1. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Answering the ‘Inference’
source question
Hodder Education Revision Lessons
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2. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Principles
Your sister gets on Valentine’s Day – from the same
boy:
• a dozen red roses
• a huge card which says: ‘Hi, funny face’
• a diamond ring inscribed: ‘Sexy lips’.
What is he saying to her?
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3. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Principles
At one level, he seems to be saying that she has
sexy lips and a funny face …
But those words, and the gifts, are obviously
saying so much more …
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4. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Principles
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‘Funny face’ shows he finds her cute.
‘Sexy lips’ shows he enjoys kissing her.
Red roses are a message of love.
The ring indicates that he wants to get engaged.
These messages were not explicit, but you
INFERRED them from the gifts.
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5. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
You answer the ‘Inference’ question
in much the same way!
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6. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
You are going to get a question which gives you a
source and then asks:
‘What does this source suggest about [a
topic]?’
Note that you must make an especial note of the ‘topic’ you
are being asked about.
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7. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
For example:
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
‘What does this source suggest about the
government of Nicholas II in Russia?’
Note that it is asking you to say things about
the government of Nicholas II
(i.e. not about the war or the army).
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8. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
The mark scheme says that this is how you are
going to earn the 4 marks for this question:
• You get up to 2 marks by extracting surface
statements explicit in the source.
• You get up to 2 further marks by identifying
inferences in the source.
Note that you will only get any marks if you identify surface
statements and inferences about the stated topic.
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9. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
You are advised to spend
7 minutes maximum
on this question.
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10. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
So, let’s begin …
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
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11. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Start by identifying two ‘surface statements’
about Nicholas II’s government, for example:
It called up millions
It trained and prepared
of men
them badly
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
These will give you the basic first 2 marks.
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12. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Note …
Why is ‘soldiers were deserting’ not a valid
answer?
It is not about the government of Nicholas II.
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
It will not score you any marks.
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13. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Now suggest two ‘inferences’ you can make
about the government of Nicholas II:
This suggests it was
This suggests it was
incompetent
losing its authority
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
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These will earn the 2 marks for making inferences.continue

14. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Can you suggest any other inferences?
This suggests people were
becoming fed up with it
This suggests it was
losing control
Although the Russian government called up
millions of men, they were badly trained and
prepared. By 1917, discipline had broken
down, and soldiers were deserting or refusing
to obey orders.
(Only needed if your inference ideas are weak.)
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15. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
So …
Write your essay, remembering to:
• provide two explicit ‘surface statements’ about
the government of Nicholas II
and:
• add two or three inferences about the
government of Nicholas II.
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16. AQA (B) GCSE Modern World History
Unit 2 Depth Study 1 Lesson 1
Peer-assess each other’s essays. Did they:
• provide two examples of explicit, ‘surface
statements’ about the government of Nicholas II?
• add two or three inferences about the
government of Nicholas II?
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