The 12 Mark "Explain Why" Question (Edexcel GCSE History)

Summary of Question 2

• Question 2 requires you to provide an analytical explanation of the event, development, theme or factor outlined in the question

• This question will require you to use the second-order concept of causation in your answer

• 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 Elizabethan England:

What are second-order concepts?

• Second-order concepts are:

  • Cause and consequence

  • Change and continuity 

  • Similarities and differences 

  • Historical significance 

• For the example question, the second-order concept is causation

  • The example question asks you to explain what caused a Catholic threat to Elizabeth's reign

• These second-order concepts allow you to:

  • Understand history 

  • Give a complex explanation

• This question usually focuses on the second-order concept of causation

How to answer an "Explain why" question

• This question asks you to explain causation, why something happened

  • You need to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of the events or developments

• As shown in the example question, you will receive two stimulus points

  • In the exam, you will be given two possible areas of knowledge to discuss in your question

  • If you only discuss these two stimulus points, you cannot access Level 4

  • You must discuss three areas of knowledge in your answer to access Level 4

• You should always plan your answers before writing them. When creating a plan for this question, you should consider the following:

  • What three areas of knowledge are you going to use?

    • For the example question, you could include Mary, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth's Religious Settlement and the papal bull

  • How do they demonstrate the causation of the topic outlined in the question?

"Explain why" question structure

• Your answer should consist of:

  • Specific and relevant own knowledge

  • The second-order concept of causation

  • A sustained explanation

  • A logical structure

• Your answers could be written in PEEL paragraphs :

  • P - Make a point about the question

  • E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made (K)

    • The evidence should be from the time period or event outlined in the question

    • Your evidence should include a wide range of knowledge

  • E - Explain the question (SOC)

    • Explain how the evidence resulted in the event or development outlined in the question

  • L - Link your explanation back to the question

• To achieve full marks, you need to repeat this structure three times

• The question is out of 12 marks:

  • 6 marks for a wide range of specific knowledge of the period and the topic (K)

  • 6 marks for the analysis of the key second-order concepts (SOC)

Worked example of an "Explain why" question