Friday 6 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y102/01 Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest 1035–
1107
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
(Verified Question Paper With Mark
Scheme Combined June 2025)
, INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question
numbers must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in
Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025
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[F/506/4252] DC (KS)
Charity Turn over
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, 2
Section A
Norman England 1087–1107
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘William II’s actions in dealing with threats from Scotland and Wales were effective’.
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this
view. [30]
Source A: A Chronicle gives an account of events in the north.
While king William was out of England, king Malcolm of Scotland invaded England and
overran a great deal of the country, until the good men who governed it sent an army
against him and repulsed him. When king William in Normandy heard this, he came to
England and his brother, earl Robert, was with him. He issued orders to collect forces,
both naval and military, but before the naval force could reach Scotland it perished
miserably. The king and his brother proceeded with the land force. When the king came
near to Malcolm with the army, earl Robert and Edgar Aethling interceded and so made
peace between the kings. King Malcolm came to our king and did homage and promised
obedience.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 1091
Source B: A monk at Durham reports on events in 1093.
The Scots chose the brother of king Malcolm as their king and expelled all the
Englishmen at court from Scotland. When this was known, Duncan, the son of king
Malcolm, begged king William, in whose service he was then fighting, that he would
grant him his father’s kingdom. Having obtained this he swore fealty to William and
hastened to Scotland with a multitude of English and Normans and drove his uncle from
the kingdom and ruled in his stead. Then some of the Scots assembled together and cut
off nearly all his men and he and a few others escaped with difficulty. Nevertheless, after
this the Scots permitted him to reign.
Simeon of Durham, A History of the Kings of England, written before 1129
Source C: A monk gives his view about William’s achievements in Wales by the end of 1095.
William led an expedition against the Welsh in which he performed nothing worthy of his
greatness. He lost many of his soldiers and had his packhorses intercepted. Not only at
that time, but frequently in Wales, was fortune unfavourable towards him. This may
seem strange as the chance of war was generally on his side in other places. But it
appears to me that the unevenness of the country and the badness of the weather, as it
assisted their rebellion, were also a hindrance to him in displaying his valour.
William of Malmesbury, Chronicle of the Kings of England, written before 1143
© OCR Y102/01
2025 Jun25