A LEVEL HISTORY A: Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER 1: The Church and Medieval Heresy
c.1100–1437. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y304/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level History A May 2025 The Church and Medieval Heresy c.1100–1437 Paper (OCR Y304/01)
combines the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and
comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of the development of the
medieval Church, the causes and nature of heretical movements, and the Church’s responses, including
doctrinal, political, and social measures. Candidates are required to analyse primary and secondary sources,
evaluate historical interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. By presenting each
question alongside its marking criteria, the resource offers guidance on examiner expectations, analytical
depth, and the structured responses required for high-band marks. This integrated format strengthens
source evaluation, critical thinking, and essay-writing skills, preparing students thoroughly for the
May/June 2026 OCR A Level History A The Church and Medieval Heresy c.1100–1437 examination
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and then 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 significance of the Council of
Basle (1431–1436) and the Compacts of 1436. [30]
Passage A
Adapted from Malcolm Lambert, Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation, pages 364, 366-7, 368, 369, 370, Blackwell Publishing, 2002. From first line "It seemed that almost every factor tended to divide the moderate and radical Hussites." to last line "The Hus
Passage B
Adapted from Denys Hay, Europe in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries, pages 239-241, 349, 351, 352, Longman, 1989. From first line "The condemnation of Huss at the Council of Constance (1415) unleashed a national movement and encouraged millenarian religious excitement." to last line
© OCR 2025 Y304/01 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Lollards were typical of heretical movements in the period from c.1100 to 1437.’ [25]
How far do you agree?
3* ‘Support for heretical movements in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was similar to that in the
fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.’
How far do you agree? [25]
4* ‘Bernard of Clairvaux made the most important contribution to the maintenance of church
authority in the period from c.1100 to 1437.’
How far do you agree? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y304/01 Jun25
c.1100–1437. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y304/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level History A May 2025 The Church and Medieval Heresy c.1100–1437 Paper (OCR Y304/01)
combines the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and
comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of the development of the
medieval Church, the causes and nature of heretical movements, and the Church’s responses, including
doctrinal, political, and social measures. Candidates are required to analyse primary and secondary sources,
evaluate historical interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. By presenting each
question alongside its marking criteria, the resource offers guidance on examiner expectations, analytical
depth, and the structured responses required for high-band marks. This integrated format strengthens
source evaluation, critical thinking, and essay-writing skills, preparing students thoroughly for the
May/June 2026 OCR A Level History A The Church and Medieval Heresy c.1100–1437 examination
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and then 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 significance of the Council of
Basle (1431–1436) and the Compacts of 1436. [30]
Passage A
Adapted from Malcolm Lambert, Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation, pages 364, 366-7, 368, 369, 370, Blackwell Publishing, 2002. From first line "It seemed that almost every factor tended to divide the moderate and radical Hussites." to last line "The Hus
Passage B
Adapted from Denys Hay, Europe in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries, pages 239-241, 349, 351, 352, Longman, 1989. From first line "The condemnation of Huss at the Council of Constance (1415) unleashed a national movement and encouraged millenarian religious excitement." to last line
© OCR 2025 Y304/01 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Lollards were typical of heretical movements in the period from c.1100 to 1437.’ [25]
How far do you agree?
3* ‘Support for heretical movements in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was similar to that in the
fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.’
How far do you agree? [25]
4* ‘Bernard of Clairvaux made the most important contribution to the maintenance of church
authority in the period from c.1100 to 1437.’
How far do you agree? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y304/01 Jun25
