How do I revise Period Study for WJEC A-Level?

Ensure you can make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.

What exam tips are there for Period Study? (2)

Focus on explaining the causes and consequences of historical events.

What exam tips are there for Period Study? (3)

Evaluate the significance of individuals, groups, events, developments, and ideas.

What mistakes should I avoid in Period Study?

Failing to cover the full chronological range of the period (c.1880-1980).

What are common errors in Period Study exams? (2)

Focusing too narrowly on one aspect (e.g., only politics) while ignoring social or cultural developments.

Period Study

WJEC

A-Level

This period study examines the political, social, economic, and religious developments in Wales and England from 1485 to 1603. It focuses on the establishment of the Tudor dynasty, the nature of government, the impact of religious reformations, the causes and consequences of major rebellions, and the changing relationship between Wales and England.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Subtopics in this area

Period Study

Topic Overview

Period Study in WJEC A-Level History focuses on a substantial chronological era, such as 'Germany 1918-1991' or 'USA 1920-1973'. This component requires you to analyse political, economic, social, and cultural developments over time, identifying key turning points and assessing themes like democracy, dictatorship, and identity. You'll explore how events such as the Weimar Republic, Nazi rise, and Cold War division shaped Germany, or how the Roaring Twenties, Great Depression, and Civil Rights movement transformed the USA. The study emphasises change and continuity, causation, and the significance of individuals and groups.

Mastering Period Study is crucial because it tests your ability to construct coherent narratives and evaluate historical interpretations. Unlike depth studies, you must synthesise information across decades, making connections between events like the Wall Street Crash and the New Deal, or the Treaty of Versailles and World War II. This skill is vital for essay questions that ask 'how far' or 'to what extent' – you'll need to balance evidence and argue a clear judgement. The topic also links to broader themes in modern history, such as the struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, which appear in other A-Level components.

To succeed, you must memorise key dates, individuals, and turning points, but also practise writing analytical essays. Use timelines to visualise change, and group evidence into themes (e.g., political stability, economic recovery, social change). The exam board rewards precise knowledge of specific events (e.g., the 1923 Hyperinflation or the 1963 March on Washington) and the ability to evaluate historians' views. Regular revision of past paper questions will help you spot patterns in what examiners ask – often focusing on periods of crisis or transformation.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Methods used by Henry VII to establish the Tudor dynasty
Extent of the revolution in government under Henry VIII
Role and effectiveness of Tudor chief ministers (Wolsey, Cromwell, Cecil)
Elizabeth I's relationship with her privy council and Parliament
Features and effects of the Henrician Reformation
Impact of religious policies under Edward VI and Mary I
Elizabethan Church Settlement and its effects
Causes, features, and failure of the Pilgrimage of Grace, Western Rebellion, Kett's Rebellion, Wyatt's Rebellion, and the Northern Earls

