The 12 Mark "Explain Why" Question (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note
Exam code: 1HI0
Summary of Question 4
Question 4 requires you to provide an analytical explanation of the event, development, theme or factor outlined in the question
This question will require you to use second-order concepts in your answer
Amount of marks | 12 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 20 minutes 5 minutes of planning 10- 15 minutes of writing |
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 Medicine in Britain:
Year of Exam | Question Topic |
|---|---|
2018 | Prevention of illness (opens in a new tab) |
2019 | Improvements in medical knowledge (opens in a new tab) |
2020 | How developments in science and technology led to progress in medicine (opens in a new tab) |
2021 | The prevention of illness (opens in a new tab) |
2022 | Attitudes towards surgery (opens in a new tab) |
2023 | Access to medical care and treatment (opens in a new tab) |
2024 | Little change in medicine, c1250–c1500 |
What are second-order concepts?
Second-order concepts are thinking tools historians use to explain the past
The second-order concepts are:
Cause and consequence
Change and continuity
Similarities and differences
Historical significance
For the example question, the second-order concept is change and continuity
The example question asks you to explain why there have been changes in the methods of treating diseases during the 20th century
You can show change and continuity by considering:
The speed of change in medicine
What caused change or continuity in the public's ideas or attitudes about illness and cures
What caused improvements in medicine
How to answer an "Explain why" question
You are asked to explain a change, continuity, or consequence in medicine
You will receive two stimulus points
These are areas of knowledge to discuss in your question
If you only discuss these two stimulus points, you cannot access Level 4 (9-12 marks)
You must discuss three areas of knowledge in your answer to access Level 4
You should always plan your answers before writing them. You should consider:
What three areas of knowledge you are going to use
For the example question, you could include penicillin, the government and the NHS
How they demonstrate change, continuity or consequence across the time period outlined in the question
"Explain why" question structure
Your answer should include:
Specific and relevant own knowledge
The second-order concept in the question
A sustained explanation
A logical structure
Your answers could be written in PEEL paragraphs:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made (K)
Use multiple pieces of evidence from the time period in the question
E - Explain the question (SOC)
Explain how the evidence caused a change, a continuity or a consequence in the development outlined in the question
L - Link your explanation to how significant this factor is for change, continuity or consequence (SOC)
To achieve full marks, you need to repeat this structure three times
The question is out of 12 marks:
6 marks for demonstrating a wide range of specific knowledge of the period and the topic (K)
6 marks for the analysis of the key second-order concepts (SOC)
Worked example of an "Explain why" question
Worked Example
Explain why there have been changes in the methods of treating diseases during the 20th century.
(12)
You may use the following in your answer:
You must also use information of your own. |
Answer
One reason why there were changes in the treatment of diseases in the 20th century was the development of penicillin. In the early 20th century, people could die from a small wound due to infection. In 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin. However, it wasn't until 1939 that Florey and Chain began to investigate how penicillin could be mass produced. Their experiments became successful in 1943 when penicillin was used to treat wounded soldiers in the Second World War (K). This changed how diseases were treated because it allowed people to recover from injuries rather than dying from infection. This made the treatment of minor to severe injuries easier, allowing people to recover (SOC). However, during the 20th century, some bacteria had become resistant to penicillin. This encouraged scientists to discover more versions of antibiotics that can treat penicillin-resistant diseases.
Another reason for the change in treatment in the 20th century was the actions of the government. Before the 20th century, the government had a laissez-faire attitude towards public health. This means that the government did not believe that it was their responsibility to ensure people could access effective treatment for diseases. However, in the 20th century, the government took a proactive role in the treatment of disease. The government funded the development of penicillin and of new treatments for various diseases such as cancer (K). This helped change the treatment of disease because it advanced the progress of developing new cures. In the 20th century, the government's support ensured that people's standards of living and their life expectancy increased during the 20th and the 21st centuries (SOC). Therefore, the government's proactive attitude towards health in the 20th century led to a significant change in treatments in the 20th century.
The final reason why there was a change in treatments is the development of the NHS. The Labour government under Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS (the National Health Service) in 1948. It provided free care for everyone at the point of access (K). The government used the existing hospitals and medical services and took them under their control. This changed treatment because the NHS increased people's access to healthcare. People were no longer turned away for being unable to pay for treatment. This meant that the poorer people in society had improved health in the 20th century. In addition, more patients had access to specialist doctors, skilled in treating their condition. This meant that more people received the correct treatment for their illness (SOC). Therefore, the NHS caused significant changes in how people accessed treatments in the 20th century.
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?
