1. America 1920-1973 Inequality and Opportunity
How to answer every GCSE question
Paper 1
PANDA: Purpose/ Author/ Nature/ Date/ Audience
America Inequality and Opportunity
PEE: Point/Evidence/Explain
Q1 - How do these interpretations differ? 4 marks 5 mins
One paragraph. Content only. Choose two bits of evidence from the content of the sources that are different, and make a direct comparison.
Interpretation A shows…This is different to interpretation B which shows…
Interpretation A also shows…This is different to interpretation B which shows…
Q4 – Describe… 4 marks / 5 minutes
One paragraph. Identify two problems/issues in the Q. Explain why, using the language of the question.
Firstly, one problem/issue was…This was a problem/issue because…
Secondly, another problem/issue was…This was a problem/issue because…
Q5 – In what ways…Explain your answer. 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Identify two changes, show off your own knowledge and explain how things changed. Link each point back to the question.
One change/affect was…(show off knowledge). This affected them because…
A second change/affect was…(show off knowledge). This affected them because …
Looking for extra marks? Think about those who weren’t affected or who opposed the change.
Q2 –Why do these interpretations differ… 4 marks / 5 minutes
One paragraph. Provenance only. Use PANDA to pick out and explain two reasons why the interpretations might be different.
One reason the interpretations differ is because…
Another reason why the differ is because…
Q3 –Which is the most convincing interpretation… 8 marks / 10 mins
Three paragraphs. Content only. Test the content of each interpretation against your own knowledge. Then explain which is most convincing.
Overall, Interpretation A shows us…
It says …and I find this convincing because I know…
Overall, Interpretation B shows us…
When considering both interpretations I think that even though they both say… interpretation X is the most convincing because…
Looking for extra marks? Test the content against your own wider contextual understanding as well.
Q6 - Explain essay question- more important in bullet points 12 marks / 15 minutes
Two paragraphs and a conclusion. You can select supporting evidence from your own knowledge. Paragraphs give detailed evidence and explanation using PEEL. First paragraph explains the first bullet point. Then explain the other bullet point. Come to a judgement.
P1 – Bullet point 1.. From my own knowledge I know… This shows
P2 – Bullet point 2.. From my own knowledge I know… This shows…
Conclusion – Overall, although… I believe that…was more important because…
Looking for extra marks? Link back to which you think was the most important reason throughout your answer, not just in your conclusion. (Therefore...- link back to the Q). Your judgement should also make connections between the different bullet points.
Setnece starters Q1: Interp A shows… it says… this is different to int b which shows…. And says..?
Setnece 2 sentence starters- Int A is written by/for… This would affect the int because. Int B is written by/for… This would affect the int because…

2. Conflict and Tension in Asia 1950-1975
How to answer every GCSE question
Paper 1
PANDA: Purpose/ Author/ Nature/ Date/ Audience
Conflict and Tension in Asia
PEE: Point/Evidence/Explain
Q1 - Study Source A. Source is opposes / supports __________ How do you know? 4 marks / 5 minutes
One paragraph. Choose two bits of evidence from the content and/or provenance (PANDA) of the source that shows what the question is asking. Then explain using your own knowledge how it shows it.
In the source I can see… This shows that the cartoon supports/opposes…
I can also see… This shows that the cartoon supports/opposes…
Looking for extra marks? Link your answer closely back to the question and show off your wider knowledge.
Q2 – How useful are these sources? 12 marks / 15 minutes
WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC/TIME PERIOD ALREADY? * *Make sure the knowledge fits the dates*
WHAT DOES THIS SOURCE TELL ME?
Comment on 2/3 aspects of each source – looking at both content and purpose/ author. Test it against what you already know to assess how useful it is.
Source B is useful because it tells a historian… This is useful because I know...
Looking at the purpose of the source, it is useful because it tells a historian… This is useful because I know that people at the time felt…
Looking for extra marks? *Make sure you keep justifying your opinion
Q3 – Write an account of how _________________ became a crisis / developed into… 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Write a detailed explanation of how an event or series of events developed and led to an issue or crisis. Each paragraph should explain one part of the historical narrative. Chronological order is very important.
Firstly, in _____… (provide a detailed description, supported by own knowledge) This caused… This was important because it led to… This increased tensions because…
Looking for extra marks? Make links to the wider historical context, paragraphs are linked.
Q4 - ‘X was the main reason for / result of Y.’ How far do you agree with this statement? 16 marks + 4 SPAG / 20 minutes
Three paragraphs and a conclusion. Paragraphs give detailed evidence and explanation using PEE. First paragraph explains the reason in the question. Then explain two other reasons. Come to a judgement.
P1 – I agree with the statement because.. From my own knowledge I know… This shows…
P2 and P3 – However, it could be suggested that… From my knowledge…
Conclusion – Overall, I believe that…
Looking for extra marks? Link back to what you think was the most important throughout your answer. Make links between the different bullet points.

