OCR A Level History A Y102/01 Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman
Conquest 1035–1107 June 2025 Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK
SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
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
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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 [F/506/4252] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (KS) 358947/1 Turn over
*139 8 2 691 89 *
, 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 2025 Y102/01 Jun25
Conquest 1035–1107 June 2025 Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK
SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
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
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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 [F/506/4252] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (KS) 358947/1 Turn over
*139 8 2 691 89 *
, 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 2025 Y102/01 Jun25
