OCR. UK STUDIES
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 1 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
2025 OCR A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 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 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 [T/506/4295] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (IP) 355280/1 Turn over
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 1Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
, OCR. UK STUDIES
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 2 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
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 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 2Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
, OCR. UK STUDIES
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 3 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
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 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 3Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 1 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
2025 OCR A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 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 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 [T/506/4295] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (IP) 355280/1 Turn over
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 1Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
, OCR. UK STUDIES
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 2 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
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 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 2Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
, OCR. UK STUDIES
2025 OCR
| Question
A LevelPaper
History
with
A Y308-01
Exam-Ready
The Catholic
Examiner Reformation
Mark Scheme1492–1610
|Page 3 ofVerified
23 Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached.pdf
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 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
2025 OCR A Level History A Y308-01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Page 3Verified Question
| Question
paper
Paper
withwith
Marking
Exam-Ready
Scheme Attached
Examiner Mark Scheme |
