Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Welcome to the Past Papers & Mark Schemes section for Paper 1!
This section will provide you with links to past exam papers, mark schemes, and helpful resources to guide your revision for Paper 1: Understanding the Modern World of the AQA GCSE History exam.

Paper 1 is divided into two sections:

• Section A: Period Studies

• Section B: Wider World Depth Studies

We will be uploading past exam papers for each option so you can access all the necessary resources to practice and refine your knowledge.

1. Accessing Past Papers

• Click below to download the most recent past papers for Paper 1:

Section A: Period Studies

• America, 1840–1895: Expansion and Consolidation

• Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and Dictatorship

• Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and Communism

• America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and Inequality

Download Past Papers for Section A: Period Studies
(Make sure to select the relevant option that you are studying)

Section B: Wider World Depth Studies

• Conflict and Tension: The First World War, 1894–1918

• Conflict and Tension: The Inter-war Years, 1918–1939

• Conflict and Tension between East and West, 1945–1972

• Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009

Download Past Papers for Section B: Wider World Depth Studies
(Select your option for full access)

2. Mark Schemes

Mark schemes show how answers are graded and can help you understand what examiners expect in a high-scoring answer. Reviewing past mark schemes is an essential part of revision, as it lets you know exactly what examiners are looking for in your responses.

• Download the Mark Schemes for Paper 1:

Section A: Period Studies Mark Schemes

• America, 1840–1895: Expansion and Consolidation

• Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and Dictatorship

• Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and Communism

• America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and Inequality

Download Mark Schemes for Section A

Section B: Wider World Depth Studies Mark Schemes

• Conflict and Tension: The First World War, 1894–1918

• Conflict and Tension: The Inter-war Years, 1918–1939

• Conflict and Tension between East and West, 1945–1972

• Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009

Download Mark Schemes for Section B

Get mark schemes from https://aqa.org.uk

3. Example Exam Questions

• Section A: Period Studies

  • Example 1: "Explain the main reasons for the expansion of the United States from 1840 to 1895."
    (This would be a typical 16-mark question, assessable through the mark scheme criteria.)

  • Example 2: "Assess the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany."
    (This will require a deep analysis of the Weimar Republic’s early years.)

• Section B: Wider World Depth Studies

  • Example 1: "How significant was the impact of the First World War on the political landscape of Europe?"
    (This would be a source-based question.)

  • Example 2: "How did the Cold War affect global politics between 1945 and 1972?"
    (Consider this in the context of East-West relations.)

Why Practicing Past Papers is Important

• Practicing past papers helps you get familiar with the format of questions, as well as the timing for each section.

• It allows you to understand the kind of content that is required for high-scoring answers.

• By reviewing the mark schemes, you’ll know what examiners look for in each part of the question, helping you score full marks.

• Using past papers and mark schemes will improve your exam technique, particularly with source analysis, structure of answers, and answering under time constraints.

4. Tips for Using Past Papers Effectively

• Time yourself: When doing past papers, set a timer for each section to simulate exam conditions and practice managing your time.

• Review the Mark Schemes: After completing past papers, go through the mark schemes carefully to check your answers and ensure you understand why certain responses score higher marks.

• Look for patterns: Past papers often repeat question types and topics, so practicing them multiple times will help you get familiar with what to expect.

5. Additional Resources

• Exam Practice Questions: If you're looking for extra practice questions to test your knowledge beyond past papers, check out our Exam Practice section.

• Revision Guides: We have compiled a list of the best AQA History Revision Guides for both Paper 1 and Paper 2, to further aid your preparation.

By completing past papers and reviewing the mark schemes regularly, you will be well-prepared for the Paper 1 exam and understand how to structure your answers for maximum marks.