The 16 Mark "How Far do you Agree" Question: Medieval England (Q4) (AQA GCSE History): Revision Note
Exam code: 8145
Summary of Question Four
This 16-mark "How far do you agree" question four will be based upon the historical environment site that you have studied
This question requires you to evaluate the statement in the question
You need to evaluate the importance of the statement outlined against other reasons
These other reasons will not be mentioned in the question
The question can be based on cause, consequence, change and/or continuity
You will need to include relevant knowledge including
The historical environment site you have studied
The wider events/ developments of the period and how they relate to the historical environment site
Amount of marks | 16 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 25 minutes Spend 5 minutes planning Spend 20 minutes writing |
An example of the type of question you may encounter can be seen below:
The previous and future sites for the Historical Environment question are as follows:
Year | Historical Environment Site |
|---|---|
2026 | Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd |
2025 | Stokesay Castle, Shropshire |
2024 | North Wales during the reign of Edward I, 1272 - 1307 |
2023 | The Merchant’s House, Southampton in the time of Edward I |
2022 | London around the time of Edward I |
2021 | Acton Burnell Castle |
2020 | The Battle of Stirling Bridge |
2019 | Caernarfon Castle |
2018 | Stokesay Castle |
Sample 1 | Conwy Castle |
Sample 2 | Hull in the reign of Edward I |
The Historical Environment Question
The historical environment focuses on a particular site in its historical context
It aims to examine the relationship between the historical site and associated historic events and developments in that period
The historical site will change each year
If you are uncertain what historical site you will be examined on you must
Ask your teacher
Check the table above
Look on the AQA website
Your knowledge of the historical environment should cover the following aspects of the site:
The location
The function
The structure
The design
People connected with the site
How the site reflects the culture, values and fashions of the time
How the site links to important events and/or developments of that historical period
How the above aspects have:
Changed from earlier periods
Changed or stayed the same during this period
What are Second-Order Concepts?
Second-order concepts are:
Cause and consequence
Change and continuity
Similarities and differences
Historical significance
These second-order concepts allow you to:
Understand history
Have a complex explanation
This 16-mark "How far do you agree" question on the historical environment will include second-order concepts in the question
The second-order concept is usually shown in the question for example:
"The main change that Edward I’s Welsh castles brought about was that they allowed him to deal with the threat of rebellion."
"The main consequence of Edward I’s castle building was military."
If the second-order concept is not mentioned in the question you will still be expected to demonstrate second-order concept skills in your answer
Making Judgements in History
The 16-mark question relies on your ability to weigh all the evidence and state your opinion. Students often find this part the hardest to do
There are some common mistakes students make when making a judgement, they include:
Not giving a clear judgement. Students do this by:
Explaining that all of the reasons are the most important
Failing to decide which factor is the most important
Using language in their answer which is not decisive e.g. “kind of” or “maybe”
Contradicting your judgements
Students sometimes haven’t planned their answers properly. They start to write their answer with one judgement and then change their opinion halfway through
Doing this means that there is not a sustained judgement and you can not access Level 4 (10- 12 marks)
Good judgements will:
Explain which reason is the most important
There is no "right" or "wrong" answer in history
If you are unsure of your opinion, pick the side of the argument that you have better or more evidence to support
Consider other reasons
Even if you fully believe a reason is the most important, you still need to present evidence for other reasons
Be sustained throughout your answer
They should be used to structure your answer and help you explain
This is why planning your answer is important
Try to explore the relationships between causes/ consequences/ changes or continuity that you have presented in your argument
This will help you to evaluate your argument
For example, if the question asked about the development of London during the reign of Edward I, one could argue that the main reason was for economy and trade. You could explain the relationship between the King's need for money and the economy and trade
What makes a Great Conclusion in GCSE History?
Conclusions are usually where most of your judgement marks will be awarded
Students often rush their conclusions so they are not as developed as they could be
All great conclusions have these three elements:
Judgement – Start with your opinion. Try to include the words from the question. Consider second-order concepts like short- and long-term consequences, change and continuity and significance
Counter – Give an example from the other side of the argument to show your awareness of this
Support – Explain why, after considering all the evidence, you have reached your judgement. Use your best piece of evidence to show your opinion
How to answer a “How Far do you Agree" Question
The "How far do you agree" question will present you with a statement around which you have to create a substantiated judgement
For example
“'The main reason for the development of London during the reign of Edward I was the King’s need for money.’ How far does a study of London around the time of Edward I support this statement?"
