How do I answer an A-Level History essay?

All essays should begin and end with an introduction and conclusion, in which you declare your overall opinion on the subject. However, in-between, you should provide around 4-5 paragraphs in which you break down your argument into various categories that allow you to support your assertion. In a typical History exam, in which you have around 45 minutes to answer an essay, you should spend around 5-7 minutes on each paragraph. For example, for an essay on Henry VIII's Foreign Policy, advisable sections could comprise: France, Ireland, Scotland, Wider Diplomacy and the Holy Roman Empire. The key to A-Level History is structure and making sure that you have a cogent one, is crucial.

The best structure that I can advise upon for the individual categories within your essay, is a modified version of the tried and trusted P.E.E.L. formula (consisting usually of Point, Explanation, Evidence and Link). You should begin by using what is known as a 'Thesis statement;' something which clearly and concisely delivers your opinion to the examiner. Following that, explore and develop what you have declared in the opening thesis, in order to make sure your argument is clear. For the above example, you may declare that Henry’s French policy was a great success, before explaining why in further detail. Then add supporting evidence, in the form of one major example followed by one or two anecdotal examples. You may use The War of the League of Cambrai for the aforementioned question. At this point it is usually useful to provide some evidence that disagrees with your thesis. This is called nuance and allows high-end candidates to show an examiner that they understand that History isn't black and white. Nevertheless, this should be much smaller than your supporting evidence. As a counter to the Henry VIII example, his failure to inherit the French throne may be used. Finally, link back to your opening sentence, showing that on the whole, your evidence supports your earlier assertion, before concluding with another short thesis statement. To conclude the Henry VIII paragraph, you may assert that with everything considered, the Tudor king achieved most of his goals in France and was therefore successful. As a useful aside, providing the examiner with something that will make you, the candidate, stand-out is perhaps my biggest tip for A-Level History (as well as all subjects, for that matter). That may take the form of adding in a historian’s opinion to the explore and develop section in order to strengthen your thesis, or by looking at an area of the question that others often do not consider. In the aforementioned example, that may take the shape of including the influential John Guy to your essay, or covering Henry VIII’s Exploration of the New World.