Oxford Cambridge and RSA - 2025
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 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 the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• 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
OCR is an exempt
[T/506/4295] DC (IP)
Charity Turn over
355280/1
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the nature and
extent of Philip II’s support for the Spanish Inquisition. [30]
Passage A
The most pressing of Philip’s problems with the Church on his return to Spain in 1559
was to regain control over the Inquisition and to direct it for his own purposes. He
signalled his support of the Inquisition by following up his attendance at the auto-da-
fe* in Valladolid in 1559 by being present at autos in Toledo (1560) and in Barcelona
(1563). He also allowed the Inquisition to exercise some new powers. In 1559, for
instance, he ordered that all Spanish students at Louvain University in the Low
Countries were to return home and submit themselves to vetting by the Inquisition. He
forbade Spaniards to study at foreign universities. More drastically still, he allowed
Fernando de Valdes (Inquisitor-General) to issue the Index of August 1559.
However, once Philip had succeeded in removing Valdes in 1565 (on grounds of old
age and ill health) he deliberately changed the nature of the Inquisition by appointing
Diego de Espinosa as the first of a succession of Inquisitors-General of whose loyalty
he could be absolutely certain. From that point, the king was in charge of the
Inquisition - and of all his churchmen. Under Espinosa,
the Spanish Inquisition once again became a department of state. Under Philip and his
son the Inquisition became the policeman of the nation’s morals rather than the
persecutor of Jews and their sympathisers (which had been its original justification).
*Auto-da-fe: A formal condemnation of heretics, often followed by executions.
Patrick Williams, Philip II, published in 2001.
Passage B
© Geoffrey Parker, Imprudent King, pps 291-292, Yale University Press, 2014. From first line "If his other instruments of control proved inadequate or inappropriate," to last line "he insisted on having the last word in all other judicial matters." Item removed due
to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR Y308/01
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Catholic Reformation was a reaction to humanism and Protestantism.’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
3* ‘The most significant institutional reforms during the Catholic Reformation were
those established at the Lateran Council (1512 –17).’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
4* ‘The attitudes of the laity were the greatest obstacle to the reform of the Catholic
Church.’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR Y308/01
2025 Jun25
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 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 the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• 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
OCR is an exempt
[T/506/4295] DC (IP)
Charity Turn over
355280/1
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the nature and
extent of Philip II’s support for the Spanish Inquisition. [30]
Passage A
The most pressing of Philip’s problems with the Church on his return to Spain in 1559
was to regain control over the Inquisition and to direct it for his own purposes. He
signalled his support of the Inquisition by following up his attendance at the auto-da-
fe* in Valladolid in 1559 by being present at autos in Toledo (1560) and in Barcelona
(1563). He also allowed the Inquisition to exercise some new powers. In 1559, for
instance, he ordered that all Spanish students at Louvain University in the Low
Countries were to return home and submit themselves to vetting by the Inquisition. He
forbade Spaniards to study at foreign universities. More drastically still, he allowed
Fernando de Valdes (Inquisitor-General) to issue the Index of August 1559.
However, once Philip had succeeded in removing Valdes in 1565 (on grounds of old
age and ill health) he deliberately changed the nature of the Inquisition by appointing
Diego de Espinosa as the first of a succession of Inquisitors-General of whose loyalty
he could be absolutely certain. From that point, the king was in charge of the
Inquisition - and of all his churchmen. Under Espinosa,
the Spanish Inquisition once again became a department of state. Under Philip and his
son the Inquisition became the policeman of the nation’s morals rather than the
persecutor of Jews and their sympathisers (which had been its original justification).
*Auto-da-fe: A formal condemnation of heretics, often followed by executions.
Patrick Williams, Philip II, published in 2001.
Passage B
© Geoffrey Parker, Imprudent King, pps 291-292, Yale University Press, 2014. From first line "If his other instruments of control proved inadequate or inappropriate," to last line "he insisted on having the last word in all other judicial matters." Item removed due
to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR Y308/01
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Catholic Reformation was a reaction to humanism and Protestantism.’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
3* ‘The most significant institutional reforms during the Catholic Reformation were
those established at the Lateran Council (1512 –17).’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
4* ‘The attitudes of the laity were the greatest obstacle to the reform of the Catholic
Church.’
How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1492 to 1610? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR Y308/01
2025 Jun25
