British Politics Exam Qs Planned
HOW TO: 30 MARK ESSAY
● 30 marks, 45 minutes
● The question stem will always be Evaluate the view…
● Both sides of the debate – give a fair balance however you must favour one side.
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
● Define key terms
● Give political context – why are they asking this question?
● Outline the main points you may cover
● Give a clear judgement
○ Don’t say “to an extent…” and sit on the fence.
Main body paragraphs:
● Point 1 – A significant point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim
conclusion.
● Point 2 – A point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim conclusion.
● Point 3 – Another point (maybe less significant) in favour of your argument, counterpoint and
an interim conclusion.
● Embedded judgements
○ The most important reason why…
○ A weaker argument that is often argued…
○ Giving priorities to some arguments over others.
● Analysis – significance, consequences, weaknesses, strengths, changes over time, or to
deconstruct your point, to show its impact and to link it to concepts and ideas.
○ Think about why examples are significant.
Conclusion:
● Restate your clear judgement – give your main reason behind judgement
HOW TO: 30 MARK SOURCE ESSAY
● 30 marks, 45 minutes
● The question stem will always be: Using the source, evaluate the view that…
● Both sides of the debate – give a fair balance however you must favour one side.
, ● Go into the exam with 3 highlighters: one for the point, one for the counterpoint and one for
any evidence used in the source.
● Quote the source so it’s clear that you’re using it – you can also paraphrase the source and
state “according to the source”
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
● Define key terms
● Set out the debate
● Express your argument
● Start with the strongest argument on the side of the argument you agree with from the source.
Main body paragraphs:
● Point 1 – A significant point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim
conclusion.
● Point 2 – A point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim conclusion.
● Point 3 – Another point (maybe less significant) in favour of your argument, counterpoint and
an interim conclusion.
● Embedded judgements
○ The most important reason why…
○ A weaker argument that is often argued…
○ Giving priorities to some arguments over others.
● Analysis – significance, consequences, weaknesses, strengths, changes over time, or to
deconstruct your point, to show its impact and to link it to concepts and ideas.
○ Think about why examples are significant.
Alternative structure for main body paragraphs (IDEALS paragraphs):
● IDENTIFY – what is the argument in the source, start with the strongest argument
● DESCRIBE – give more detail explaining what the argument is
● EXAMPLE – bring in an example from your own knowledge and back it up
● ANSWER – directly link to the question and how this argument answers the question, explain
why this argument is strong/the logic behind it.
● LINK – bring in the opposing argument from the source, explain how they link. Explain this
opposing view and how it goes against your argument.
● SCRUTINISE – criticise the counterargument using analysis and examples.
Conclusion:
● Restate your clear judgement – give your main reason behind judgement
HOW TO WRITE AN A* ESSAY:
1. A strong introduction – give political context, define any key terms, set out the main points
of the debate, give a clear judgement.
2. Your judgement is sustained – start with your judgement, echo your judgement throughout.
3. Use key terms
4. An intertwined debate – respond to your main point with the other side of the debate.
5. Deep analysis – significance of your point/examples?, strengths and weaknesses, links
6. A strong conclusion – restate your central argument, give main points behind your
judgement.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO1:
● Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts,
theories and issues.
, ● The key is having lots of good examples and explaining, not just using political terms and
concepts.
● Understanding is a key part of AO1 – define/explain political terms when you use them.
● The more specific and well-selected examples you have the higher your AO1 mark will be.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO2:
● Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels,
connections, similarities and differences.
● AO2 is about your ability to compare points to counter-points, one type of an ideology with
another…
● Analysis – scrutiny and probing
● Candidates should form analytical views which support and reject the view presented by the
question.
○ They should look at different perspectives that arise from the view presented by the
question and show how these lay the foundations for a judgement.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO3:
● Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make
substantiated judgements and draw conclusions.
● It’s essential you run an argument through your whole essay going from the introduction
through to your conclusion.
● Make sure there is some nuance to your argument/judgement.
● Introduction – define the key terms in the question, set out the argument (the points and
counterpoints you are going to look at)
● Mini conclusions – each paragraph should have a mini conclusion.
● Which side of the debate wins?
● Why does it win?
● Rank in importance the analytical points (AO2) for
● Rank in importance the analytical points (AO2) against
● Think holistically and reason through the conclusion.
● Form and come to a judgement, based on evidence not a mere opinion.
● Discuss possible alternative constructive comments on reform/change to the issue/debate.
What is the likelihood of such change, and would it be effective/successful?
