History Revision - Getting an A*

The Dawes (1924) and Young Plan(1929) wern't treaties they were a way of getting Germany out of the depession and repaying America back

I got an A* by revising exclusively from Ben Walsh, so I wouldn't worry too much. From what I can remember, you only need general factual information, what's more important is an ability to analyse and argue. Obviously the facts will help you to do that, but as long as you're moderately comfortable with them then that'll be fine - just use them and manipulate them!

Also, from what I can remember (bearing in mind I did this course 2 years ago!) the Dawes and Young Plans were concerned with the German reparations that were owed following the First World War. The Dawes Plan was put into place after the Germans defaulted on their debt a couple of years after the ToV, and I seem to remember they had some US loans or something as well, to help stimulate the German economy which had gone into major decline. The Young Plan extended the deadline for the reparations and decreased the yearly amount owed because it was very clear that the Germans wouldn't be able to pay at the rate that the Dawes Plan suggested. And to whoever said that Germany wasn't in a depression in 1924 - I'm pretty sure they were emerging from one, caused by the reparations, the terms of the ToV and hyperinflation. Thanks to an excellent Chancellor, they managed to have a lovely little boom in the 20s, before a crash in '29, which led to the Great Depression that allowed Hitler to take power in '33.

Ah, this is what thorough revision gives you, a head full of useless knowledge 2 years later Now why can't I remember that level of detail for my A level paper?

Germany and the World wasn't in a depression in 1924.

Early 1920s was know as the "Golden Twenties", but in 1923 Germany hit "The Great Depression"

Is Advanced Level History hard then?..surely not for a Cambridge offer-holder....

Oh and its 800 million Marks that the USA loaned to GER...above ^.

Great Depression was the one in 1929 because of the Wall St. Crash

Thank you My memory's not that good!!

It's as hard as you want it to be. It's definitely a lot of work. As you probably know from GCSE, there is much more to learn just in terms of content, and the amount of content you need to learn increases significantly at A level. Your essay technique develops a lot, as does source analysis. It becomes less about spouting facts and figures and much more about how well you can argue, and how you use historical evidence to draw personal conclusions. I've absolutely loved every minute of the A level course: I've found it difficult, but having a passion for it definitely helps. You need to be prepared to do a lot of hard work, but it's really worthwhile. And it gives you a good knowledge of the foundations of the modern world if you do the right modules! (And yes, it is hard for a Cambridge offer holder, but I like hard work )

Ok, great...looking forward to September....I suppose its helps for Literature as well...which i am also doing. Which is very hardcore apparently...

Sorry I completely disagree, you do not need to know all that to get an A*. I've had a look at mark schemes and often there are no specific marks for that kind of detail, but for more general points. It might impress the examiner, but is completely unnecessary as the board's recognise that understanding what happened during the events is much more important than the (often) useless statistics.

Yeah, I take English Lit also. I much prefer History, because History's actually based on something, whereas arguments in Lit tend to be all waffle and supposition. But it definitely helps with the essay writing And yes, Eng Lit's a lot lot lot of work as well! Good luck with them What else are you taking?

Early 1920s was know as the "Golden Twenties", but in 1923 Germany hit "The Great Depression"

A nice contrast: Biology and Chemistry..Also perhaps Critical thinking which i may drop as 4 hardcore subjects is enough work. Especially cos i want As in those main ones...

Do you think its possible to do well in Critical Thinking if as i think we will only have 2 lessons a week...I mean is most of it common sense which i will have already usedin other subjects at GCSE...?