Examiner’s Specific Advice

This question requires a range of skills and a focus on explanation rather than description. You need to find a range of reasons (three or more) for Wolsey’s downfall and link those reasons explicitly to 1529. Be careful not to take too long over this 12-mark question – it is important to be concise and to judge the length of your answer to the marks allocated. In addition to explaining clearly a range of reasons, try to make links and judgements about the relative importance of the reasons given, or how they were interrelated.

Exemplar Question

2 (03) Explain why Wolsey fell from power in 1529.   [12 marks]

Plan

• Explain the context of Wolsey’s position in 1529
• Produce a range of reasons why Wolsey was unable to maintain the great power and influence he had previously held
• Consider in the conclusion any links that interrelate these reasons; or any judgements that differentiate which reasons were more decisive than others
• Remember that it is useful to explain, if you can, why Wolsey fell in 1528 and not before

View Exemplar Answer 1

View Exemplar Answer 2