POWER

Assessment focus: thematic study
Assessment focus: thematic study
BRONZE
(up to 25% of marks)
GOLD
(up to 100% of marks)
The aim of the question
This type of question is designed
to stretch you a bit further. When
examiners ask you to explain they
want you to show that you know
the events but also that you can
explain why those events were
important in affecting people or
making something happen. In
a ‘describe’ question you might
say: ‘Kings wanted taxes.’ In an
‘explain’ question you might say:
‘Kings wanted taxes so sometimes
raised them without the barons’
approval, which caused tension.’
Comments
This answer has some good points but
also some weaknesses. It is probably a
silver medal.
The opening is promising, but it goes
on to simply describe problems rather
than explaining them. The knowledge is
good but there is no real explanation.
It shows a common mistake – it lists
events that are connected to the
question, but the student thinks it is
obvious how and why these points are
relevant and so gives no explanation.
Examiners cannot award the marks
because the student has not
‘explained why’.
To improve this answer: Explain why
John was short of money. Explain
why the barons disliked his actions.
Explain why they thought Magna Carta
would tackle the problem. Similarly,
explain why Richard II’s actions upset
the barons – how Richard was going
against the normal way of doing things.
General advice on Questions 2–4
Questions 2–4 ask you to do more than simply describe. You have to explain things
and reach judgements. You have to answer the question and explain why you think
what you think. A useful way to think about Questions 2, 3 and 4 is to assess your
answers yourself. Examiners use mark schemes but you don’t need anything that
complicated. Think of it like an Olympic medal ceremony. Read some of your practice
answers and ask yourself which of these medals your answer
deserves.
SILVER
(up to 60% of marks)
Bronze: You describe something you know (which is good) but it
is not really relevant to the question (which is a shame). Or you
assert something (which is good) but you provide no supporting
evidence (which is a shame).
Silver: You describe relevant events or developments (which is
good) but you do not connect them to the question or explain why
they are important in answering the question (which is a shame).
Gold: You make it really clear what you think the answer to the question is. You support
your answer with at least one event or development and you explain how that event or
development supports your answer.
Even a Gold answer can be improved by ensuring you have:
a clear conclusion that rounds off your argument
• a balanced answer that shows you understand that there might be more than one
view about the question or explains how the different elements are connected
• supporting evidence: using relevant knowledge and a good range of examples to
support each points you make.
Question 2
Question 2 will usually be an ‘explain’ question. This might ask you to explain why
something happened, or explain what the effects of something were, or it might ask
you to explain how something happened. For example:
Explain why medieval rulers sometimes clashed with their barons or bishops.
(8 marks)
Advice
Select: It is sensible to think in terms of at least two reasons, or effects, or whatever
the question is asking for. This will show the examiner what you know without spending
too much time on the question.
Organise: The important thing is to use your knowledge in a relevant way. In this
question a good way to organise your answer might be: ‘One reason kings and barons
clashed was A. In DATE King B brought in C. The king was trying to D. However, this
upset E because F. This led to clashes like G.’
Fine tune: Do all the usual checking but also it can be a good idea to say which of your
reasons you think is more important when answering an ‘explain’ question.
Example answer
Medieval rulers clashed with their barons and bishops for many different reasons.
When King John took the throne in 1199 he was short of money. John simply brought
in new taxes without asking the barons. Many of his barons rebelled against him in
1215. He was forced to accept the terms of Magna Carta, which said that John was not
above the law and had to obey it. He was also watched over by a council of 25 barons.
In the 1380s, Richard II appointed his close friends to important jobs. For example,
he made Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk and chancellor – effectively his chief
minister. The barons rebelled and Richard was defeated in 1387.
Practice
There are plenty of practice questions at the end of every topic. Go back and try a
couple of the eight-mark ‘Explain…’ questions.
Uncorrected proof
The aim of the question
This question is asking you to
assess the ways in which military
power was important to Anglo-
Saxon kings, and whether it was
more or less important – or
worked alongside – other factors.
Comments
This answer is definitely Gold. It would
probably score 12 out of the 14
marks. The opening is clear and the
student follows up on that opening
very effectively.
One paragraph explains why military
power mattered – it was the king’s
job and the lands had to be defended.
The next paragraph explains how
other factors were important. The
conclusion is really helpful.
This answer does not need a lot
of improvement. However, it could
be improved with a little more
detail in the first paragraph. For
instance, examples of important
military victories by either Harold
or Alfred would support the general
statements.
Question 3
Question 3 will usually be about how significant or important something was. It can
come in a number of forms. For example:
How significant a change was X?
How important was X in causing Y?
• How significant was X in how Y worked?
This is probably the most important type of question for you to practice. If you can
master this, then you will master all the techniques needed for the other question
types. Here is an example:
How significant was military power to Anglo-Saxon kings? (14 marks)
Advice
Select: You need to select facts, events and developments which show that military
power was important. You also need to select facts, events and dates that show how
other factors, like the Church or the Witan, were important too.
Organise: A possible way to tackle this question is to put together three paragraphs.
Military power is the focus of the question so it should get a paragraph to itself. Then
you can explain how important other factors were in one further paragraph. Then write
a concluding paragraph.
Fine tune: Do all the usual checking, but here it is worth making sure you have said
what you think about the question. In questions like this this a conclusion usually
means saying something like:
Military power was the most important factor because … OR
Actually, military power was important but X was more important because … OR
• Military power and other factors cannot really be separated out because …
Example answer
Military power was a very important factor in Anglo-Saxon kingship. However, it
was not the only factor that was important.
Military power was very important. The Anglo-Saxon king was a warrior-king.
His main job was to lead his warriors and defend his lands. He might have to
defend them from other Anglo-Saxon rivals, like Harold Godwinson did against
his brother Tostig, or he might have to defend them against Viking invaders the way
Alfred the Great had done.
However, other factors were important as well. An effective king needed to have
the support of the Witan – the great nobles of the kingdom. The Church was also
important. It helped to run the government and it kept people loyal to the king.
Another really important factor was the Anglo-Saxon system of administration.
The king could send out instructions called writs to his local sheriffs and this
meant that he could control what was happening in his lands. This system
also made it much easier to collect taxes. Anglo-Saxon England was one of the
wealthiest states in Europe in the 1000s.
So on balance, military power was important but it was only one factor in Anglo-
Saxon kingship. Without the loyalty of the great nobles and the taxation system
to pay for the armies the king would not have had any military power.
Practice
There are plenty of practice questions at the end of every topic. Go back and try a
couple of the 14-mark ‘How significant…’ questions.
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