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

Summary of Question 4

• Question 4 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 second-order concepts 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 Medicine in Britain:

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 change and continuity

  • The example question asks you to explain why there have been changes in the methods of treating diseases during the 20^th century

• These second-order concepts allow you to:

  • Understand history 

  • Give a complex explanation

• This question usually focuses on the second-order concept of change and continuity by asking about:

  • The speed of change in medicine

  • What caused change or continuity in the public's ideas or attitudes about illness and cures

  • What caused improvements in medicine

How to answer an "Explain why" Question

• This question asks you to explain why there has been a change or continuity to the factor mentioned in the question

  • You need to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of how certain factors have either stayed the same or changed over time

• 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 (9-12 marks)

  • 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 penicillin, the government and the NHS

  • How do they demonstrate change or continuity across the time period outlined in the question?

"Explain why" question structure

• Your answer should consist of:

  • Specific and relevant own knowledge

  • The second-order concept of change and continuity

  • 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 outlined in the question

    • Your evidence should include a wide range of knowledge

  • E - Explain the question (SOC)

    • Explain why the evidence caused changes or continuity in the development outlined in the question

  • L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor is for change or continuity (SOC)

• 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