Tips on how to answer Paper 4

Students have to answer all questions on one Depth Study.

The questions follow the following pattern.

Part (a) questions are all source based and whether the sources are written, pictorial, statistics, the questions will address the same skills of comprehension, interpretation and evaluation across the range of sources.

Part (b) questions will test skills of recall, selection and deployment of knowledge, as well as asking the students to demonstrate their understanding of change and continuity, cause and consequence, similarity and difference. Students will also be asked to explore the motives, emotions, intentions and beliefs of people in the past.

In answers to Question (a) (i) students will expected to draw inferences from the sources and show where, in the source they found had evidence to support their inferences. Less reward will be given to students who make valid inferences but do not support them from the source. Even less reward will be given to answers where the candidate merely repeats the material in the source and does not draw any inference.

In answers to Question (a) (ii) students will be expected to offer a balanced argument, supported by evidence from the source and to address the issue prompted by the phrase ‘How far? ’at the beginning of the question. Less mark will be awarded to one-sided arguments that are supported by evidence from the source, while even fewer marks will be awarded to answers that do not use evidence from the source at all. For Question (a) (iii) maximum marks can only be gained with a balanced and valid evaluation in context of the reliability of both sources. For this question answers that assert bias or compare the content of the sources and do not explain the assertions attract very little marks.

Question (b) (i) just requires the students to offer two valid examples. Students achieve the best marks for Question (b) (ii) when they identify the detail; examples etc required and then offer further development and description that convinces the examiner that the student has a secure knowledge and command of the area under discussion. For Question (b) (iii) students will be expected to give a number of reasons, explain their significance and value, and place the whole in context. Question (b) (iv)has the highest marks in the paper. Some students often do not allow themselves sufficient time to do justice either to themselves or to the question. Examiners will be looking for a developed and balanced argument dealing with the different sides of the question. A lower mark will be given to one-sided argument or underdeveloped suggestions on both sides of the argument, while simple assertions or single fact answers will attract fewer marks.