What are the assessment objectives in J199?

There are two: AO1, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the literature and visual or material culture of the classical world in their context (weighted around 60%), and AO2, analysing, interpreting and evaluating that material, using evidence to support arguments and judgements (weighted around 40%). There is no separate source-reliability AO3 in this specification; source evaluation falls under AO2.

What is the longest question worth on a J199 paper?

The longest single question is the 15-mark extended response, an essay-style 'how far do you agree' or 'to what extent' judgement. It is the biggest discriminator between grades and is marked on both AO1 (knowledge) and AO2 (analysis and evaluation). To reach the top band you need a balanced, two-sided argument supported by named evidence and a clear, justified judgement.

How do I answer the source and picture questions?

Follow three steps: describe what is actually shown or said (AO1), identify any figure from a visible attribute with a reason (for example a thunderbolt and eagle mean Zeus or Jupiter), and explain what the source means or tells us (AO2). The golden rule is to anchor every point in the source: answers that ignore the picture or passage and recite general knowledge lose marks.

How do I compare Greek and Roman material?

Set the two cultures side by side, point by point, rather than describing each in a separate block. For each idea, give the Greek and the Roman version together, noting similarities and differences, and reach a comparative judgement. You must learn the Greek and Roman name pairs (Zeus/Jupiter, Athene/Minerva) and the key differences, which the Myth and Religion paper in particular rewards.

How should I revise for Classical Civilisation?

Know the structure (two papers, the question types, the assessment objectives), then learn the detail (named gods and equivalents, heroes and myths, prescribed sources and monuments, the set text, and the key terms), and drill the three core skills: source analysis (describe, identify, explain), comparison (Greek and Roman side by side) and the 15-mark essay (a balanced argument with a judgement). Practise past questions against the mark scheme.

EnglandClassical Civilisation

OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation exam skills: a complete guide to the source questions, the 15-mark essay, comparison and revision

Q: How is OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation (J199) assessed?

By two equally weighted written papers, each worth 90 marks, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and counting for 50% of the GCSE. You take one thematic study from Component Group 1 (Myth and Religion or Women in the Ancient World) and one Literature and Culture option from Component Group 2 (The Homeric World, Roman City Life or War and Warfare). There is no coursework. The papers mix short factual questions, source and stimulus questions, and a 15-mark extended response.

A complete guide to the exam skills for OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation (J199): the structure and assessment objectives of the two papers, how to answer source and stimulus questions, how to plan and write the 15-mark extended response, how to compare Greek and Roman material, and how to revise the named content and skills.

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What these skills demand
The structure of the papers
The source and stimulus questions
The 15-mark extended response
Comparing Greek and Roman material
Revising the content and skills
Check your knowledge

What these skills demand

The content of OCR Classical Civilisation is only half the battle: the marks come from applying it through a fixed set of question types, the same across all components (Myth and Religion, The Homeric World, Roman City Life). This overview ties together the exam-skills dot-point pages: the structure of the papers, the source and stimulus questions, the 15-mark extended response, comparing Greek and Roman material, and revision. The whole subject is assessed on just two objectives: AO1 (knowledge) and AO2 (analysis and evaluation).

The structure of the papers

There are two equally weighted written papers, each 90 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes and 50% of the GCSE. You take one thematic study (Myth and Religion or Women in the Ancient World) and one Literature and Culture option (The Homeric World, Roman City Life or War and Warfare). Each paper mixes short factual questions, source and stimulus questions and a 15-mark extended response, and there is no coursework.

The source and stimulus questions

Every paper shows you sources: visual ones (a statue, vase, building or coin) and literary ones (prescribed passages). The skill is to move from AO1 (describe what is shown or said) to AO2 (explain what it means). The routine is describe, identify, explain: describe the features precisely, identify any figure from a visible attribute with a reason, and explain the meaning, always anchored in the source.

The 15-mark extended response

The longest question is the 15-mark "how far do you agree" essay, the biggest grade discriminator, marked on AO1 and AO2 together. The plan: a one-sentence opening view, a paragraph for with named evidence, a paragraph against with named evidence, and a short justified judgement. The keys are to argue (not narrate), to give both sides, and to conclude decisively, all to time.

Comparing Greek and Roman material

Especially in Myth and Religion, you must compare the Greek and Roman worlds, setting points side by side rather than in separate blocks. Learn the name pairs (Zeus/Jupiter, Athene/Minerva, Heracles/Hercules) and the differences (the Romans adopting the Greek gods, tying religion to the state through priestly colleges, and building temples in a distinct form).

Revising the content and skills

Revise the structure, then the detail (named gods and equivalents, heroes and myths, prescribed sources and monuments, the set text, key terms), then drill the skills (source analysis, comparison, the essay). Practise past questions against the mark scheme, because the question types are marked very differently.

OCR Classical Civilisation (J199) is assessed by two equally weighted papers (each 90 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes, 50%), one a thematic study (Myth and Religion or Women in the Ancient World) and one a Literature and Culture option (The Homeric World, Roman City Life or War and Warfare), on just two objectives: AO1 (knowledge, around 60%) and AO2 (analysis and evaluation, around 40%). The core skills are: answering source and stimulus questions by the routine describe, identify, explain (always anchored in the source); planning and writing the 15-mark extended response as a balanced two-sided argument with a justified judgement (the biggest grade discriminator); and comparing Greek and Roman material side by side using the name pairs and key differences. Revise by learning the structure, then the named detail (gods and equivalents, heroes and myths, prescribed sources and monuments, the set text, key terms), then drilling the three skills against the mark scheme, because knowing the content is not enough without the technique to deploy it.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall questions covering the exam skills. Attempt them, then check the solutions.

How many papers are there, and what is each worth? (2 marks)
Name the two assessment objectives. (2 marks)
What is the longest single question worth? (1 mark)
What three steps should you follow for a source question? (3 marks)
Give the four parts of a good 15-mark essay plan. (4 marks)
Why should a comparison not be written as two separate descriptions? (1 mark)
Give the Roman equivalents of Zeus, Athene and Heracles. (3 marks)
Name two key terms you should learn for the exam. (2 marks)

Sources & how we know this

OCR GCSE (9-1) Classical Civilisation J199 specification — OCR (2017)