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Methods used by Henry VII to establish the Tudor dynasty
Extent of the revolution in government under Henry VIII
Role and effectiveness of Tudor chief ministers (Wolsey, Cromwell, Cecil)
Elizabeth I's relationship with her privy council and Parliament
Features and effects of the Henrician Reformation
Impact of religious policies under Edward VI and Mary I
Elizabethan Church Settlement and its effects
Causes, features, and failure of the Pilgrimage of Grace, Western Rebellion, Kett's Rebellion, Wyatt's Rebellion, and the Northern Earls
Growth of trade, industry, and the gentry
Development of towns and merchant classes
Attitudes to and treatment of the poor and vagrants
Reasons for and impact of the Acts of Union 1536 and 1543
Work and impact of the Council in Wales and the Marches
Impact of social change in Wales on its relationship with England
Impact of religious policy on Wales, including the translation of the Scriptures into Welsh
Analysis of the growing pressure for parliamentary reform (1780-1832) including the impact of the French Revolution.
Evaluation of the government's response to political and social pressures (1812-1830) and the significance of Liberal Tory reforms.
Assessment of the threat and impact of rural and urban protests (1830-1848), specifically the Merthyr Rising, rural protests, and Chartism.
Analysis of the extent and impact of social and economic reforms (1833-1848) including the Anti-Corn Law League and legislation regarding factories, mines, and public health.
Evaluation of the changing fortunes of political parties and leaders (1830-1880), including Peel, the formation of the Liberal Party, Gladstone's first ministry, and Disraeli's Conservatism.
Methods used by James I to establish and maintain the Stuart dynasty (1603-1625)
Effectiveness of Charles I in dealing with challenges up to 1642
Disputes between Crown and Parliament leading to 1642
Reasons for the outbreak of the Civil War by 1642
Impact of the Civil War on the lives of people in Wales and England
Reasons for Parliamentary victory in the Civil War
Reasons for and importance of the Regicide
Cromwell’s response to challenges of Parliamentary government
Impact of the Major-Generals, Instrument of Government, and Lord Protectorate
Impact of the Commonwealth on the lives of people in Wales and England
Failure of republicanism and its rejection in Wales
Reasons for the Restoration of the monarchy and its popularity in Wales
Political and religious policies of Charles II in Wales and England
Relations between King and Parliament (1660-1685)
Issues of succession
Reasons for conflict between James II and Parliament
Accession of William and Mary and the Glorious Revolution in Wales and England
Impact of the Bill of Rights and the Revolutionary Settlement
Development of party politics in Wales and England after 1689
Ability to make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.
Analysis and explanation of the causes and consequences of historical events and situations.
Evaluation of the significance of individuals, groups, events, developments, and ideas.
Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of relevant historical terms and concepts.
Ability to reach substantiated judgements through clear communication of historical arguments.
Analysis of the influence of the Catholic Church and Renaissance culture in the early 16th century.
Evaluation of the impact of Martin Luther and the spread of Lutheranism.
Understanding the significance of the Peace of Augsburg (1555).
Analysis of the development of absolute monarchy in France under Francis I.
Evaluation of the challenges faced by Charles V and Philip II in Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.
Assessment of the Ottoman Empire's threat and the European response, including the Battle of Lepanto.
Demonstration of cause and consequence regarding religious and political change.
Evaluation of the significance of individuals, groups, and ideas across the period.
Analysis of Peter the Great's domestic policies and westernisation of Russia
Evaluation of Frederick the Great's reforms and foreign policy in Prussia
Understanding of the Ancien Régime in France under Louis XV
Causes of the French Revolution under Louis XVI
Impact of the Great Northern War on Baltic power dynamics
Consequences of the War of the Austrian Succession
Significance of the Diplomatic Revolution
Impact of the Seven Years War
Effects of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars on European Great Power relations
Analysis and explanation of the causes and consequences of historical events and situations.
Evaluation of the significance of individuals, groups, events, developments, and ideas.
Demonstration of understanding of historical concepts such as cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference, and significance.
Ability to make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.
Reaching substantiated judgements based on historical evidence.
Analysis and evaluation of key features related to the period.
Understanding of historical concepts: cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference, and significance.
Ability to make substantiated judgements.
Clear communication of historical knowledge and understanding.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Ensure you can make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.
💡Focus on explaining the causes and consequences of historical events.
💡Evaluate the significance of individuals, groups, events, developments, and ideas.
💡Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant historical terms and concepts.
💡Reach substantiated judgements in your essays.
💡Ensure you can make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.
💡Focus on explaining the causes and consequences of historical events.
💡Reach substantiated judgements regarding the significance of individuals, groups, events, and ideas.
💡Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant historical terms and concepts.
💡Ensure you can make links and comparisons between different aspects of the period.
💡Focus on explaining the causes and consequences of historical events.
💡Evaluate the significance of individuals, groups, events, and ideas across the whole period.
💡Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant historical terms and concepts.
💡Reach substantiated judgements in your essays.
💡Ensure essays address the specific focus of the question rather than just describing events.
💡Use historical concepts like causation, consequence, change, continuity, and significance to structure arguments.
💡Integrate Welsh history into the broader narrative of the period.
💡Practice writing essays that span the whole period to demonstrate breadth of knowledge.
💡Ensure clear, effective communication of historical arguments.
💡Ensure you address the full chronological range (1500-1598) in your revision.
💡Practice making links and comparisons between different aspects of the period, such as the relationship between religious change and state power.
💡Focus on evaluating the 'significance' of events rather than just describing them.
💡Use historical terms and concepts accurately in your essays.
💡Structure your essays to directly answer the specific question set, ensuring a clear, substantiated argument.
💡Ensure arguments are supported by specific historical evidence rather than generalisations
💡Focus on making links and comparisons between different aspects of the period
💡Address the command words by explaining, analysing, and evaluating key features
💡Reach substantiated judgements based on the historical concepts of cause, consequence, change, and continuity
💡Ensure answers are sharply focused on the specified content while also addressing developments over the longer term.
💡Use historical terms and concepts accurately.
💡Structure essays to demonstrate clear analysis and evaluation rather than just narrative description.
💡Ensure arguments are supported by relevant, selected knowledge.
💡Ensure responses are sharply focused on the specified content.
💡Demonstrate understanding of historical terms and concepts.
💡Recall, select, and deploy appropriate knowledge effectively.
💡Explain, analyse, and evaluate key features to reach substantiated judgements.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Failing to cover the full chronological range of the period (c.1880-1980).
Focusing too narrowly on one aspect (e.g., only politics) while ignoring social or cultural developments.
Lack of substantiated judgements in essay responses.
Failure to make links and comparisons across the different themes of the period.
Neglecting the Welsh perspective where appropriate.
Failing to link religious changes to broader political developments.
Focusing only on one country (e.g., Germany) while ignoring the wider European context.
Neglecting the significance of the Ottoman Empire's role in European power dynamics.
Providing narrative descriptions rather than analytical evaluations of historical concepts.
Failing to reach substantiated judgements on the significance of developments.
Failing to link domestic reforms to broader European power shifts
Neglecting the chronological range required for the period study
Over-focusing on narrative events rather than analysis of causation and consequence
Inadequate evaluation of the significance of individuals like Peter the Great or Frederick the Great

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Explain

Analyse

Evaluate

To what extent

Assess

How far

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Period Study

Subtopics in this area

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC A-Level History

Depth Study: Part 2

Breadth Study

Breadth Study

Depth Study: Part 2

Period Study

Subtopics in this area

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remember all the dates for Period Study?

What's the best way to structure an essay on change and continuity?

How important are historians' interpretations in Period Study?

Can I use the same examples for different essay questions?

What's the difference between Period Study and Depth Study?

How do I revise for the essay section?

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC A-Level History

Depth Study: Part 2

Breadth Study

Breadth Study

Depth Study: Part 2