The 4 Mark "Give Two Things You Can Infer" Question (Edexcel GCSE History)

Summary of Question 1

• Question 1 requires you to make two inferences about Source A

• You need to state what section of the source supports each inference that you make

• The answer section is broken down into four guided questions which you must complete

• 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 is an inference?

• An inference is an educated guess based on evidence

  • For the Weimar and Nazi Germany exam, you will need to:

    • Read (for a written source) or study (for a visual source) the given source

    • Utilise your own knowledge to make sense of the source

    • Make a statement about Source A connecting what you can see and what you know

• To remember how to infer, follow these steps:

  • I notice - What can you see or read from the source about the focus of the question?

  • I already know - What own knowledge do you have that explains what you can see in the source?

  • Now I am thinking... - Combine the details of Source A and your own knowledge to make an inference

Using the content of a source

• The content is the information presented in the source

• The content could be a variety of different types of sources such as:

  • A picture 

  • A photograph

  • An extract from a book 

  • A speech 

  • A political cartoon 

  • A letter 

• In this question, you should use the content of the source to make an inference based on the focus of the question

  • In the example question, you should look at Source A for information about life in Germany under the Nazis

How to answer a "Give two things you can infer" question

• Question 1 will always be based on Source A

• You will find Source A on the first page of the answer booklet

  • The instructions above the source state that you should study this source and then answer Question 1

• Do not use the sources in the insert booklet

  • Sources B and C are clearly marked for Section B of the paper

• Firstly, you need to read the question carefully 

  • Underline the topic mentioned in the question 

• Read the source, in full, several times

  • If Source A is a visual source, take your time to study the source

• Annotate the source by applying knowledge to the source that is relevant to the question 

• Choose two parts of the source which:

  • Are relevant to the question 

  • You can make inferences about

"Give two things you can infer" question structure

• The 'Give two things you can infer' answer space is laid out clearly into four, guided sections

• Your answer should consist of: 

  • Your first inference is written in the first 'What I can infer' section (1)

  • A quote (for a written source) or a description (for a visual source) written in the 'Details in the source that tell me this' section (1)

  • Your second inference is written in the second 'What I can infer' section (1)

    • This inference must be different to your first inference to achieve the mark

  • A different quote (for a written source) or a description (for a visual source) is written in the second "Details in the source that tell me this" section (1)

• You will be limited to 2 marks if you:

  • Only write inferences

  • Only select details from the source

  • Write more than two inferences

  • Do not back your inferences with quotes or specific details from Source A

Worked example of a "Give two things you can infer" question