This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/aug/23/how-tough-are-gcses-try-our-exam-questions
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| How tough are GCSEs? Try our exam questions | How tough are GCSEs? Try our exam questions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It is GCSE results day, and if you have not had children in your family taking exams recently, or it is a while since you attended school yourself, you might be curious about the type and level of questions that pupils in England and Wales have to answer. | It is GCSE results day, and if you have not had children in your family taking exams recently, or it is a while since you attended school yourself, you might be curious about the type and level of questions that pupils in England and Wales have to answer. |
| We cannot replicate GCSE exam conditions, but we have picked 12 essay questions from a range of arts and humanities subjects, and your task is simple: we would like to see your answers in the comments below. | We cannot replicate GCSE exam conditions, but we have picked 12 essay questions from a range of arts and humanities subjects, and your task is simple: we would like to see your answers in the comments below. |
| Under each question there is also a link to the full exam paper, so if you really fancy trying your hand at a full GCSE paper for old time’s sake, it is just a click away. Good luck. | Under each question there is also a link to the full exam paper, so if you really fancy trying your hand at a full GCSE paper for old time’s sake, it is just a click away. Good luck. |
| Question 1: History | Question 1: History |
| Which of the following was the more important reason why white Americans travelled across the Great Plains in the 1840s and 1850s: religion or economic opportunity? | Which of the following was the more important reason why white Americans travelled across the Great Plains in the 1840s and 1850s: religion or economic opportunity? |
| Candidates are asked to explain their answer with reference to both reasons, and expected to answer the question in about 15 minutes. [Source: AQA, GCSE history specimen paper 1A/A: America, 1840–1895: expansion and consolidation] | Candidates are asked to explain their answer with reference to both reasons, and expected to answer the question in about 15 minutes. [Source: AQA, GCSE history specimen paper 1A/A: America, 1840–1895: expansion and consolidation] |
| Question 2: Religious studies | Question 2: Religious studies |
| “The Eucharist is the only sacrament Catholic Christians need.” Evaluate this statement. | “The Eucharist is the only sacrament Catholic Christians need.” Evaluate this statement. |
| Candidates are told to refer to Catholic teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. They are expected to spend about 25 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE religious studies specimen paper 1: Catholic Christianity] | Candidates are told to refer to Catholic teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. They are expected to spend about 25 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE religious studies specimen paper 1: Catholic Christianity] |
| Question 3: Business studies | Question 3: Business studies |
| The manager of Sheds-U-Like Ltd wants to increase the motivation of workers. She is considering either a small increase in financial rewards or giving the workers more responsibility. Recommend the best method of increasing the motivation of the workers. Give reasons for your recommendation. | The manager of Sheds-U-Like Ltd wants to increase the motivation of workers. She is considering either a small increase in financial rewards or giving the workers more responsibility. Recommend the best method of increasing the motivation of the workers. Give reasons for your recommendation. |
| The question is worth 15% of the marks available on the paper, suggesting pupils should spend about nine minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE business studies unit 1: setting up a business] | The question is worth 15% of the marks available on the paper, suggesting pupils should spend about nine minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE business studies unit 1: setting up a business] |
| Question 4: Drama | Question 4: Drama |
| You are performing the role of Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Describe how you would use your acting skills to interpret Titania’s character in the extract below, and explain why your ideas are appropriate both for this extract and the play as a whole. | You are performing the role of Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Describe how you would use your acting skills to interpret Titania’s character in the extract below, and explain why your ideas are appropriate both for this extract and the play as a whole. |
| This question makes up a quarter of the marks available, meaning pupils should spend about 25 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE drama component 1: understanding drama specimen paper] | This question makes up a quarter of the marks available, meaning pupils should spend about 25 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE drama component 1: understanding drama specimen paper] |
| Question 5: English literature | Question 5: English literature |
| “In Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, Dakin is presented as the most confident of the boys in the Oxbridge class.” How far do you agree with this view of Dakin? | “In Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, Dakin is presented as the most confident of the boys in the Oxbridge class.” How far do you agree with this view of Dakin? |
| The paper suggests candidates write about what Dakin says and does and what others say about him in the play, and how Bennett presents Dakin by the ways he writes. The question is worth 35% of the exam, suggesting that candidates spend about 50 minutes answering it. | The paper suggests candidates write about what Dakin says and does and what others say about him in the play, and how Bennett presents Dakin by the ways he writes. The question is worth 35% of the exam, suggesting that candidates spend about 50 minutes answering it. |
