A2 Edexcel History Unit 3 12th June 2012 (Discussion)

What's the minimum number of UMS you need in total to get an A? How do you work out what you need in Unit 3 to get an A?
I got 98 UMS in Unit 1, 77 UMS in Unit 2 and 48/50 in Unit 4 coursework.

Any help would be much appreciated!

For my Sources question, I follow this format for my introduction. It's something I concluded on my own by analyzing some high level essays, so it's not OFFICIAL or anything!

- establish topic
- establish controversy
- refer to sources and their arguments generally
- hypothesis of judgement

Below is an example of an introduction I wrote for a practice essay following the above format:

"After years of oscillating confrontation and co-existence between the two nuclear superpowers, USA and the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991 ended the battle of terror that sustained the Cold War. However, the factors that ended the Cold War and their significance have been contested by historians from all sides. Sources 4, 5 and 6 argues for the contribution of different factors to the end of the Cold War, namely the economic and political instability of the Soviet Union, Reagan’s aggressive policies and Gorbachev’s reform ‘failures’. These causes played significant roles in the outcome of the conflict, but Mikhail Gorbachev’s revolutionary leadership was arguably the most important reason for the end of the Cold War."

For those studying the Cold War, which controversy will you guys choose to focus on? The start or the end of the Cold War? I've chosen to answer 'end of Cold War' questions, because I actually feel pretty convicted that Mikhail Gorbachev is awesome! Love his line, "We will rob you of your enemy". Do you guys think though, that it was his reform FAILURE or reform SUCCESS?

What time period would the start of the war and end of the war range from? Will we not be getting any questions focusing on the middle of it? I'm so confused.

The start and end of the Cold War are only the source questions - you get the choice to do one of either.

"The middle of it", by which I mean the Post-Stalin Thaw, Nuclear Weapons, Sino-Soviet split, Detente etc.. comprise the other half of the paper (well, technically 30 marks versus 40 marks for the source question). You get a choice of two questions, which could deal with any of these topics.

That make sense?

If you get a copy of any past paper you'll see what I mean

The start and end of the Cold War are only the source questions - you get the choice to do one of either.

"The middle of it", by which I mean the Post-Stalin Thaw, Nuclear Weapons, Sino-Soviet split, Detente etc.. comprise the other half of the paper (well, technically 30 marks versus 40 marks for the source question). You get a choice of two questions, which could deal with any of these topics.

That make sense?

If you get a copy of any past paper you'll see what I mean

For section A, if I focused on Unit 1, 2 and 3 [seeds of conflict, how cold war developed, why did cold war emerge...focusing on yrs 1944-53] (looking at the edexcel textbook) the most...I could defo answer a q on the start of the Cold War? So, I won't have to worry about how the cold war came an end in the 1980s and why? Because I don't feel as confident about the end as I missed a lot of the lessons.

And then for section B, focus on units 4, 5, 6, 7...so the thaw, nuclear weps, sino soviet and détente?

Basically what I'm asking is, could I leave out revision on the end of the cold war and be okay?

Anyone know where I can find any past papers? I'm doing the Cold War unfortunately

For section A, if I focused on Unit 1, 2 and 3 [seeds of conflict, how cold war developed, why did cold war emerge...focusing on yrs 1944-53] (looking at the edexcel textbook) the most...I could defo answer a q on the start of the Cold War? So, I won't have to worry about how the cold war came an end in the 1980s and why? Because I don't feel as confident about the end as I missed a lot of the lessons.

And then for section B, focus on units 4, 5, 6, 7...so the thaw, nuclear weps, sino soviet and détente?

Basically what I'm asking is, could I leave out revision on the end of the cold war and be okay?

The minimum you need is 320/400 for the total A level.

But Unit 4 is out of 80... what UMS did you get?

Btw 48/50 is amazing

Hey guys,
hope revision is going well.
Is anyone doing the 'Protest, Crisis and Rebellion in England 1536-88' exam here?
If so, do you think that 'evolution v revolution' regarding the change in Tudor machinery will come up/how is it best to prepare for an essay on that?

Heya everyone!

I'm doing the Cold War Superpower paper and need an A in this exam

Just wondering whether anyone has any ideas as to what questions will come up? I'm hoping for a question on the Thaw or Sino-Soviet relations for section B.

I'm doing that too and i doubt it would come up in that wording. Hopefully anglo-spanish relations won't come up because from what papers i've seen there were a lot of questions on that. I'm hoping that it's going to be something to do with religion/factionalism What controversy are you doing?