Triumph of Elizabeth A2 AQA June 12th Exam

Hi Harry
For the Mary/Edward question I don't have a clue what could come up sorry! It's not likely to be rebellion though that's for sure.

Yeah my history teacher didn't take well to it when I told her. I think the idea nearly sent her into cardiac arrest.

I agree, the spec is 75% Elizabeth, last two exam papers have both had 2 questions on Elizabeth, so I'm thinking just revise Liz. Saves me having to look at two other reigns and revise Edward/Mary social, religion, finance, economy, politics, foreign policy ect. I took a similar risk last year for the AS history exam and got an A. That's not to say that me risking not revising Edward/Mary will pay off. There might be one question on Liz, a question on Edward, and another that leaks over all three reigns. But what are the odds of that happening!?

Yeh I guess the idea is risky but could be pulled off. I guess you're right in the sense that two of the questions are likely to be on elizabeth, but there's always the risk! If I hadn't already wasted time revising the mid-tudor crisis then I might have tried it myself lol.

I think that there will probably be a question on religion, either for the mid-tudor crisis or elizabeth, considering its such a big topic over all the reigns. I personally have a feeling that something about foreign policy will come up for Elizabeth- possibly relations with Spain, or another country like Scotland, or France? I don't usually like to second guess because I'm usually wrong lol.

What grades did you get last year? If you got an A then you might not have to do really well on this exam to get a good grade overall, which is added incentive to try your risky method lol

I reckon you're right about a question on religion for Elizabeth or even Mary/Edward. Other people on my course think so too. I'm probably going to look at foreign policy for Elizabeth as well.

For my AS grades I'm currently sitting on A in history, A in English and B in psychology. Wbu? Yeah I was speaking to my teacher today about what UMS marks I need overall for an A in history (think it was 320/400).

What are you looking to do after sixth form?

Instead of concentrating on periods of time, I'd suggest concentrating on themes. For example I'd be tempted to look at something like the following: (please don't treat this as gospel, it's just a brief suggestion of some of the things you may want to look at)

Religion (This intertwines with secular policy, both foreign and domestic, in more ways than one and if you can demonstrate your understanding of this you will hit the higher bands)
Internal Policy
-The Succession
-The Edwardian Reformation/Marian Persecution
-The Elizabethan Settlement (consider this in the context of foreign policy as-well)
-Financial Policy (most relevant during the mid tudor crisis but still worth mentioning about under Elizabeth)
-Relationships with Parliament
-Causes of rebellion? (Specifically the Northern Rebellion)
Foreign Policy
- How did the religious situation internally, influence foreign policy? (think the Spanish Match and the Anjou marriage negotiations, Mary Stuart and fears of Catholic rebellion/invasion)

You're much more likely to get a better mark if you can show a strong understanding of how these different themes coalesce and how one may directly (or indirectly) influence the other. You'll also find that by revising thematically, you'll cover the entire period, rather than just the short spans you'd cover by revising specific events. You're being assessed on breadth and depth of knowledge. By revising specific events you'll get neither, but if you can make the links between events, their causes and, their effects, you'll get both breadth and depth.

Just my two cents. I'm about to do a Masters in Early Modern History at Durham and I tutor History at A-Level.

Good luck!

Instead of concentrating on periods of time, I'd suggest concentrating on themes. For example I'd be tempted to look at something like the following: (please don't treat this as gospel, it's just a brief suggestion of some of the things you may want to look at)

Religion (This intertwines with secular policy, both foreign and domestic, in more ways than one and if you can demonstrate your understanding of this you will hit the higher bands)
Internal Policy
-The Succession
-The Edwardian Reformation/Marian Persecution
-The Elizabethan Settlement (consider this in the context of foreign policy as-well)
-Financial Policy (most relevant during the mid tudor crisis but still worth mentioning about under Elizabeth)
-Relationships with Parliament
-Causes of rebellion? (Specifically the Northern Rebellion)
Foreign Policy
- How did the religious situation internally, influence foreign policy? (think the Spanish Match and the Anjou marriage negotiations, Mary Stuart and fears of Catholic rebellion/invasion)

You're much more likely to get a better mark if you can show a strong understanding of how these different themes coalesce and how one may directly (or indirectly) influence the other. You'll also find that by revising thematically, you'll cover the entire period, rather than just the short spans you'd cover by revising specific events. You're being assessed on breadth and depth of knowledge. By revising specific events you'll get neither, but if you can make the links between events, their causes and, their effects, you'll get both breadth and depth.

