The 12 Marker "Bullet Point" Question: Germany (Q6) (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Summary of Question Six
Question Six requires you to evaluate the two bullet points which refer to a given issue
The bullet points given will:
Include information across the Germany: 1890 - 1945 unit
Be a direct comparison of two key groups or events
For example, in the Germany: 1890 - 1945 unit, the bullet points could be on reasons why Hitler became Chancellor, reasons for the end of the Weimar Republic or the main difficulty of Kaiser Wilhelm II
Amount of marks | 12 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 20 minutes |
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 German history:
Year of Exam | Question Topic |
|---|---|
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 | |
2021 | |
2022 | |
Sample 1 | The Weimar Republic and their economic and political problems |
Sample 2 | Economic and political reasons why Hitler became a dictator |
Making Judgements in History
The 12-mark question relies on your ability to weigh all the evidence and state your opinion. Students often find this part the hardest to do
There are some common mistakes when making a judgement, they include:
Not giving a clear judgement. Students do this by:
Explaining that both bullet points are important
Failing to decide which bullet point is more important
Using language in their answer which is not decisive e.g. “kind of” or “maybe”
Contradicting your judgments
Students sometimes haven’t planned their answers properly. They start to write their answer with one judgement and then change their opinion halfway through
Doing this means that there is not a sustained judgement and you can not access Level 4 (10- 12 marks)
Good judgements will:
Explain one bullet point is more important than the other
There is no "right" or "wrong" answer in History
If you are unsure of your opinion, pick the side of the argument that you have better or more evidence to support
For the example question, the judgement is that economic developments was the most important reason for the recovery of Germany
Consider the other side of the argument
Even if you fully agree with one of the bullet points, you still need to present evidence for the other bullet point
Sustain your judgement throughout your answer
Your judgement should be used to structure your answer and help you explain
This is why planning your answer is important
What Makes a Great Conclusion in GCSE History?
Conclusions are usually where most of your judgement marks will be awarded
Students often rush their conclusions so they are not as developed as they could be
All great conclusions have these three elements:
Judgement – Start with your opinion. Try to include the words from the question. Consider second-order concepts like short- and long-term consequences, change and continuity and significance
Counter – Give an example from the other side of the argument to show your awareness of this
Support – Explain why, after considering all the evidence, you have reached your judgement. Use your best piece of evidence to show your opinion
How to Answer a “Bullet Point” Question
When answering a “Bullet Point” question you need to:
Read the question carefully
Plan your answer. This will help you to:
Decide which bullet point you will support
Have a logical and concise argument
Have a substantiated judgement
Achieve the higher levels
Examiners argue those who plan their answers, achieve higher marks
Explain both bullet points in your answer
“Bullet Point” Question Structure
Your answer should consist of:
Specific knowledge
Relevant evidence
Substantiated judgement
A conclusion
Your answers could be written in PEEL paragraphs:
P - Make a point about the question
This should include your judgement
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
Evidence needs to be relevant and specific
E - Explain why this evidence supports your point
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how it is more or less important than the other bullet point
Worked Example of a “Bullet Point” Question
Worked Example
Which of the following was the more important reason for the recovery of Germany during the Gustav Stresemann era (1924–1929):
• Economic developments
• International agreements
[12 marks]
Answer:
Economic developments were the most important reason for the recovery of Germany during the Gustav Stresemann era. In 1924 hyperinflation was an issue that Stresemann resolved by stopping the printing of money. In 1924 Stresemann replaced it with the temporary Rentenmark, which later turned into the Reichsmark, and decreased inflation. Stresemann was responsible for the Dawes Plan and Young Plan, which gave Germany a loan from the USA to pay reparations, encouraged further development and fuelled the Golden Age era. Therefore, despite Stresemann receiving criticism for not ending unemployment the economic developments during the Stresemann era massively benefitted the majority of the German people. The economic agreements allowed for more German infrastructure and jobs to be created which boosted the German economy, which contributed more towards the recovery of Germany than the international agreements did.
Although international agreements made during the Stresemann era helped German recovery, it is not the most important reason. Foreign policies, such as The Pact in 1925, helped Germany recover as it strengthened Germany’s relationship with other countries such as Britain, Italy, France and Belgium. Stresemann also showed German recovery as he helped Germany to become a part of the League of United Nations. However, these international agreements did help the recovery of Germany as other European nations were finally accepting them. However, this was not the most important reason for Germany's recovery as many nations in Europe still saw Germany as their enemy, despite its acceptance into the League of Nations.
Overall, the most important reason for the recovery of Germany during the Stresemann era was due to economic development. Although the foreign policies helped Germany to recover its reputation, many countries still saw them as the enemy. The economic developments, such as the new currency, allowed for the economy to recover significantly reduced unemployment and helped to rebuild Germany.
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