In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to tackle each of the four question types you’ll face in this section. Let’s turn that knowledge into top-grade answers!

GCSE History isn’t just about knowing what happened — it’s about how you show your understanding. Paper 2, Section A of the AQA exam focuses on Thematic Studies, and for many students, that means Britain: Health & the People, so we will use that to illustrate

📝 Overview: What is Section A All About?

Section A asks you to explore change and continuity in public health, medicine, and treatment over centuries. You'll need to apply historical thinking to sources, comparisons, judgement of significance, and factor analysis — all with strong factual evidence.

🔍 Question 1: The 8-Mark “How Useful is Source A?” Question

This is your source evaluation question.

🎯 What You Need to Do:

• Evaluate how useful the source is to a historian studying a specific topic.

• Consider both:

  • Content – what the source shows or says

  • Provenance – who made it, when, why

  •  

  •  

✅ Top Tips:

• Make two clear points about usefulness.

• Don’t just say “it's biased” – explain why that matters.

• Use own knowledge to check accuracy or reveal what’s missing.

🧠 Structure to Use:

PEE Paragraphs

• Point – Is the source useful and why?

• Evidence – Quote or describe part of the source.

• Explain – Link back to the question and add your own knowledge.

💬 Example:The WHO poster is useful because it shows modern concerns about antibiotic resistance. This reflects the global scale of the problem in the 21st century, which we know was a major health crisis.

🚀 Question 2: The 8-Mark “Explain the Significance of X” Question

This tests your grasp of historical significance — why something mattered.

🎯 What You Need to Do:

• Explain why X mattered at the time and/or over time.

• Go beyond description — show impact and long-term change.

•  

✅ Top Tips:

• Use hindsight: how did this shape future developments?

• Use specific, accurate examples.

• Think: Did it change practice, beliefs, or outcomes?

•  

🧠 Structure to Use:

• 2 × PEE paragraphs:

  • One for significance at the time

  • One for long-term significance

  •  

💬 Example: James Simpson discovered chloroform, allowing painless surgery. At the time, this reduced fear of operations. Over time, it led to safer, more complex procedures, especially after Queen Victoria used it during childbirth.

🔄 Question 3: The 8-Mark “Explain Two Ways X and Y are Similar” Question

This question looks at continuity and comparison across time periods.

🎯 What You Need to Do:

• Identify two similarities between two people, events, or developments.

• Use evidence from both periods.

•  

✅ Top Tips:

• Use the 7 factors of change to help spot similarities:

  War

  Superstition and religion

  Chance

  Government

  Communication

  Science and technology

  The role of the individual

• Be specific — vague answers lose marks.

🧠 Structure to Use:

• Two clear PEE paragraphs, each focusing on one similarity.

• Always compare both elements directly.

•  

💬 Example:The Black Death and Great Plague were both believed to be caused by miasma. In both cases, people used strong smells (e.g., pomanders and plague doctor masks) to protect themselves, reflecting ongoing religious and medical misunderstanding.

🧠 Question 4: The 16-Mark “Factor” Question (+4 SPaG Marks)

This is your extended essay – where judgement and planning matter most.

🎯 What You Need to Do:

• Evaluate how important a given factor (e.g., war) was in driving change.

• Compare it with other factors from across the course.

• Make a clear judgement: was it the most important?

•  

✅ Top Tips:

• Plan your answer — don’t just start writing.

• Use a wide range of examples across time periods.

• Include a counter-argument and finish with a strong conclusion.

•  

🧠 Structure to Use:

• Intro: Define the factor and state your argument.

• Three PEEL paragraphs:

  • One on the stated factor

  • Two on other key factors

•  

• Conclusion:

  • Clear judgement

  • Brief comparison of factors

  • Use key terms and time references

  •  

📝 Don’t Forget: SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar)

• Worth 4 extra marks!

• Use correct terms (e.g., “anaesthetic”, “antiseptic”).

• Paragraph clearly.

•  

💬 Example:While chance helped Fleming discover penicillin, it was science and technology that made it widely available. Without Florey and Chain’s development and US funding, the discovery wouldn’t have had national impact. So chance was important — but science played a bigger role in bringing real change.

🎓 Final Thoughts

AQA GCSE History Paper 2 Section A is a test of your historical thinking and exam technique. You already know the content — now it’s about showing it effectively.

• Use PEE/PEEL to structure.

• Always make a judgement in Q1 and Q4.

• Be specific and balanced — no sweeping statements.

• Practice past papers and time yourself!

With the right approach, you'll not only survive Paper 2 — you'll smash it. Good luck!

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