| There are alternative essays on the paper about other works pupils are expected to have studied including JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, Simon Stephens’ adaption of Mark Haddons’ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, Meera Syal’s Anita and Me and Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon English. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE English literature paper 2: modern texts and poetry] | |
| Question 6: Psychology | Question 6: Psychology |
| Describe and evaluate one study of the development of aggressive behaviour. Include in your answer the method used, the results obtained and the conclusion drawn. Evaluate the study of the development of aggressive behaviour that you have described. | Describe and evaluate one study of the development of aggressive behaviour. Include in your answer the method used, the results obtained and the conclusion drawn. Evaluate the study of the development of aggressive behaviour that you have described. |
| Students are expected to take about seven minutes to answer this question. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE psychology unit 2: understanding other people] | Students are expected to take about seven minutes to answer this question. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE psychology unit 2: understanding other people] |
| Question 7: Media studies | Question 7: Media studies |
| People working behind the scenes in media production need to be creative. Give an example of a media production role and explain two different ways this role needs creativity. | People working behind the scenes in media production need to be creative. Give an example of a media production role and explain two different ways this role needs creativity. |
| This question is worth four marks, suggesting that pupils spend about six minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE media studies unit 3: exploring media industries] | This question is worth four marks, suggesting that pupils spend about six minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE media studies unit 3: exploring media industries] |
| Question 8: Geography | Question 8: Geography |
| For a hot desert environment or cold environment you have studied, to what extent does that environment provide both opportunities and challenges for development? | For a hot desert environment or cold environment you have studied, to what extent does that environment provide both opportunities and challenges for development? |
| This question makes up 10% of the marks available in the exam, suggesting students should spend about nine minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE geography: living with the physical environment specimen paper] | This question makes up 10% of the marks available in the exam, suggesting students should spend about nine minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, GCSE geography: living with the physical environment specimen paper] |
| Question 9: Ancient history | Question 9: Ancient history |
| To what extent do you think Athenians believed democracy was at the centre of their society? | To what extent do you think Athenians believed democracy was at the centre of their society? |
| Candidates are told “you must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your answer with your own knowledge”. The question is worth about 20% of the marks available on the paper, suggesting candidates should spend 20 minutes completing it. [Source: OCR, GCSE ancient history, Greece and Persia sample paper] | Candidates are told “you must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your answer with your own knowledge”. The question is worth about 20% of the marks available on the paper, suggesting candidates should spend 20 minutes completing it. [Source: OCR, GCSE ancient history, Greece and Persia sample paper] |
| Question 10: Economics | Question 10: Economics |
| Is it ethical for developing countries, such as China, to aim for rapid economic growth? | Is it ethical for developing countries, such as China, to aim for rapid economic growth? |
| This question is worth 20% of the marks available on the paper. Candidates are expected to spend about 15 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE economics unit 12] | This question is worth 20% of the marks available on the paper. Candidates are expected to spend about 15 minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE economics unit 12] |
| Question 11: Music | Question 11: Music |
| Explain how Haydn has used musical elements to create a sense of “balance” in the second movement. | Explain how Haydn has used musical elements to create a sense of “balance” in the second movement. |
| The piece played to pupils is an excerpt from an Alison Balsom performance of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. This question is worth eight marks, and candidates are expected to spend about eight-and-a-half minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2018 GCSE music specimen paper] | The piece played to pupils is an excerpt from an Alison Balsom performance of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. This question is worth eight marks, and candidates are expected to spend about eight-and-a-half minutes answering it. [Source: AQA, 2018 GCSE music specimen paper] |
| Question 12: Sociology | Question 12: Sociology |
| Discuss how far sociologists would agree that parental influence is the most important factor in explaining levels of crime among young people in society today. | Discuss how far sociologists would agree that parental influence is the most important factor in explaining levels of crime among young people in society today. |
| This question makes up 10% of the marks on the paper – suggesting candidates should spend nine minutes on it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE sociology unit two] | This question makes up 10% of the marks on the paper – suggesting candidates should spend nine minutes on it. [Source: AQA, 2017 GCSE sociology unit two] |
| GCSEs | GCSEs |
| Exams | Exams |
| Secondary schools | Secondary schools |
| Schools | Schools |
| Children | Children |
| quizzes | quizzes |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |