CIE A levels

You need to knwo the basics of the Holocaust. Once you know that, learn the different perspectives. Mainly the structuralist and intentionalist (and just know the 'synthesis' approach). Also be aware of the holocaust deniers and relativists although I dont think there will be questions from that.

For the exam, the question is always "What can you learn from this extract about the interpretation and approach of the historian who wrote it? Use the extract and your knowledge of the Holocaust to explain your answer."

So basically first read the extract twice. Understand the perspective. Is it structuralist or intentionalist?
Then start the essay with a general introduction on the topic. Prepare this before hand. Like 2-3 lines. On what the holocaust was, how it is one of the most horrific events in history..killing around 6 million Jews etc.In the next para, or as part of the intro, mention how there are mainly two perspectives in this and brielfy explain this. Also suggest a few names of historians from each of these perspectives.Then say what perspective you think the historian who wrote the text is.In the following paragraphs, quote evidence from the extract which shows the historian's perspective (this will be easy once u understand the difference between structuralists and intentionalists.) and just explain. Wherever necessary, add you knowledge about the holocaust as well.P.s I dont know if this is the best essay structure but it's what i practiced. Anyone who knows more about this paper, please comment and share your views.

Hey that does sound like a legit structure - if its what's suggested by your teacher then I do think it's good!
I was wondering do you know how the marking works? I mean I know that 80% of a paper is A, but how do grade boundaries play into it? And is it possible to get full marks in the papers?

I am not too sure about the marking actually. But the overall grade depends on the grade threshold which varies each time. The papers though have the set weighting to the overall marks as given in the syllabus:
Paper 1 20%
Paper 2 30%
Paper 3 20%
Paper 4 30%
It is possible to get full marks for papers but your answers have to be reeeally good for that.

So say I get 15 out 40 in the first paper which is 15% at AS and 7% in A2 but the Grade boundary for 15 is at C (which is 60%) - what does that mean for me? I hope I'm making sense and not confusing you

That is actually confusing... basically you get like 7.5 marks to your overall A2 grade. which like saying you have 7.5 out of 100 now. Theres 80 marks left for you to get for your final grade through the other exams.
Now is this mroe confusing lol?

Haha no I kind of figured that out on my own but what I'm concerned with is how grade boundaries play into it? like what would say 50/100 mean for my A2 grade if the grade boundary for say B is 50 - do you get what I'm saying?

I am not sure. Are you asking whether you will get a B or a C in such a case?

Yup that's what I was asking.

Also how prepared are you for exam day after tomorrow? Do you have any model answer you've done for a past paper on Paper 3 that you can perhaps share?
Edit: One that's perhaps your best answer and graded by your teacher please☺️

If you get a 50 and 50 is the threshold for B, it means it is the minimum mark required to get a B. So you will get a B.

I'll put two up. Those are answers I wrote for my mock exams. I dont know how good they are. Hope it helps.

By the way thank you so much for uploading all the papers! Did you do a mock for last year's past paper?? June 2015?

Please make sure you know the history of anti-semitism also. The blood libels and crusaders and all that.

Hi sorry! I only just logged on today. If it makes you feel any better my exam went terrible ... I don't even know if what I wrote was correct. And I'm such an idiot I wrote it supports 'historian' Arendt's view - she's a philosopher who simply comments o the holocaust. I'm so so stupid!!! And then I wrote it took the functionalist approach.. I don't even know if thats the case? I also wrote the Big Message of the extract was that the jewish leaders were responsible for gathering the Jews to Eastern Europe and then their eventual extermination. I'm freaking out - How did your exam go?

Hey..no that's okay. Why would that make me feel better? lol i found it difficult too. my friends found it hard too. My essay was messed up. And yea we all wrote it was the functionalist. I didnt write about the 'big mesage'. Let's just pray the threshold will be low this time.

Hey..no that's okay. Why would that make me feel better? lol i found it difficult too. my friends found it hard too. My essay was messed up. And yea we all wrote it was the functionalist. I didnt write about the 'big mesage'. Let's just pray the threshold will be low this time.