HOW TO: 30 MARK ESSAY
● 30 marks, 45 minutes
● The question stem will always be Evaluate the view…
● Both sides of the debate – give a fair balance however you must favour one side.
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
● Define key terms
● Give political context – why are they asking this question?
● Outline the main points you may cover
● Give a clear judgement
○ Don’t say “to an extent…” and sit on the fence.
Main body paragraphs:
● Point 1 – A significant point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim
conclusion.
● Point 2 – A point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim conclusion.
● Point 3 – Another point (maybe less significant) in favour of your argument, counterpoint and
an interim conclusion.
● Embedded judgements
○ The most important reason why…
○ A weaker argument that is often argued…
○ Giving priorities to some arguments over others.
● Analysis – significance, consequences, weaknesses, strengths, changes over time, or to
deconstruct your point, to show its impact and to link it to concepts and ideas.
○ Think about why examples are significant.
Conclusion:
● Restate your clear judgement – give your main reason behind judgement
HOW TO: 30 MARK SOURCE ESSAY
● 30 marks, 45 minutes
● The question stem will always be: Using the source, evaluate the view that…
● Both sides of the debate – give a fair balance however you must favour one side.
, ● Go into the exam with 3 highlighters: one for the point, one for the counterpoint and one for
any evidence used in the source.
● Quote the source so it’s clear that you’re using it – you can also paraphrase the source and
state “according to the source”
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
● Define key terms
● Set out the debate
● Express your argument
● Start with the strongest argument on the side of the argument you agree with from the source.
Main body paragraphs:
● Point 1 – A significant point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim
conclusion.
● Point 2 – A point in favour of your argument, counterpoint and an interim conclusion.
● Point 3 – Another point (maybe less significant) in favour of your argument, counterpoint and
an interim conclusion.
● Embedded judgements
○ The most important reason why…
○ A weaker argument that is often argued…
○ Giving priorities to some arguments over others.
● Analysis – significance, consequences, weaknesses, strengths, changes over time, or to
deconstruct your point, to show its impact and to link it to concepts and ideas.
○ Think about why examples are significant.
Alternative structure for main body paragraphs (IDEALS paragraphs):
● IDENTIFY – what is the argument in the source, start with the strongest argument
● DESCRIBE – give more detail explaining what the argument is
● EXAMPLE – bring in an example from your own knowledge and back it up
● ANSWER – directly link to the question and how this argument answers the question, explain
why this argument is strong/the logic behind it.
● LINK – bring in the opposing argument from the source, explain how they link. Explain this
opposing view and how it goes against your argument.
● SCRUTINISE – criticise the counterargument using analysis and examples.
Conclusion:
● Restate your clear judgement – give your main reason behind judgement
HOW TO WRITE AN A* ESSAY:
1. A strong introduction – give political context, define any key terms, set out the main points
of the debate, give a clear judgement.
2. Your judgement is sustained – start with your judgement, echo your judgement throughout.
3. Use key terms
4. An intertwined debate – respond to your main point with the other side of the debate.
5. Deep analysis – significance of your point/examples?, strengths and weaknesses, links
6. A strong conclusion – restate your central argument, give main points behind your
judgement.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO1:
● Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts,
theories and issues.
, ● The key is having lots of good examples and explaining, not just using political terms and
concepts.
● Understanding is a key part of AO1 – define/explain political terms when you use them.
● The more specific and well-selected examples you have the higher your AO1 mark will be.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO2:
● Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels,
connections, similarities and differences.
● AO2 is about your ability to compare points to counter-points, one type of an ideology with
another…
● Analysis – scrutiny and probing
● Candidates should form analytical views which support and reject the view presented by the
question.
○ They should look at different perspectives that arise from the view presented by the
question and show how these lay the foundations for a judgement.
HOW TO GET TOP MARKS IN AO3:
● Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make
substantiated judgements and draw conclusions.
● It’s essential you run an argument through your whole essay going from the introduction
through to your conclusion.
● Make sure there is some nuance to your argument/judgement.
● Introduction – define the key terms in the question, set out the argument (the points and
counterpoints you are going to look at)
● Mini conclusions – each paragraph should have a mini conclusion.
● Which side of the debate wins?
● Why does it win?
● Rank in importance the analytical points (AO2) for
● Rank in importance the analytical points (AO2) against
● Think holistically and reason through the conclusion.
● Form and come to a judgement, based on evidence not a mere opinion.
● Discuss possible alternative constructive comments on reform/change to the issue/debate.
What is the likelihood of such change, and would it be effective/successful?
