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 second-order concepts in your answer

• This question has changed format since 2024

  • Previously, you did not have a choice of which 12-mark question you could answer

  • Now, you have a choice of two questions where you will need to answer one

• 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 Weimar and Nazi Germany

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 cause and consequence

  • Question 2 (a) in the example question asks to explain what aspects of the Treaty of Versailles caused anger in Germany

• These second-order concepts allow you to:

  • Understand history 

  • Give a complex explanation

• This question usually focuses on causes rather than consequences

• The focus of the two 12-mark questions could either be on Weimar Germany or Nazi Germany

  • Edexcel does not state if there will always be one option based on Weimar Germany and one option based on Nazi Germany

  • However, the creation of an additional option for the 12-mark question makes it likely that both questions will be based on different topics and periods of the course

How to answer an "Explain why" Question

• This question asks you to explain why an event or development was achieved by discussing the different causes of it

  • You need to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of what factors caused the event or development to happen

• In the exam, you will be given the option of two questions to answer

  • You only need to answer one question

    • You will not receive more marks for writing both questions

  • You should put an "X" in the box next to the question you have chosen to answer

• 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 Question 2(b) in the example question, you could include the Reichstag fire, the Enabling Act and the Night of the Long Knives

  • How do they demonstrate cause and consequence 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 cause

  • 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 the event or development outlined in the question to happen

  • L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor was in causing the event or development to happen (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