AQA, The State and People: Britain 1918-1964, HIS3J, Monday 8th June

Does anybody have any predictions/Mock examples of what a 1945 General Election question may look like? I've looked at "why did labour win/why did the conservatives lose the 1945 general election" But I'm struggling to think of other ones

What sort of points would you put on the consensus question? I'm finding it hard to match my points to what the exam board are looking for!

Here are some examples: ‘Labour won the 1945 General Election because of the poor record of the Conservatives in the 1930s rather than because of its own appeal.’ How convincing is this view? ... or ... ‘The British electorate rejected Winston Churchill in 1945 not because of his own political record but because he was a Conservative.’ How valid is this judgement on the outcome of the 1945 General Election?

I have a feeling something will definitely (or very, very likely anyway) come up about Labour. Either the first two Labour governments or the 1945-51 government, either why it won the election, the welfare state (Five Giants/Beveridge maybe) or the economy. Though, the thirteen years of Tory rule seem likely - perhaps on whether it was 'wasted' or not, or consensus politics. The 1930s, too, could easily come up... There's just so many possibilities really. Argh.

Any ideas of breadth areas? I've planned for unemployment, economy, housing, education and welfare. Don't really know what else could appear. Perhaps on leaders, maybe a Baldwin vs. Churchill question, as they asked a MacDonald vs. Atlee one a while back.

The only thing that is keeping me positive right now and seeing an A* as feasible is the (weirdly) low grade boundaries. I think you could have dropped 11 marks last year and managed full UMS!

Yeah for breadth I've planned unemployment as I think they really could ask on that over a long time period, I'm hoping not housing as they've asked one on housing before I think? I've planned/done an economy breadth one but that came up like last year. Agh you just don't as sometimes they ask really similar questions from the previous year. Also yeah for leaders I have a feeling they'll ask on Churchill. A Baldwin VS Churchill would be pretty nice as I've already done a question on that and there's a lot to say for Baldwin. Maybe one of why the Welfare state was created? Yeah I noticed how low the grade boundaries were compared to some other units which is good, so that's keeping me a little calmer, haha.

Do you have any essay plans you could post on what you think may come up, I want to contrast them with mine to see if I'm on the right track. I haven't looked at employment much, could really do with a plan for that. I'm trying to construct some possible labour questions to practise for. I'm considering questions looking at why labour won in 24, 29 and 45. Why labour were unable to maintain power during the 20's. How significant were the welfare reforms/to what extent did labour improve the lives of the British people.

What do you think the possibility of a national government focused question coming up is. Maybe focused on MacDonald, e.g " 'Ramsay MacDonald betrayed the Labour party in 1931' to what extent do you agree with this statement"?

Also, are you anticipating anything on the General strike?

Oh yes, take that back, I've briefly looked at unemployment too! What years have you looked at there? The whole period? Yes, housing seems unlikely as they have asked it before, but good to prep on it just in case. I know! You really can't tell. I know in the 2009 and 2010 exams they had two questions almost identical on Lloyd
George. It's so unpredictable. Churchill does seem likely though. I'm not sure if he's enough to sustain a question on his own though, so hence either with Baldwin or all Conservative leaders in the period. Yeah, I'd love a question on Baldwin vs. Churchill! I did it a few days and really enjoyed it. Oh, good shout - I haven't yet done one on why the welfare state was implemented. What would you argue there? The ramifications of WW2, Beveridge, a progression from Liberal reforms (liberalism rather than socialism argument)... I don't know what else. hmm. Yeah, against other exam boards and units in AQA, it is so low. I think it worked out 32/45 for each question for an A* last year. Crazy.

