1 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique Understanding the Page Layout Example Question. Assessment Criteria: this is what is being tested in the question. Example Answer: the blue text gives examples of different levels of an answer. The black italicised text shows the Edexcel mark scheme used for the level. The Top Tip gives pointersThis button returns Navigation Buttonson improving your answers.to the question menu.

2 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique There are a seven rules that apply to every single exam answer. 1.Answer the actual question. This may sound obvious, but if you don’t do this, you can’t get good marks. 2.Stop and think before you start writing an answer. Planning exactly what you are writing about will help you to get the best marks. 3.Always use the words of the question at the beginning and in your answer. This will help you to focus an actually answering the set question. 4.Frequently check that you are still answering the set question how it actually asks you to. 5.Timing. Divide the minutes available by the total marks to find out how much time to spend on each answer. 6.Planning. This is essential for the 16 mark answer, as it involves writing an essay. 7.Answer the right number of questions. In this exam, Question 1 has four compulsory parts. It carries 26 marks. Question 2 has two parts, of which you chose one to answer. It carries 8 marks. Question 3 has two parts, of which you chose one to answer. It carries 16 marks. Question 2 Menu Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at

3 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique Click the links to access the example answers Question 1(a) What can you learn from the source about the US economy in the 1930s? 4 marks Question 1(b) Describe Herbert Hoover’s attempts to end the Depression.6 marks Question 1(c) Explain why the US economy was so prosperous between 1922 and marks Question 1(d) Explain the effects of the fall in value of shares on Wall Street during 1928 and marks Question 2(a) Question 2(a) Explain how the role of the Federal Government changed during the 1920’s and 1930’s. 8 marks Or Question 2(b) Explain how the New Deal tackled the problems of the Depression. 8 marks Question 3(a) Was the main reason for Roosevelt’s election the failures of Herbert Hoover? You may use the following in your answer: The effects of the Depression, Hoover’s attempts to overcome the Depression, Roosevelt’s election campaign, The treatment of the Bonus Army. 16 marks Or Question 3(b) Was the New Deal successful in solving all of the problems of the Depression? You may use the following to help you with your answer. The problems of the Depression. What the New Deal did. How the New Deal succeeded. The failures of the New Deal. 16 marks What should I revise? Examination Hints and Techniques Intro Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at

4 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique What should I revise? Question 1(a) Is a source comprehension and inference question. Tip: No factual revision is required, but review the example answer and make sure that you understand about inferences. Question 1(b) Is a key features question. This requires brief explanations of three facts about the key feature. Possible key features topics: isolationism, impact of WW1, the boom of the 1920s, new industries in the 1920s, problems of declining industries or agriculture, consumerism, prohibition, organised crime, racism, the stock market boom of the 1920s, the Wall Street Crash, Hoover’s policies after 1929, the Dust Bowl, the “First Hundred Days of the New Deal”, the New Deal, the Second New Deal, opposition to the New Deal. Tip: This question is testing that you have studied the whole syllabus, so it could be on almost anything. Question 1(c) and Question 1(d) are cause or consequence questions. There will be one of each type. Answer both. Possible causes topics: US entry into WW1, the economic boom of the 1920’s, Prohibition, organised crime, Racism, the Wall Street Crash, the Depression, unemployment in the 1930s. Possible consequence topics: WW1, the economic boom of the 1920s, problems of declining industries and agriculture, new forms of entertainment, Prohibition, Isolationism, overproduction, the Wall Street Crash, the New Deal. Tip: Make sure that you learn at least four causes or consequences and that you are able to explain, link and prioritise them. Question 2(a)Question 2(a) and Question 2(b) are a change question or a key features question. One of each and you answer one. Possible change topics: WW1, women’s lives, the role of women, economic boom of the 1920s, consumerism, new industries of the 1920s, prohibition, the policies of the New Deal. Tip: Make sure that you learn at least four changes or key features and that you are able to explain about them in detail. Question 3(a) and Question 3(b) are cause and consequence questions. There is one of each and you answer one. These are the 16 mark questions. For the top marks you will be expected to: Tip: this question will include a writing frame, but you will need to write a structured answer, or essay. To do this: Plan a piece of structured writing that has an introduction, linked paragraphs and a conclusion. Describe and explain causes or consequences, Show how causes or consequences are linked together and make a case for a most important cause or consequence. Intro Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at

5 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique Question 2(a) Explain how the role of the Federal Government changed during the 1920’s and 1930’s. 8 marks Example Answer Level One (1-2 marks) Simple or generalised statements of change. In the 1920’s it was laissez-faire. One simple statement, 1 mark. In the New Deal the government did more to help people. Two or more simple statements, 2 marks. In this question the examiner will be assessing: Recall of knowledge (can you the remember relevant facts?) Change (can you explain about the changes and how the they were linked together?) Top Tip See how each part of the level 1 answer gives an unexplained statement of change. Notice how the statements are not supported by any explanation each idea, for example, of laissez-faire and what the New Deal actually did. For level 2, you must explain each idea. Menu Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at

6 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique Question 2(a) Explain how the role of the Federal Government changed during the 1920’s and 1930’s. 8 marks Example Answer Level Two (3-5 marks) Developed statements of change. (The student supports statement with relevant contextual knowledge.) In the 1920’s Republicans controlled Congress and the Presidency. They followed a policy of laissez-faire and rugged individualism. This was the belief that the USA would be strong if the government interfered as little a possible in the lives of individual citizens. 3 marks for one developed statement. The New Deal was characterised by increased federal interference in the running of the country and by much more direct state help for the individual. Roosevelt believed that it was the responsibility of the government to provide help for the unemployed. 4-5 marks for two or more developed statements. In this question the examiner will be assessing: Recall of knowledge (can you the remember relevant facts?) Change (can you explain about the changes and how the they were linked together?) Top Tip See how both level 2 answers explain about the changed role of the Federal Government. Notice how the statements are supported by an explanation of the idea, for example, what laissez-faire meant and what the New Deal actually did. Menu Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at

7 USA 1919 – 41 Exam Technique Question 2(a) Explain how the role of the Federal Government changed during the 1920’s and 1930’s. 8 marks Example Answer Level Three (6-8 marks) Developed explanation of change. (An explanation of more than one change supported by selected knowledge.) Historically, the United States had developed as a result of following a policy of rugged individualism. Under this laissez-faire approach, Citizens experienced minimal interference in their lives by the government and in return they expected little help in times of need. The Republican Party believed that the economic boom of the 1920’s resulted from letting business get on with business. 6-7 marks for two or more factors. Unfortunately, the lack of control of the financial system contributed to the Wall Street Crash. This led to a complete change in the role of the Federal Government in Washington DC. The lack of control over lending by the banks had led to the rapid rise in the value of shares on Wall Street and then to the collapse of the financial system following the Wall Street Crash. Because of the resulting long term-term unemployment Roosevelt’s New Deal saw the Federal Government controlling the financial system with the Emergency Banking Act and by using the Federal Emergency Relief Act to provide cash help to the unemployed. The New Deal also provided jobs through the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, as well as pensions and benefits and the regulation of working conditions. 8 marks for answers which show links between factors. Top Tip Carefully read this Level 3 answer. Notice how it includes the same facts as in levels 1 and 2, but now explains them in a way that answers the actual question about the role of the Federal Government and then how it changed. Look back to the wording of the question to find these key words. It becomes an 8 mark answer where the changed role of governments in the 1920’s and 1930’s are linked together, in this case, by the Wall Street Crash. By focusing on explaining how things actually changed and by linking the changes together, you will earn the full 8 marks. Menu Demonstration Version Only question 2a is available. Purchase the full version at