levels of Response AQA markschemes have FOUR levels of response. I have simplified things to reduce most to three levels.
Different Types of Question: There are SIX different kinds of question you will meet in Paper Two. Each one is marked in a different way:	Types of Question 1. Extraction 2. Comparison of content 3. Why are sources different? 4. Utility 5. Evaluation of an interpretation 6. Description 7. Explanation/analysis.
Extraction from a Source (5 marks) Explain what an historian might learn from Source A about.... Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts) Answer that draws relevant facts from source. Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the number of inferences and clarity of explanation) As well as drawing relevant facts from the source, the answer draws inferences/ deductions/ generalisations from the source, using the source to explain how they were made. Level 3 (scores 5) Answer develops sophisticated inferences from the source - e.g. links together two facts/ inferences from the source to make a deduction.
Comparison of Content Sources (6 marks) How does the content of source B and C differ? Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts) Answer selects details from the sources to contrast the content. Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the depth and number of ideas) Also draws out differences of approach, tone, inference or emphasis Sees ways that the sources agree and disagree Level 3 (score 5–6 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) Answer examines source at text level and compares inference, tone and intent to reach a conclusion.
Why Sources are different (10 marks) Do Sources B and C agree about...? Explain your answer using Sources B and C. Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts) Contrasts provenance or content with little or no explanation. Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth and number of ideas) Answer uses the origin of the source or own knowledge to explain in general terms why the sources are different (i.e. 'he would have been biased'). Level 3 (score 6–8 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) Answer uses the purpose of the author or own knowledge about the context to make an explanation which addresses the sources in specific terms. Level 4 (score 9–10 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) As L3, but uses purpose AND own knowledge to develop an argument with a judgement.
Utility (9 marks) How useful is Source D to an historian studying...? Use Source D and your own knowledge to explain your answer. DO NOT CREDIT ANSWERS WHICH ASSESS RELIABILITY RATHER THAN UTILITY. CANDIDATES MUST USE OWN KNOWLEDGE TO GET MORE THAN HALF MARKS. Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) generic statements about the source’s usefulness, either taken from the provenance, own knowledge or content (e.g. ‘It is useful because it tells us that…’.) Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas about usefulness derived from the ORIGIN or content of the source. Level 3 (score 6–7 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas about usefulness derived from the PURPOSE and content of the source. Level 4 (score 8–9 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas derived from the PURPOSE of the source, properly illustrated by reference to the content and own knowledge, and coming to a conclusion about HOW USEFUL (rather than simply 'whether useful').	Reliability/ Utility/ Evaluation of an interpretation Use: 1. the provenance, including not only ORIGIN but, more importantly, PURPOSE 2. the content but you MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION
Evaluation of an Interpretation (10 marks) How accurate an interpretation is Source E of ...? Use Source E and your own knowledge to explain your answer. Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the number of facts) generic statements about the validity of the interpretation, using either the provenance, own knowledge or content (e.g. ‘It is useful because it tells us that…’.) Level 2 (score 3–5 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas about validity of the interpretation derived from its ORIGIN or content. Level 3 (score 6–8 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas about validity of the interpretation derived from its PURPOSE and content. Level 4 (score 9–10 depending on the depth of the answer and factual proof) explained ideas derived from the PURPOSE of the source, properly illustrated by reference to the content and own knowledge, and coming to a conclusion about HOW VALID (rather than simply 'whether valid').
Description (5 marks) Describe.... Level 1 (score 1–2 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information) generalisations/ shallow treatment of some relevant facts/ aspects Level 2 (score 3–4 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information) EITHER correct general understanding of the story/situation OR treatment of ONE relevant aspect showing a depth of specific knowledge. (e.g., in a question about the terms of Versailles, would know the names of the lands Germany ceded). Level 3 (score 5) Account including in-depth treatment of at least TWO relevant aspects.
Explanation and Analysis (15 marks) Explain.... Level 1 (score 1–3 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information) simple, general or purely factual statements (e.g. simply describes relevant facts with little or no explanation) Level 2 (score 4–8 depending on the depth of the answer and explanation) EITHER makes a number of 'points + explanations' which answer the question OR 'develops' one point with relevant supplementary evidence/ aspects to explain the question. Level 3 (score 9–12 depending on the number of reasons, depth of answer and factual information) EITHER makes a number of 'developed' points explained in depth and supported with a depth of factual knowledge OR develops an extended, coherent argument which answers the question, properly supported with evidence and coming to a conclusion based on the arguments given. Level 4 (score 13–15 depending on the depth of the answer and factual information) A number of 'developed' points organised into a logical and coherent argument, with links made between the points and the paragraphs, which comes to a considered judgement which weighs the points made.	A Judgement A judgement is like a conclusion, but it contains a NEW IDEA - it is not just a summary of points already made.