Examiner’s Specific Advice

This question tests several skills and also your knowledge of the topic; in this case the instability early in the reign of Richard III and the origins of the failed rebellion by the Duke of Buckingham in 1483. The question requires a focused explanation of a range of reasons why the Buckingham rebellion took place in 1483.

The key thing is not to narrate and describe, but to use your knowledge purposefully in order to explain what happened and why. You should also think about the length of your answer – a shorter, more coherent and controlled answer is always preferable to a longer, more detailed answer that is unfinished or lacking in clarity and accuracy. The amount of detail you include should take into account the number of marks available. You need to produce a concise answer to this 12-mark question in order to ensure you have adequate time to deal with the longer, essay-type question that follows.

Exemplar Question

1 (01) Explain why the Duke of Buckingham rebelled against Richard III in 1483. [12 marks]

Plan

• Identify the context of 1483 – why Richard III was vulnerable
• What Buckingham did and what he hoped to gain
• Why he was dissatisfied with his treatment by Richard III
• Conclusion – any links, or prioritisation?

View Exemplar Answer 1

View Exemplar Answer 2