2025 AQA A-Level HISTORY 7042/1C
Component 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Friday 23 May 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/1C.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/G/Jun25/G4005/E6 7042/1C
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Mary Tudor’s reign halted England’s move towards national independence. Mary put
herself and her kingdom under the control of Spain, by marrying Philip II. With his
assistance she restored papal authority, and England surrendered its independence.
Those who challenged the control of the Catholic Church were treated as criminals and
sent to the stake. English adventurers were prohibited, in the interests of Spain, from 5
exploring the New World. Finally, England was plunged into war with France to help
Philip II, and lost Calais for its pains. Mary’s reign showed the evil effects of supporting
Spain.
To Elizabeth fell the task of completing her country’s national independence. She
avenged the contempt in which England had been held by protestants during Mary’s 10
reign. She outraged Catholic Europe by assisting the Scots to expel the French.
Elizabeth supported the Dutch against Philip II. At heart she was with her people, who
lost no opportunity of plundering and insulting the Spanish who got in their way.
Adapted from AF Pollard, The History of England: A Study in Political Evolution, 1912
Extract B
Extract B not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from page 323 of Elizabeth – Apprenticeship by David
Starkey, printed by Vintage Books in 2001, ISBN 0099286572.
Adapted from D Starkey, Elizabeth – Apprenticeship, 2001
IB/G/Jun25/7042/1C
, 3
Extract C
It is generally assumed that it was Elizabeth I who had overcome the obstacles to female
rule. However, Mary I had been just as capable as her male predecessors in offering
strong government. Elizabeth was the ‘Virgin Queen’ but Mary’s marriage had in no way
weakened her royal authority. Philip did not operate in England as a king, but instead
carved out a role for himself as a king consort. It was Mary, not her successor, who 5
normalised queenship. It was Elizabeth who learned from Mary’s example and built on
her success. Mary was a moderate, hardworking, courageous, decisive and skilful ruler.
Mary’s achievements have often been thought the work of Elizabeth: for example, the
search for new markets abroad, social and economic legislation, the increase in
revenues from customs, plans for a recoinage. In the same way as Elizabeth, Mary was 10
also compared to many Biblical figures, even to the Virgin Mary herself.
Adapted from S Doran, Mary Tudor: Old and New Perspectives, 2011
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Mary I and Elizabeth I.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/G/Jun25/7042/1C Turn over ►
Component 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Friday 23 May 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/1C.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/G/Jun25/G4005/E6 7042/1C
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Mary Tudor’s reign halted England’s move towards national independence. Mary put
herself and her kingdom under the control of Spain, by marrying Philip II. With his
assistance she restored papal authority, and England surrendered its independence.
Those who challenged the control of the Catholic Church were treated as criminals and
sent to the stake. English adventurers were prohibited, in the interests of Spain, from 5
exploring the New World. Finally, England was plunged into war with France to help
Philip II, and lost Calais for its pains. Mary’s reign showed the evil effects of supporting
Spain.
To Elizabeth fell the task of completing her country’s national independence. She
avenged the contempt in which England had been held by protestants during Mary’s 10
reign. She outraged Catholic Europe by assisting the Scots to expel the French.
Elizabeth supported the Dutch against Philip II. At heart she was with her people, who
lost no opportunity of plundering and insulting the Spanish who got in their way.
Adapted from AF Pollard, The History of England: A Study in Political Evolution, 1912
Extract B
Extract B not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from page 323 of Elizabeth – Apprenticeship by David
Starkey, printed by Vintage Books in 2001, ISBN 0099286572.
Adapted from D Starkey, Elizabeth – Apprenticeship, 2001
IB/G/Jun25/7042/1C
, 3
Extract C
It is generally assumed that it was Elizabeth I who had overcome the obstacles to female
rule. However, Mary I had been just as capable as her male predecessors in offering
strong government. Elizabeth was the ‘Virgin Queen’ but Mary’s marriage had in no way
weakened her royal authority. Philip did not operate in England as a king, but instead
carved out a role for himself as a king consort. It was Mary, not her successor, who 5
normalised queenship. It was Elizabeth who learned from Mary’s example and built on
her success. Mary was a moderate, hardworking, courageous, decisive and skilful ruler.
Mary’s achievements have often been thought the work of Elizabeth: for example, the
search for new markets abroad, social and economic legislation, the increase in
revenues from customs, plans for a recoinage. In the same way as Elizabeth, Mary was 10
also compared to many Biblical figures, even to the Virgin Mary herself.
Adapted from S Doran, Mary Tudor: Old and New Perspectives, 2011
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Mary I and Elizabeth I.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/G/Jun25/7042/1C Turn over ►
