2025 OCR GCSE HISTORY B
J411/31 VIKING EXPANSIONS
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 10 June 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/31 Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
with The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 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.
• Section A – Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050: Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2, 3 and either
Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The First Crusade, c.1070–1100: Answer Questions 6 and 7, and either
Question 8 or Question 9.
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 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, © OCR 2025 OCR is an exempt
[601/8408/5] DC Charity Turn over
(SL) 351289/5
*
, 2
Section A
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of a religious belief held by Vikings. [1]
(b) Name one ruler of the Viking Rus in Novgorod or Kiev between 860 and 1050. [1]
(c) Name one change Harald Bluetooth made during his rule. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses Viking settlement across the Atlantic
(Iceland, Greenland, North America).
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why were Viking raids on Britain, Ireland and the Scottish Islands between 793 and 850 so
successful?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘The Volga Vikings were more successful than the Vikings who settled in the British Isles and
France.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Cnut’s greatest achievement was the conquest of England.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR 2025 J411/31 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Answer Questions 6 and 7.
6 What can Source A tell us about the First Crusade?
Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer. [7]
Source A
An extract from ‘On the Opening of the First Crusade’ by Ekkehard of Aurach. Ekkehard was a
monk and a strong supporter of the papacy.
Ekkehard completed an earlier version of this source in c.1100. However, in 1101 he went on a
crusade himself and visited Jerusalem. On his return, he went back over his work and rewrote it
before publishing this version.
I am very anxious to add in certain details about this crusade [the First Crusade], and I
especially want to say that this military expedition was due to God’s inspiration.
Pope Urban II encouraged men to take part by promising to forgive the sins of those men
who undertook the expedition with single-hearted devotion. Nearly 100 000 men from various
Christian lands answered this call to enter the service of God.
It was truly an army of ‘crusaders’, for they wore the sign of the cross on their clothes as a
reminder that they were doing everything for God and in the hope that they would triumph over
the enemies of Christ. In this way, through Pope Urban II’s call and promises, all these men,
so different in speech, origin, and nationality, were suddenly brought together as one body
through their love of Christ.
© OCR 2025 J411/31 Jun25 Turn over
J411/31 VIKING EXPANSIONS
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 10 June 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/31 Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
with The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 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.
• Section A – Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050: Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2, 3 and either
Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The First Crusade, c.1070–1100: Answer Questions 6 and 7, and either
Question 8 or Question 9.
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 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, © OCR 2025 OCR is an exempt
[601/8408/5] DC Charity Turn over
(SL) 351289/5
*
, 2
Section A
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of a religious belief held by Vikings. [1]
(b) Name one ruler of the Viking Rus in Novgorod or Kiev between 860 and 1050. [1]
(c) Name one change Harald Bluetooth made during his rule. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses Viking settlement across the Atlantic
(Iceland, Greenland, North America).
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why were Viking raids on Britain, Ireland and the Scottish Islands between 793 and 850 so
successful?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘The Volga Vikings were more successful than the Vikings who settled in the British Isles and
France.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Cnut’s greatest achievement was the conquest of England.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR 2025 J411/31 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Answer Questions 6 and 7.
6 What can Source A tell us about the First Crusade?
Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer. [7]
Source A
An extract from ‘On the Opening of the First Crusade’ by Ekkehard of Aurach. Ekkehard was a
monk and a strong supporter of the papacy.
Ekkehard completed an earlier version of this source in c.1100. However, in 1101 he went on a
crusade himself and visited Jerusalem. On his return, he went back over his work and rewrote it
before publishing this version.
I am very anxious to add in certain details about this crusade [the First Crusade], and I
especially want to say that this military expedition was due to God’s inspiration.
Pope Urban II encouraged men to take part by promising to forgive the sins of those men
who undertook the expedition with single-hearted devotion. Nearly 100 000 men from various
Christian lands answered this call to enter the service of God.
It was truly an army of ‘crusaders’, for they wore the sign of the cross on their clothes as a
reminder that they were doing everything for God and in the hope that they would triumph over
the enemies of Christ. In this way, through Pope Urban II’s call and promises, all these men,
so different in speech, origin, and nationality, were suddenly brought together as one body
through their love of Christ.
© OCR 2025 J411/31 Jun25 Turn over
