starter activity

What advice would you give Mr Bean on how to do well in a GCSE History exam?

General tipsGeneral tips Timing is crucial – by not answering the essay Timing is crucial – by not answering the essay

questions you throw away up to 50% of your questions you throw away up to 50% of your marks for that section!!!!marks for that section!!!!

Look at the marks availableLook at the marks available Read the ‘Read the ‘attributionsattributions’ – the examiner is ’ – the examiner is

giving you clues not trying to catch you outgiving you clues not trying to catch you out If you are asked to use own knowledge – use If you are asked to use own knowledge – use

it!it! If you run short of time, bullet point key factsIf you run short of time, bullet point key facts Don’t spend too long on questions worth 4 Don’t spend too long on questions worth 4

marks at the expense of ones worth 8 or 10marks at the expense of ones worth 8 or 10

How can I do well How can I do well at Cold War at Cold War

Essays?Essays?Exam tips & techniques for Exam tips & techniques for Unit 2, Germany, 1919-45 Unit 2, Germany, 1919-45

paperpaper

LOs

Question (c) (Question (c) (10 marks10 marks) – ) – You know these types of You know these types of

question wellquestion well Question type: ‘Why was Nazi Question type: ‘Why was Nazi

propaganda successful?’ or ‘How propaganda successful?’ or ‘How important was Stresemann in helping important was Stresemann in helping Germany recover?’Germany recover?’

Identify a range of factorsIdentify a range of factors Use precise details, e.g. individuals, Use precise details, e.g. individuals,

laws, organisations etc.laws, organisations etc. You MUST reach a judgement to You MUST reach a judgement to

access level 5access level 5

Cold War Question (e) Cold War Question (e) ((10 marks10 marks))

Question type: essay style question, e.g. ‘The Question type: essay style question, e.g. ‘The USA was successful in containing USA was successful in containing Communism up to 1949’Communism up to 1949’

Identify a range of successes: e.g. Marshall Identify a range of successes: e.g. Marshall Aid; Berlin Airlift; NATO establishedAid; Berlin Airlift; NATO established

Identify a range of failures: USSR detonate Identify a range of failures: USSR detonate atomic weapon; salami tactics; “Iron curtain”atomic weapon; salami tactics; “Iron curtain”

You MUST reach a conclusion to reach level You MUST reach a conclusion to reach level 44

Bullet point if you run out of timeBullet point if you run out of time

Cold War 10 Mark Cold War 10 Mark Question GeneratorQuestion Generator

EarlyEarly LaterLater

Your taskYour task Set yourself 3 targets for the Set yourself 3 targets for the

summer examssummer exams Can you guess what my tips for Can you guess what my tips for

exam success will be….?exam success will be….?What advice

can I give those Year 11s?

PlenaryPlenary Top tips for exam success…Top tips for exam success… Pace yourself carefully – leave Pace yourself carefully – leave

enough time for the essay-style enough time for the essay-style questions at the end of each sectionquestions at the end of each section

Read the labels carefullyRead the labels carefully Provide as much factual detail as Provide as much factual detail as

you canyou can Plan to succeed!Plan to succeed!

Don’t be a Mr Bean this summer!