Examiners use Mark Schemes to determine how best to categorise a candidate’s response and to ensure that the performances of thousands of candidates are marked to a high degree of consistency. Few answers fall neatly into the mark levels indicated below: some answers will provide good comparisons but offer little internal provenance; others may rely heavily on own knowledge. Examiners therefore try to find the ‘best fit’ when applying the scheme. Each answer has a final mark based on three Assessment Objectives (AO1a, AO1b and AO2a) worth 6 + 8 + 16 = 30 marks. As the standard of the two answers lies between Level I and Level IV, only the descriptors and marks for these levels are tabulated below.

Marking Grid for Enquiries Question (a)

Assessment Objectives	AO1a - Recall, select and deploy historical knowledge and communicate clearly and effectively	AO1b - Demonstrate understanding of the past through explanation and analysis	AO2a - Analyse and evaluate a range of appropriate source material with discrimination
LEVEL IA	Uses a range of appropriate historical terms; clearly and coherently structured and communicated answer. 6 marks	Consistently relevant and analytical answer; clear and accurate understanding of key concepts and significance of issues. 8 marks	Provides a focused comparison of both content and provenance; evaluates qualities and limitations of sources. 16 marks
LEVEL IB	Uses a range of appropriate historical terms; clearly and coherently structured and communicated answer. 6 marks	Judgements are supported by appropriate references to content and provenance; very good understanding of key concepts and significance of issues. 7 marks	Provides an effective comparison of both content and provenance; evaluates qualities and limitations of sources. 13–15 marks
LEVEL II	Uses historical terms accurately; clearly and mostly coherently structured and clearly communicated answer. 5 marks	Good attempt at explanation/analysis but uneven overall judgements; mostly clear understanding of key concepts and significance of issues. 6 marks	Provides a relevant comparison of both content and provenance; evaluation lacks completeness and may be confined to the conclusion or second half of the answer. 11–12 marks
LEVEL III	Uses relevant historical terms but not always accurately or extensively; mostly structured and clearly communicated answer. 4 marks	Mixture of internal analysis and discussion of similarities and/or differences; uneven understanding of key concepts and significance of issues. 5 marks	Provides a comparison; makes limited links with the sources by focusing too much on content or provenance. 9–10 marks
LEVEL IV	Some evidence that is tangential or irrelevant; some unclear, under-developed or disorganised sections but satisfactorily written. 3 marks	Mostly satisfactory understanding of key concepts and significance of issues; some unlinked though relevant assertions, description/narrative but without a judgement. 4 marks	Attempts a comparison but comments are largely sequential; makes few points of comparative provenance or similarity/difference of content. 7–8 marks