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How should you revise OCR GCSE Ancient History, and how do you manage the time in each two-hour paper?

Revision and exam technique for OCR GCSE Ancient History: how to revise the prescribed sources as well as the content, how to drill each question type against its mark scheme, and how to manage the time across the two-hour papers, balancing the short questions, source questions and the extended essays.

An OCR GCSE Ancient History skills guide to revision and exam technique, explaining how to revise the prescribed sources as well as the content, how to drill each question type against its mark scheme, and how to manage the time across the two-hour papers, balancing the short questions, source questions and the extended essays.

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What this dot point is asking

Knowing the content is not enough: you have to revise the right things and manage the time in the exam. This page explains how to revise the prescribed sources as well as the content, how to drill each question type against its mark scheme, and how to divide the time across the two-hour papers so the high-tariff essays get the attention they need.

The answer

Revise content, sources and technique

Many students revise only the content and lose marks on the source questions, so revise the sources as a topic in their own right.

Drill each question type

Manage the time in the paper

Put it together

Examples in context

A model approach allocates time by marks, plans the essays, and protects time for the high-tariff questions.

Try this

Q1. Besides the events, name two things you should revise for an OCR Ancient History paper. [Knowledge recall]

  • Cue. Any two of: the prescribed sources (what each is and is useful for), the key dates and names, the main debates, and the question types and how each is marked.

Q2. Explain why you should spend most of your time on the essays and the 15-mark question. [Short explanation]

  • Cue. Because those questions carry the most marks, so at roughly a mark a minute they deserve the most time and careful planning, whereas the 2-mark recall questions can be answered quickly, ensuring the high-tariff answers are not rushed.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

OCR J198 20192 marksGive two things you should revise for an OCR Ancient History paper besides the events. [2-mark skills-style question]
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A short skills question, 1 mark each for two correct points.

Acceptable answers. Any two of: the prescribed sources (what each is and what it is useful for), the key dates and names, the main debates (causation, significance), and the question types and how each is marked.

Top marks. Two distinct, correct points, showing you know the exam rewards source knowledge and technique as well as content.

OCR J198 202110 marksExplain how you should divide your time in a two-hour OCR Ancient History paper. [10-mark skills-style explanation question]
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A skills-style explanation question about exam technique.

Knowledge. Each paper is 2 hours and 105 marks, split between the period study (60 plus 5 SPaG) and the depth study (45), with several short, source and essay questions in each.

Explanation. Reward developed points: spend roughly a mark a minute, so allow little time on 2-mark recall and the most on the 15-mark and essay questions; plan the essays before writing; and leave time to check the SPaG essay.

Top band. Explain how to balance the sections and question types and judge where the time is best spent.

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