Paper 1: Core Content Introduction

Structure of the paper Paper I is split into two parts:

Section A: Core content
Section B: Depth studies.
content. See page 316 for advice on the Depth Studiee
This Exam Focus deals with the core
covered Option B: The 20thc.
In this book we have only
The core content has two options. have to answer two. so mol.
on Option B and you ake sure
The exam paper will have four questions
Section 1.
seven chapters in
you revise at least two ofthe
Structure of the questions All core content questions on Paper 1 are similar:
There is a source or a simple statement to read
or look al -

however there are no

ions on question
the Then there are three parts:
this; it is just to help you to focus your thinking
on topic.
marks. This will often begin 'describe' or 'what
a) a knowledge question worth 4
an explanation question worth 6 marks.
This will often begin with 'explain' or why'
b)
c)an evaluation question worth 10 marks. One common type of question gives you a statement
to agree or disagree with. You need to make a judgement and back up your judgement with

evidence and argument.

Four key steps 1 Choose questions carefully: Read all the questions carefullybeforeyou decide whichto
answer. You should have revised enough to give you a choice of questions, but don't justimmediatel
opt for your favourite topic -sometimes your less favoured topic might have a question whichsuisy
better
2 Plan your time: Timing is important- running out oftime is NOT unlucky it is a mistake!
The core content is worth two-thirds of the marks so you should spend two-thirds of the time on
it-ie. 80 minutes.
The marks for each question give you a guide as to how long to spend as well.

3 Read the question carefully: This might sound obvious but there is a skill to it
Make sure you understand what the question asks you to do: write a description? Write an
explanation? Write a comparison?
Make sure you focus on the right topic and the right sub-topic. Selecting the right material Is
critical. Think of your knowledge like a wardrobe. You do not wear all of
your clothes every day
you select the different clothes for school, going out, sport, cold weather, warm weather, etc. D0,
you see a question on the League of Nations it could be on the structure of the
in the 1920s, or one crisis like League, the Leag
Abyssinia. Make sure you focus on the right area.
Make sure you focus on the right time
period. For example, if you are facing a question on ue
Vietnam War make sure whether it is
asking about the early stages or the later stages. Focusing
the wrong period could be very
costly.
4 Plan your answer: Are you fed with
up teachers telling you to Start

writing? Well, you are going to be fed up with us as well then becauseplan your answer before you
remember this simple advice: your teachers are right Ju
Ifyou think through your answer first, then d then
support it. writing it is easy Start by stating your case an
Ifyou try to skip the thinking and planning and
because it will not be clear what points
just start writing,you will make amess of
you are trying to make. You will also run the uas
running out of time.
1919-39 worked examples
to show you
how to tackle the questiones
answers that we have written you
Here are some example
might face.

Versailles punished Germany [41

Spot on-very clear response (a) Describe how the Treaty of
and no detail the question
doesn't ask for. Identifies ways
of its army to 100,000.
the Treaty punished limiting the size
The Treaty punished Germany by had to
men
Germany 26,600 million +o
all that is needed.
and banning conscription. It also pay reparations of
was taken away
from it
the Allies. All of its overseas empire

achieve from the peace settlement

(b) Explain what Wilson wanted to
at Versailles. [6]
Good approach identifies a
specific aim of Wilson's setting wanted to set up
he
hoped to achieve several things. Firstly,
an
up the LoN and then expands Wilson
on this by international body called the League of Nations. He wanted this because he
explaining why
Wilson wanted it. felt that nations had to work together in order to achieve world peace.
He also wanted to make sure that the different people in eastern Europe, like
Good idea to identify a second the Poles, would no longer be part of Austria-Hungory's empire. This was
aim of Wilson and explain his obecause he believed in self-determination- the idea that nations should rule
reasoning behind it.
themselves.

(c) Clemenceau did not get what he wanted out of the Paris Peace
Conference.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain
Best kind of introduction sets your answer. [10]
out what your argument will be.

bClemenceau was dissatisfied with the Treaty of Versailles although there

Accurate but not fully
explained.
More like it! Clear identification
of something Clemenceau
was pleased with, and an
explanation of why he was
pleased.
Now the opposing evidence
-g0od! Examples of how
Clemenceau was unhappy with
crucial explanation of why,
Really good answer because it
reaches an overall judgement at
the end. This answer
effectively
weighs up the relative
importance of both sides and
explains why they have reached
their decision. Another
question
might be more suited to a
different approach; for example,
considering links between
different factors.
were many terms that did please him.
He was happy that the threat from bermany was reduced with their armed
forces being limited.
Clemenceau was also pleased with some of the territorial terms of the
such claiming Alsace-Lorraine back from Germany, which had takenTreaty
as
it
in 1870.
However, Clemenceau was not satisfied that the
from Treaty reduced the threat
Germany enough. He was dissatisfied with the
thinking it was too low. He wanted reparations setlement,
Pwanted Germany to be
Germany broken up into smaller states. he
not to pose a
permanently economically and militarily crippled so
future threat as
Overall, I do not agree with the statement that
wanted. I think Clemenceau Clemenceau what he
got a lot of what he wanted out got
such as reparations and of
Alsace-Lorraine, but he did not get the one Treaty
the
he wanted most, which was
the future, either guaranteed security from German attackthingin a
through alliances by or
wanted above all, and he did not crippling Germany. This is whathe
get it.