Edexcel: C2: Britain, c.1860-1930: The Changing Position of Women and the Suffrage Question

Mark Scheme for Question (b)

(b) Do you agree with the view that ‘women were given the vote because of the war’? [40 marks]

Target: AO1a & AO1b (24 marks)
Recall, select and deploy historical knowledge appropriately, and communicate knowledge and understanding of history in a clear and effective manner.

AO2b (16 marks)
Analyse and evaluate, in relation to the historical context, how aspects of the past have been interpreted and represented in different ways.

AO1a and AO1b (24 marks)

Level 1	Candidates will produce mostly simple statements. These will be supported by limited factual material, which has some accuracy and relevance, although not directed analytically (i.e. at the focus of the question). The material will be mostly generalised. There will be few, if any, links between the simple statements. Low Level 1: 1–2 marks The qualities of Level 1 are displayed; material is less convincing in its range and depth. Mid Level 1: 3–4 marks As per descriptor. High Level 1: 5–6 marks The qualities of Level 1 are securely displayed; material is convincing in range and depth consistent with Level 1. The writing may have limited coherence and will be generally comprehensible, but passages will lack both clarity and organisation. The skills needed to produce effective writing will not normally be present. Frequent syntactical and/or spelling errors are likely to be present.	(1–6)
Level 2	Candidates will produce a series of simple statements supported by some accurate and relevant factual material. The analytical focus will be mostly implicit and there are likely to be only limited links between simple statements. Material is unlikely to be developed very far or to be explicitly linked to material taken from sources. Low Level 2: 7–8 marks The qualities of Level 2 are displayed; material is less convincing in its range and depth. Mid Level 2: 9–10 marks As per descriptor. High Level 2: 11–12 marks The qualities of Level 2 are securely displayed; material is convincing in range and depth consistent with Level 2. The writing will have some coherence and will be generally comprehensible, but passages will lack both clarity and organisation. Some of the skills needed to produce effective writing will be present. Frequent syntactical and/or spelling errors are likely to be present.	(7–12)
Level 3	Candidates’ answers will attempt analysis and show some understanding of the focus of the question. They may, however, include material which is either descriptive, and thus only implicitly relevant to the question’s focus, or which strays from that focus. Factual material will be mostly accurate, but it may lack depth and/or reference to the given factor. At this level candidates will begin to link contextual knowledge with points drawn from sources. Low Level 3: 13–14 marks The qualities of Level 3 are displayed; material is less convincing in its range and depth. Mid Level 3: 15–16 marks As per descriptor. High Level 3: 17–18 marks The qualities of Level 3 are securely displayed; material is convincing in range and depth consistent with Level 3. The writing will be coherent in places but there are likely to be passages which lack clarity and/or proper organisation. Only some of the skills needed to produce convincing extended writing are likely to be present. Syntactical and/or spelling errors are likely to be present.	(13–18)
Level 4	Candidates offer an analytical response which relates well to the focus of the question and which shows some understanding of the key issues contained in it. The analysis will be supported by accurate factual material, which will be mostly relevant to the question asked. There will be some integration of contextual knowledge with material drawn from sources, although this may not be sustained throughout the response. The selection of material may lack balance in places. Low Level 4: 19–20 marks The qualities of Level 4 are displayed; material is less convincing in its range and depth. Mid Level 4: 21–22 marks As per descriptor. High Level 4: 23–24 marks The qualities of Level 4 are securely displayed; material is convincing in range and depth consistent with Level 4. The answer will show some degree of direction and control but these attributes may not be sustained throughout the answer. The candidate will demonstrate the skills needed to produce convincing extended writing but there may be passages which lack clarity or coherence. The answer is likely to include some syntactical and/or spelling errors.	(19–24)

AO2b (16 marks)

Level 1	Comprehends the sources and selects material relevant to the representation contained in the question. Responses are direct quotations or paraphrases from one or more of the sources. Low Level 1: 1–2 marks The qualities of Level 1 are displayed, but material is less convincing in its range/depth. High Level 1: 3–4 marks The qualities of Level 1 are securely displayed.	(1–4)
Level 2	Comprehends the sources and selects from them in order to identify points which support or differ from the representation contained in the question. When supporting the decision made in relation to the question the sources will be used in the form of a summary of their information. Low Level 2: 5–6 marks The qualities of Level 2 are displayed, but material is less convincing in its range/depth. High Level 2: 7–8 marks The qualities of Level 2 are securely displayed.	(5–8)
Level 3	The sources are analysed and points of challenge and/or support for the representation contained in the question are developed from the provided material. In addressing the specific enquiry, there is clear awareness that a representation is under discussion and there is evidence of reasoning from the evidence of the sources, although there may be some lack of balance. The response reaches a judgement in relation to the claim which is supported by the evidence of the sources. Low Level 3: 9–10 marks The qualities of Level 3 are displayed, but material is less convincing in its range/depth. High Level 3: 11–12 marks The qualities of Level 3 are securely displayed.	(9–12)
Level 4	Reaches and sustains a conclusion based on the discriminating use of the evidence. Discussion of the claim in the question proceeds from the issues raised by the process of analysing the representation in the sources. There is developed reasoning and weighing of the evidence in order to create a judgement in relation to the stated claim. Low Level 4: 13–14 marks The qualities of Level 4 are displayed, but material is less convincing in its range/depth. High Level 4: 15–16 marks The qualities of Level 4 are securely displayed.	(13–16)