To answer this question successfully, you should
Read the answer carefully and multiple times (if you have the time)
Annotate the question to find the key demands of the question
Plan your answer
In your plan include what key knowledge you wish to use and an outline of your argument
This will help you to create a sustained judgement
To achieve Levels 3 and 4 (9-16 marks), you must discuss the stated reason in the question
If the question was "The main reason for the development of London during the reign of Edward I was the King's need for money", you must discuss the King's need for money in one of your paragraphs
“How Far do you Agree” Question Structure
Your answer should consist of:
A logical structure
Specific knowledge
Relevant evidence
An explanation
Substantiated judgement
Sustained judgement
A conclusion
If you want to include an introduction you can, but it is not necessary
Your answers could be written in PEEL paragraphs:
P - Make a point about the question
This should include your judgement
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
Evidence needs to be relevant and specific
This should be focused on the historical environment and the wider period of study
E - Explain why this evidence supports your point
Your explanation should be focused on the second-order concept in the question
To achieve Level 4 (13- 16 marks), your answer should analyse the historical site chosen and how it demonstrates the changes and developments in the wider context of the period
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how it or is not the most important reason
Here you could demonstrate the relationship between your paragraphs. This will help you to achieve a Level 4 (13 - 16 marks)
To achieve Level 4 (13-16 marks), you should aim to write three paragraphs and a conclusion
Worked Example of the “How Far do you Agree” Question
Worked Example
‘The main reason for the development of London during the reign of Edward I was the King’s need for money.’
How far does a study of London around the time of Edward I support this statement?
[16 marks]
Answer:
The King’s need for money contributed to London's development during Edward I's reign, but was not the main reason. For example, Edward raised the price of wool duty from 7s 6d to 40s. This meant that, due to the 80,000 sacks of wool involved per year in the wool trade, Edward benefited financially and directly from the wool trade. The success of the economy funded Edward’s imperial ambitions. Edward pursued an ambitious castle-building programme in Wales and waged war with Scotland. This required a significant amount of money to achieve success so the economy was vital to provide this. Edward was directly raising revenue for the crown through this trade. The king’s need for money showed the king’s reliance on the economy. London raised the money necessary to increase Edward’s royal authority through the expansion of his kingdom.
The main reason for the development of London during the reign of Edward I was due to the economy and trade. The importance of economy and trade radically changed the power balance in London during the reign of Edward. By 1300, 36% of all trade came through London’s ports. As a result, many groups in London benefited from this increasing prosperity, particularly the Alderman. 1/3 of the Aldermans took an active role in supporting the wine trade with Gascony. Gascon merchants gained more and more privileges in London and, by 1285, they received the same rights as London’s English citizens. This meant that Edward could more easily prosper, as every barrel of wine resulted in a tax of 2 shillings for Edward. Hence the radical change to the balance of power in London. This is the main reason because this inclusivity not only accelerated the success of trade throughout London but also radically impacted London and the whole of England’s economy, increasing national identity.
There were other reasons why London was developed, such as to improve law and order. There were issues in London with law and order. In 1265, an argument between the goldsmiths’ and the tailors’ guilds led to a 3-day riot. Consequently, Edward took action and ordered several rioters to be hung. Actions like these disrupted London’s merchants and damaged the economy. Edward improved law and order in many ways. Henry Waley was London’s mayor. He introduced the Nightwatch. As a result, the interests of merchants were better protected. Edward also changed London city law to common law, in line with the rest of England. Therefore, Edward’s development of law and order had a significant impact on London. It made Edward’s royal authority to be more widespread and recognised. However, although important, Edwards's desire to increase law and order could be because he wanted to protect the security of the economy. As a result, the reasons Edward developed law and order could be more significant as he wanted to protect the economy.
In conclusion, although the king’s need for money contributed to the improvement of London, the economy and trade were the main reasons for the development of London during the reign of Edward I. It drastically increased revenue for Edward and impacted law and order in London. London represented England’s national identity, creating a legacy for Edwards’s reign.
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