Yeah I made up a question from 1918-1951 but now I'm worried it'll be on 51+ so I may look back but it was helpful doing it as I realised how little I knew of specifics on unemployement acts schemes and stuff. Yeah I'm gonna look in more detail as I know the acts but I don't think I could answer a full essay on it. Yeah I know it's so hard to pick patterns as they could just go with similar questions as last year:/. Yeah I think they'll ask maybe him as a conservative leader/with the party. Yeah I'd love a Baldwin vs Churchill so fingers crossed! Yeah I mentioned those and just that what the people wanted the question I did was was it the 1930's that created the welfare state or something to that wording so I was able to do a paragraph on how the poverty of the 30's created a need for a welfare state and then the other points like ww2 etc. wow that's crazy! My teacher has been like marking 35 a B and then I think 36 an A so if the grade boundaries for our exam is lower than that, then I'd be so happy!

Yeah, I think it can all get a little vague with unemployment except the 1930s where it is a little more interesting. The bulk of my analysis for unemployment is largely for there, the war and then post-war 1945-51... I think I'll have to look into stuff 1918-30s and then post-1951 too to make sure I'm ready as it does seem a very possible synoptic question. I don't think I'd mind it so much if I revise it though. I'd be extremely happy if a question was on either the welfare state, Baldwin vs. Churchill, or consensus! One can dream... I just can't tell what the questions will be, it's too hard to judge.
I know! I mean it could be hit or miss and this year if a lot do well so the grade boundaries go up, but I've had a look and they have always been pretty low in comparison to other units (have a look on the raw mark to UMS converter and it tells you exactly what mark converts to what grade). So fingers crossed there. What are you aiming for grade wise?

I'll have a look in the morning for you about essay plans and fish some out. Yes, they're all possible questions. For the first two Labour governments, I've mainly looked at why Labour in 1924 and 1929 lost power and how successful MacDonald was at strengthening the Party during this period. So I may look at why they won - what have you said for that? For the 1945-51 Atlee government, I've looked at the welfare reforms, how successful they were and whether they can be called its greatest achievement was (in comparison to nationalisation really) and what its ramifications on the economy was.

For the 1930s, perhaps on whether it was truly a period of unemployment and poverty, whether it was crippled by the Depression, and how effective its policies were to tackle economic hardship. But yeah, could be focused on MacDonald there and why he formed a National government/was it an act of betrayal. Though, I'd struggle to get a full argument in there for both really. What you you argue for each?

I haven't really prepared anything for the General Strike, other than my notes. I may have a look at how successful it was handled, but I can't really anticipate much coming up on it really, especially when it so narrow of a question and came up in 2011. Of course, it is possible! Knowing me it will come up now...

Yeah the 1930's is more interesting as there's more to talk of there its pre that and post Atlee which I'm gonna go over again just so I'm clear. Yeah I think it could be something they'd ask as they haven't already. Haha yeah that would be the dream exam! Yeah I hope people don't too well (not in a mean way) haha just so the grade boundaries stay low! Yeah I will thanks, overall I'd love an A but for this exam I'd be happy with a B as I know In the past this is where people have lost their marks and especially at my schools (I go to two it's weird) they struggled so much they actually just changed to this course In the hopes its easier to grasp. What about you?

Thanks, I'll post a plan for the MacDonald as a betrayer question this afternoon.

Me too. I did a whole question on unemployment from 1918 to 1964 today and didn't mind it so much, though I have little on 1918-29 and the thirteen years of Tory rule (which isn't so much a bad thing as there's so much on the 1930s, WW2 and Labour 1945-51 to sustain an essay). Haha, same. This exam consistently has very low grade boundaries so I wonder if it is a less popular choice of unit, especially considering there isn't a set AQA textbook in comparison to other units. Just praying for the same this year. Ah, I'm sure you'll get an A, or even an A*! From the looks of things, you've covered a lot so hopefully you won't be caught out by what comes up. I'm trying for an A* as I only lost a couple of UMS last year and did well in my C/W, but I've been finding the exam prep quite difficult, so I'd be happy with an A! Me too, I've found too that a lot of people at my school in previous years have become stumped by this exam. Have you been learning historians for each topic/using them in essays a lot?

Does anyone feel like they know the content back to front?

I'm becoming increasingly worried that the examiners may throw a curve ball at us, for example they may look at the fall of the liberal party again just to try and catch out those who hadn't prepared for it. I appreciate that failure to prepare is preparing to fail but is there really any chance that they may do this?