The 4 Mark "Explain One Consequence of" Question (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary of Question 1

• Question 1 requires you to explain one consequence of a historical event

• This question has changed format since 2024

  • Previously, you were asked to explain two consequences of one event

  • Now, you have to explain one consequence of two given events, separated into Question 1 (a) and Question 1 (b)

• 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 for Spain & the 'New World': 

How to explain consequences

• Cause and consequence is a second-order concept

• Causes and consequences are like falling dominoes

  • The causes are what push the dominoes over

    • For the example question, the desire to capture treasure was a cause of Cortés’s conquest of the Aztecs

  • The consequences are the other dominoes that fall

    • For the example question, one consequence of Cortés’s conquest of the Aztecs was the development of agriculture

Consequence 

• A consequence in history is something that has happened in response to a cause 

• Consequences can be:

  • Different depending on the person  

    • For example, the consequences of Cortés’s conquest of the Aztecs on the Indigenous people of Mexico were different from the consequences for the Spanish conquistadors

  • Short- or long-term 

  • Both positive and negative 

• Use causation connectives, such as:

  • "Due to …"

  • "As a result …"

  • "Consequently …"

"Explain one consequence of" question structure

• Your answer should include: 

  • Specific and relevant knowledge 

  • A developed and well-explained consequence of the event or issue

• Your answers could  be written in PEE paragraphs: 

  • P — Make a point by writing a consequence of the event in the question

  • E — Include evidence to support the point you have made (K) 

    • Focus on key knowledge about the event in the question

  • E — Explain the question (SOC)

    • Focus on the key demands of the questions 

    • Include a complex explanation that shows your understanding of cause and consequence 

• To achieve full marks, you need to answer both Questions 1 (a) and 1 (b). The questions are on two different events

  • Each consequence question is worth 4 marks

    • 2 marks for knowledge (K) 

    • 2 marks for your analysis of the second-order concept of the consequence (SOC) 

  • 8 marks are available for answering both parts of Question 1

Worked example of an "Explain one consequence of" question