Just my two cents. I'm about to do a Masters in Early Modern History at Durham and I tutor History at A-Level.

Good luck!

Cheers for the advice, much appreciate it! I'm having a bit of a problem though with the essay structure, because I know the content needed to answer the question but I'm not sure how to structure it. Could you give some pointers on how to structure an essay, especially in terms of sypnoticity please?

another quick question, would reading Elton's 'England under the Tudors' be beneficial for me, even though many of his ideas are now considered outdated and have been challenged by recent historians like John Guy?

I've had a pretty busy few days but I'll throw something together for you over the next few days. It'll just be some basic essay writing tips though as I don't have time to do anything comprehensive.

Cheers, whenever you have the time I'll appreciate it.


Reading someone like Elton will always be beneficial because it furthers your knowledge of the historiography, however if you do read Elton, you should also read someone like Haigh as what will really impress an examiner is you showing an understanding of both traditional and revisionist perspectives of the historiography. For example... The traditional view argued by Elton, while valid in points X Y and Z, has been challenged in recent years by the revisionist movement championed by Chris Haigh, who argues A, B and C....

Understand?

Hey! Am also doing this exam on the 12th June. Was just going through the AQA book and going over bits that I haven't remembered/learnt etc and came stuck on some points that I thought someone could help me with?

First of all, Mary's 'revised book of rates.' How important was this? In the book this is hardly covered but when I look at some mark schemes for questions in the possible content they have it in. Could someone just give me a quick insight on it's importance etc? I feel as if I know hardly anything about it. Thanks.

And secondly, when looking at Elizabeth's religous settlement and some historians opinions on it I came stuck on what they're actually trying to say. (pg 56/57 of AQA book.) E.g. Neale and many over historians believed that Elizabeth accepted a much more protestant prayer book than what she really wanted whereas historians like Norman and Lake state that her regime was protestant from the start. It seems pretty straightforward but I'm confused at what they're both arguing. Could somone help please?

I'd be incredibly grateful.

Thanks! And good luck also to anyone else taking the exam.

Firstly, the Marian book of rates was an overhaul and streamlining of the Government tax revenues, finances etc. Basically, the flow of money, efficient savings.

On the debate with Neale et al it is more about who directs the policy in the religious settlement. Neale argues that it was the 'Protestant choir' within the House of Commons that directed the Protestant edge to the religious settlement opposed to Elizabeth's own conservatism on religion. He also believes this to be connected to an ever growing in power House of Commons (rubbish if you ask me, likes to mention English Civil War). On the other hand there is Elton who argues that this 'Puritan/Protestant choir' was not in Parliament and could not influence a monarch on religion at the time. Finally there is Jones who argues that it largely reflected the views of Elizabeth and her council but that the Conservatives edges (supreme governor etc) were as a result of the opposition from the Catholic House of Lords and that Elizabeth was much more Protestant than Neale argues.

Personally I find Jones most compelling in this instance, there is further evidence that she personally included measures for clerical discipline to remove the abuses that the Catholic clergy enjoy such as marriage and abstinence. I believe I am right in saying that for a clergyman to get married he thenceforth had to pick a woman of sound character and have her ratified by two JPs.

Hope this helps. Good revision for me

Thanks so much mate!

So the Book of Rates was a fairly important thing, seeing as finances were tight from Edward's reign (Somerset's debasing coinage and such and spending money/resources against Scotland and France)

And thanks for the historians views regarding Elizabeth's religous settlement. It now makes a lot of sense. I also agree with Jones' view, seeing as though throughout her reign she was wary of Catholic threats.

Thanks!

Intersting. Anyway reason why it was fairly ineffective during Mary's reign? Or was it just because she had a short reign so wasn't around for the benefits?

Cheers for the advice, much appreciate it! I'm having a bit of a problem though with the essay structure, because I know the content needed to answer the question but I'm not sure how to structure it. Could you give some pointers on how to structure an essay, especially in terms of sypnoticity please?