The 4 Mark "Give Two Things You Can Infer" Question (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary of Question 1

• Question 1 requires you to make two inferences about Source A

• Each inference must be directly supported by a detail or quote from the source

• The answer section is broken down into four guided questions

• An example of the type of question you may encounter can be seen below:

• In previous years, this question has focused on the following topics in Russia and the Soviet Union:

What is an inference?

• An inference is an educated guess based on evidence

• To remember how to infer, follow these steps:

  • I notice — What does the source show or say?

  • I already know — What own knowledge do you have?

  • Now I am thinking … — Combine the above to make your inference

• For the Russia and the Soviet Union exam, you will need to:

  • Study Source A

  • Utilise your own knowledge to make sense of the source

  • Make a statement about Source A, connecting what you can see and what you know

Using the content of a source

• The content is the information presented in the source

• The content could come from a variety of different types of sources, such as:

  • A picture 

  • A photograph

  • An extract from a book 

  • A speech 

  • A political cartoon 

  • A letter 

• You should use details from the content (a quote or description) to support each inference

  • In the example question, you should look at Source A for information about the role of the Cheka

How to answer a "Give two things you can infer" question

• Question 1 will always be based on Source A

• You will find Source A on the first page of the answer booklet

• Do not use the sources in the insert booklet

  • Sources B and C are clearly marked for Section B of the paper

• To begin, read the question carefully 

  • Underline the topic mentioned in the question 

• Read the source, in full, several times

  • If Source A is a visual source, take your time to study the source

• Annotate the source by applying knowledge to the source that is relevant to the question 

"Give two things you can infer" question structure

• The "Give two things you can infer" answer space is laid out clearly into four guided sections

• You will be limited to 2 marks if you:

  • Only write inferences

  • Only select details from the source

  • Write more than two inferences

  • Do not back your inferences with details from Source A

Worked example of a "Give two things you can infer" question