The 12 Marker "Bullet Point" Question: Russia (Q6) (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
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 Russia: 1894 - 1945 unit
Be a direct comparison of two key groups or events
For example, in the Russia: 1894 - 1945 unit, the bullet points could be on reasons for the Bolshevik revolution or Russia's defeat in the First World War, and the advantages of the Reds and disadvantages of the Whites during the Civil War
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 Russian history:
Year of Exam | Question Topic |
|---|---|
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 | Reasons for the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in October/ November 1917 |
2021 | |
2022 | What created the most change in Russia as a result of Lenin’s policies |
Sample 1 | Reasons why Lenin was able to strengthen his rule over Russia |
Sample 2 | The results of Stalin’s industrialisation of the USSR |
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 judgements
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 Russia's problems were the most important reason for the success of the Bolshevik Revolution
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 success of the Bolshevik revolution in October/November 1917:
Russia’s problems
The leadership of the Bolsheviks?
[12 marks]
Answer:
The most important reason for the success of the Bolshevik revolution in October/ November 1917 was Russia’s problems. Before the Bolshevik revolution, the Provisional Government was failing and unpopular. They did not redistribute land to peasants and failed to deal with the problems of the First World War. The war was costing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Russians and Kerensky’s offensive in June 1917 had failed. In addition, the weak Provisional Government could not defend itself against Trotsky’s Red Guards when they took control of Petrograd. Russia’s problems were the main reason for the success of the Bolshevik revolution in October/ November 1917, the Russian people’s dislike for the Provisional Government and their failure to maintain order in Petrograd far outweighed their liking of the Bolsheviks.
The leadership of the Bolsheviks was not the most important reason for the success of the October/November revolutions in 1917. When Lenin arrived in Petrograd in March 1917, he introduced the Russian people with his April Theses which gave a clear plan of how the Bolsheviks would improve Russia. Lenin’s promise of "Land, Peace and Bread" helped the Bolsheviks to gain support, particularly amongst the army. However, the leadership of the Bolsheviks were not the main reason for the success of the Bolsheviks as they did not have the support of the majority of Russians. For example, approximately half of the Russian army supported them and had 800,000 members. Furthermore, members of the Bolshevik party had to be convinced by Lenin to act in October/ November 1917 as many members did not believe it was the right time for a revolution, such as Bukharin.
Overall, the most important reason for the success of the October/November revolution was Russia’s problems. The Russian people were massively affected by the First World War which caused problems that the Provisional Government could not solve or manage effectively, such as the failed offensive in June 1917 and the lack of food in Russia. The leadership of the Bolsheviks was an important factor however the policies of Lenin only attracted the support of a minority of Russian people.
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