Mark GCSE History essays instantly
Source, interpretation and essay questions for AQA and Edexcel, marked on the assessment objectives for each question type. Get an estimated grade and feedback on every answer.
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What you get on this course
- Marking
- Choose your paper, section and question type, then type or paste your question. It is marked on the assessment objectives for that question type, with an estimated grade from 9 to 1.
- Sources and interpretations
- Paste them in with your question and they are sent to the marker with your answer.
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar
- The 20-mark essay questions are 16 marks plus 4 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, and both are marked.
AQA GCSE History essay marking
AQA's two papers cover period studies and wider world depth studies (Paper 1), and thematic studies and British depth studies (Paper 2). Paste in any sources or interpretations with your question.
Questions you can get marked
| Question | Marked on | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1, Section A: period studies | ||
| How do interpretations differ?AO4 | AO4 | 4 |
| Why do interpretations differ?AO4 | AO4 | 4 |
| How convincing are interpretations?AO4 | AO4 | 8 |
| Describe...AO1 | AO1 | 4 |
| In what ways... Explain your answerAO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Essay question in bullet formatAO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 12 |
| Paper 1, Section B: wider world depth studies | ||
| Source analysisAO3 | AO3 | 4 |
| How useful are the sources?AO3 | AO3 | 12 |
| Write an account of...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Essay: how far do you agree?AO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | AO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | 20 |
| Paper 2, Section A: thematic studies | ||
| How useful is the source...?AO3 | AO3 | 8 |
| Explain the significance of...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Explain two ways in which X and Y were similar or differentAO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Essay question using factorsAO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | AO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | 20 |
| Paper 2, Section B: British depth studies, including the historic environment | ||
| How convincing is Interpretation A?AO4 | AO4 | 8 |
| Explain...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Write an account...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| How far does a study of the site support this statement?AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 16 |
Edexcel GCSE History essay marking
Edexcel's three papers cover the historic environment and a thematic study (Paper 1), a period study and a British depth study (Paper 2), and a modern depth study with sources and interpretations (Paper 3). Paste in any sources or interpretations with your question.
Questions you can get marked
| Question | Marked on | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1, Section A: historic environment | ||
| Describe two features of...AO1 | AO1 | 4 |
| How useful are Sources A and B for an enquiry into...?AO3 | AO3 | 8 |
| How could you follow up Source A or B...?AO3 | AO3 | 4 |
| Paper 1, Section B: thematic study | ||
| Explain one way in which X was similar or different to YAO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 4 |
| Explain why...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 12 |
| How far do you agree?AO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | AO1, AO2 and 4 SPaG | 20 |
| Paper 2: period study | ||
| Explain two consequences of...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Write a narrative account analysing...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 8 |
| Explain two of the following: the importance of X for YAO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 16 |
| Paper 2: British depth study | ||
| Describe two features of...AO1 | AO1 | 4 |
| Explain why...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 12 |
| How far do you agree?AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 16 |
| Paper 3, Section A: modern depth study | ||
| Give two things you can infer from Source AAO3 | AO3 | 4 |
| Explain why...AO1, AO2 | AO1, AO2 | 12 |
| Paper 3, Section B: sources and interpretations | ||
| How useful are Sources B and C...?AO3 | AO3 | 8 |
| What is the main difference between these views?AO4 | AO4 | 4 |
| Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 differAO4 | AO4 | 4 |
| How far do you agree with Interpretation 1 or 2...?AO4 and 4 SPaG | AO4 and 4 SPaG | 20 |
Which GCSE History exam boards does LitMarker cover?
AQA (8145) and Pearson Edexcel (1HI0). Each has its own section on this page, with the question types that can be marked.
How do I get a History answer marked?
Choose your paper, section and question type, then type or paste your question. For source and interpretation questions you paste the sources or interpretations too, and they are sent to the marker with your answer. There is no topic list: you work from the question you are practising.
Which History questions can LitMarker mark?
Source questions (for example how useful are the sources), interpretation questions, explanation questions, narrative accounts and the "how far do you agree" essays, for AQA Papers 1 and 2 and Edexcel Papers 1, 2 and 3. Each is marked on the assessment objectives for that question type.
Is spelling, punctuation and grammar marked on History?
On the 20-mark essay questions, 4 of the marks are for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Other History questions have no separate SPaG mark.
Can I practise any History question?
Yes. Type or paste the question you are practising, from class, your textbook or a revision guide, add any sources or interpretations, and it is marked on the objectives for that question type. You get a free mark every week.
Do you mark English too?
Yes. LitMarker marks GCSE English Literature and English Language, and A-Level and IGCSE English Literature. Each has its own page.
Find out what your History essay would actually get
Get your answer marked in seconds. See your mark for each assessment objective, understand where you lost marks, and know what to fix first. You get a free mark every week, no card needed.
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