3. Britain: Health and the People
How to answer every GCSE question
Paper 2
PANDA: Purpose/ Author/ Nature/ Date/ Audience
Britain: Health and the People
NOOT: New/original, influence Others, use Today
Q1 – How useful is this source? 8 marks / 10 minutes
WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC/TIME PERIOD ALREADY? * *Make sure the knowledge fits the dates*
WHAT DOES THIS SOURCE TELL ME?
Comment on 2/3 aspects of the source – looking at both content and purpose/ author. Test it against what you already know to assess how useful it is.
Source B is useful because it tells a historian… This is useful because I know...
Looking at the purpose of the source, it is useful because it tells a historian… This is useful because I know that people at the time felt…
Looking for extra marks? *Make sure you keep justifying your opinion
PEE: Point/Evidence/Explain
CCARTWIG: Chance, Communication, Attitudes, Religion and superstition, Technology and Science, War, Individuals and their attitudes to change, Government.
Q3 – Compare for similarity or difference 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Identify and explain 2 similarities or differences between events. Use PEE. Must refer to both events in each paragraph to make direct comparisons. Show off detailed knowledge. Can consider similarities/differences in terms of: why the event took place, how they developed, the impact of the events in the short or long term.
One similarity/difference is that….For example in… and in ….
Another similarity/difference is that…For example in… and in ….
Q4 - Factors Essay question: X was the most important factor in… over time.
16 marks + 4 SPAG / 20 minutes
Three paragraphs and a conclusion. Paragraphs give detailed evidence and explanation using PEE. First paragraph explains the factor in the question. Then explain two other factors. Come to a judgement. Factors might include CCARTWIG.
P1 – I agree with the statement because.. From my own knowledge I know… This shows…
P2 and P3 – However, it could be suggested that… From my knowledge…
Conclusion – Overall, I believe that…
Looking for extra marks? Link back to what you think was the most important throughout your answer. Make links between the different factors.
Q2 – Explain the significance. 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Identify and explain at least 2 ways a key event, development, group or individual is significant, using PEE. Consider NOO: was it New/original, did it influence Others at the time or later.
One way… was significant in the short term was…This is because…
One way … was significant in the long term was…This is because…
Looking for extra marks? Think about immediate/short term/medium term/long term significance. What were the positive impacts? Were there any negative?

4. Elizabethan England 1568-1603 Paper 2
How to answer every GCSE question
Paper 2
PEE: Point/Evidence/Explain
Elizabethan England
Q1 - How convincing is this interpretation? 8 marks / 10 minutes
One paragraph. Content only. Test the content of the interpretation against your own knowledge. Then explain how convincing it is.
Interpretation A is convincing because it says…and I know…
However, I find… unconvincing because I know…
Overall this interpretation is very/quite/not very convincing because…
Looking for extra marks? Test the content against your own wider contextual understanding as well.
Q3 – Write an account. 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Explain 2 or more causes, consequences or changes in PEE paragraphs. Give detailed reasons and specific factual knowledge. Order your paragraphs chronologically if possible.
One… This was because/this led to…
Another was… This was because/this led to…
Looking for extra marks? Make links to the wider historical context, paragraphs are linked.
Q4 - ‘Historic Environment essay based on a statement about CASE STUDY’
16 marks / 20 minutes
Three paragraphs and a conclusion. Detailed evidence and explanation that links to the statement in the question. Use PEE. One should show how the change in the question is reflected in CS. Then explain two other changes in society reflected in CS
P1 – CS reflects the change in the question. For example… This shows
P2 and P3 – However, CS also reflects…for example… This shows
Conclusion – Overall, I believe that the main change shown is…
Looking for extra marks? Link back to what you think was the biggest change shown in CS throughout your answer. Make links between the different changes in society and how they are shown.
Q2- Explain what was important about… 8 marks / 10 minutes
Two paragraphs. Explain 2 or more changes, consequences, causes and develop these using PEE paragraphs. Give detailed reasons and specific factual knowledge.
One …was (give details and specifics) This was important because (link back to Q).
A second was (give details and specifics) This was important because (link back to Q).
Looking for extra marks? Analysing the broader historical context – so not just explaining what happened but also assessing the importance of those issues