Tips for AS History OCR Paper 1 Exam

1.      You need to remember because this is a source based paper.

2.      The sources should be your lead, however at the same time you need to know the content as well.

3.      For you’re a) question, you need to complete it in the 30 minutes, you need to also remember the question will always say compare these sources as evidence for ... so you focus must be on comparing the sources.

4.      Show how they answer or support or refute the interpretation. If you need to contextualise the source during your analysis of the credibility of the provenance, then you need to do so.

5.      However then you need to examine only the sources comparing and contrasting them in relation to the question.

6.      You do not need to include outside context, otherwise you receive no credit for your own knowledge.
Sometimes it is rather difficult when grouping the interpretations for question B and not straightforward and your analysis may differ according to or in relation to the mark scheme as happened with some students last year who struggled to group the interpretations because of the similarities within them.

7.      Then I would suggest that you re-read the interpretations and look for very subtle nuances of differences between them or just a slight emphasis of difference, however you will have to look for it at times when they all seem so similar that you can almost miss them. 

8.      To go from a C to an A, a resit is necessary, without a resit you can only realistically gain a grade higher - a B, because it is averaged. For instance if you are sitting on a C and you are doing only the A2 units you would need two A* in your A2 units (The coursework and the Unit 3) to achieve a B.

9.      I want to remind you that your source paper should be your easiest exam, because your knowledge is supported by the sources.

10.  In A, all they require is a comparison of the sources and your analysis of their credibility.

11.  Whilst in the b question it should be a source driven analysis of the question.  Grouping the sources according to the interpretation.

12.  You will not always be able to neatly group all sources.

13.  Then you should integrate, weave in and support with your own knowledge to support or counter the interpretation under discussion.

14.  For the sources essays it's really important that you plan and you should use a planning grid, dividing up the sources and using quotes to support the arguments you will make.

15.  The key to this paper is creating a group and sustaining it all the way through, don't talk about one source at a time, and use own knowledge thoroughly throughout, to support your points.

16.  Remember don’t argue according to the number of the sources, but according to the credibility.