May/June 2025 Examiner Review: Key Takeaways and Strategy

The May/June 2025 examination offered a highly balanced yet rigorous test of candidates' historical knowledge, analytical depth, and source evaluation skills. Across Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 4, the questions were accessible but highly differentiating at the upper mark bands. The focus shifted heavily onto the mid-20th century, particularly through a brilliant Paper 2 Option B depth study on the Hoare-Laval Pact and a demanding Paper 4 analysis of Weimar political instability.

Where the Marks Were Won and Lost

The differences between a solid Grade B and a top-tier Grade A* were decided in the evaluative sections of the papers:

  • Paper 1 Part (c) and Paper 4 Part (b): High-scoring candidates did not simply dump chronological narratives. Instead, they structured their answers around thematic factors (e.g., comparing political vs. economic factors of Weimar collapse) and provided a weighted judgement in their conclusions.
  • Paper 2 Source Skills: Many candidates struggled to move beyond simple comparison. The top marks were awarded to those who contextualized the provenance of the sources—such as evaluating the Soviet perspective of Ivan Maisky's diary in 1935 or recognizing Frederick William IV's political motives in his 1849 'To My People' announcement.

Examiner Pitfalls to Avoid

A common pitfall noted in this series was 'one-sidedness'. In Paper 1 Section B and Paper 4, writing an exceptionally detailed account of only one side of an argument (e.g., why Stresemann was important, without discussing his limitations or other leaders) caps the candidate at Level 3 out of 5, restricting them to a maximum of 15 out of 25 marks. Balance is not optional; it is a structural requirement of the mark scheme.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Predictions

Based on the coverage of this series, several key areas are highly overdue for a major focus in upcoming examination sessions. Students should prioritize Stalin's Economic Policies (Five-Year Plans and Collectivisation) and the League of Nations' successes in the 1920s, both of which were underrepresented in the current series. Regular practice of writing dual-perspective thesis statements under timed conditions will yield the highest returns on revision time.