AQA GCSE History Paper 1 (1AC), June 2025: Question 2
4 marks · Medium difficulty · Short Answer
Explain why the authors of Interpretations A and B have different interpretations about the Provisional Government, using the interpretations and your contextual knowledge.
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Question text
02 Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation
about the Provisional Government?
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
[4 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
02 Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation about
the Provisional Government?
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
[4 marks]
The indicative content is designed to exemplify the qualities expected at each
level and is not a full exemplar answer. All historically relevant and valid
answers should be credited.
Target Analyse individual interpretations (AO4a)
Analyse why interpretations differ (AO4c)
Level 2: Developed answer analyses provenance of interpretation to explain 3–4
reasons for differences
Students may progress from identification to explanation of the reasons for the
differences in the interpretations supported by factual knowledge and
understanding related to, for example, differences in provenance, context of
their time of writing, place, previous experience, knowledge, beliefs,
circumstances, and access to information, purpose and audience.
For example, the author of Interpretation A was writing many years later when
the events of the Russian Revolution were well known. He could talk about the
bigger picture and refer to a range of reasons for the end of the Provisional
Government. Whereas the author of Interpretation B is blaming the Bolsheviks
specifically because he wanted a parliamentary system to develop in Russia
and would not have been happy about the Communist dictatorship that Lenin
established.
Level 1: Simple answer analyses provenance to identify reasons for difference(s) 1–2
Students are likely to identify relevant reasons for the differences in each
interpretation(s). Related to, for example, differences in provenance, context of
their time of writing, place, previous experience, knowledge, beliefs,
circumstances, access to information, purpose and audience.
For example, Interpretation A was written by someone who was friendly with
Lenin and Trotsky so he will emphasise the Provisional Government’s
weakness and unpopularity as the reasons why it ended. Whereas the author
of Interpretation B supported the Provisional Government so he is blaming the
Bolsheviks for what happened in 1917.
Students either submit no evidence or fail to address the question 0
How to answer it
Explaining Differences in Interpretations (Provisional Government)
AO4: Analyse interpretations (why authors have different views based on their provenance, context, purpose, or when they were written). You must use both Interpretations A and B alongside your own contextual historical knowledge to explain why the authors' viewpoints differ.
Question Overview & Mark Breakdown
Level 2 (3–4 Marks) [TOP BAND]
Developed answer: Analyses the provenance, purpose, or context of both interpretations to explicitly explain why the authors have different views, supported by relevant contextual knowledge.
Level 1 (1–2 Marks) [LIMITED BAND]
Simple answer: Identifies differences in provenance or what the authors say, but fails to properly explain why this creates a different interpretation, or only focuses on one interpretation.
How to Structure Your 4-Mark Answer
🧠 Exam Technique: The Formula
- Step 1: State what Interpretation A argues and link it to its author's background/purpose/time of writing.
- Step 2: Bring in contextual knowledge to explain *why* that background leads to that view.
- Step 3: Do the exact same for Interpretation B, highlighting the contrast in their perspective.
💡 Key Knowledge to Drop In
- Author's perspective: Is the writer a contemporary witness, a later historian looking back, a supporter of the Bolsheviks, or a defender of liberals?
- Time of writing: Writing during the event vs. writing decades later with hindsight.
- Political motives: Wanting to justify a communist revolution vs. defending democratic/parliamentary systems.
Examiner Guidance & Common Errors
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Describing the content only: Writing about what happened in 1917 without mentioning the authors, their motives, or when they wrote.
- Ignoring one interpretation: Spending all 4 lines on Interpretation A and forgetting to analyze Interpretation B.
- Generic statements: Saying "they have different opinions because they are different people" without explaining how their provenance/context shaped their view.
✅ What Distinguishes Top-Level Responses
Top-level responses explicitly connect the provenance (who wrote it, when, or why) directly to the argument they make. For instance, explaining that a historian writing years later can look at the "bigger picture" of the Provisional Government's failure, whereas someone with a specific political agenda might blame a single party like the Bolsheviks.
Topics
Paper 1 AC Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism · Part two: Lenin's new society
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE History examination, Paper 1 (1AC), June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.