1. Answering Paper 1 questions
You have one hour, 30 minutes to answer Paper 1. You should
answer four questions, one from each topic you have studied
during your course. Each essay question is worth 15 marks,
giving 60 marks overall (out of a total of 90).
The difference between Higher and Standard Grade or
Intermediate is that, at Higher, you are expected to be able to
debate and show you understand two sides of a discussion.
PEERL paragraphs
TOP TIPS
Watch the news;
you will pick up facts
which are up-to-date
and useful.
Read, read, read; get
into a revision plan.
The simplest way to answer these questions is to split your
answer up into three PEERL paragraphs. A PEERL
paragraph is one PEEL for a view and one PEEL against the
view (Rebuttal). It also needs a mini-conclusion at the end
where you explain which view is right
e.g. if question is about USA immigration you might have
one PEEL saying it’s good for jobs, one where it’s bad for
jobs and ultimately your mini-conclusion should explain,
overall, what you think it means for jobs (and why).
Each essay should have the same basic answer structure, as outlined below:
Section
Introduction
PEERL 1
PEERL 2
PEERL 3
Conclusion
Content
State what your report is about; summarise the three topics
you are going to examine (PEERL topics)
State arguments for the view, state arguments against the
view; summarise your overall opinion in the mini-conclusion
State arguments for the view, state arguments against the
view; summarise your overall opinion in the mini-conclusion
State arguments for the view, state arguments against the
view; summarise your overall opinion in the mini-conclusion
Summarise your essay, recap your main arguments (miniconclusions), give overall conclusion to answer the question

2. Answering Paper 2 questions
Paper 2 is very important. It is worth 30 of the final 90 marks. It is something that –
as long as you are well prepared – you should be aiming to get at least 20+ marks in.
You have 1 hour 15 mins for Paper 2. There are two sections in Paper 2; the first is a
set of four questions (worth 10 marks), the second is a report (worth 20 marks).
Answering the questions
There are four questions; 2 x ‘To what extent…?’ and 2 x ‘Exaggeration’.
To what extent…?
In this question (worth three marks) you are asked to find
one sentence in which the speaker has made one
statement which is correct and one which is incorrect.
Read the Source the statement is taken from (A or B). If
you then read the title of the two C Sources mentioned in
the question (e.g. C1a and C2b) this will help you find the
content of the sentence you are to answer based upon.
This is then a simple Support/Oppose question. Say which
part of the statement is correct and provide evidence to
back this up; then say which part of the statement is
wrong, and give evidence. Finding the sentence and writing
evidence for and against gives you three marks.
Exaggeration
In this task you are asked to find an incorrect sentence.
Read the Source (A or B) that the question tells you to and
then look at the C Source mentioned too; the C Source’s
title will be the relevant sentence’s topic.
Write which sentence is exaggerated and provide evidence
for this. This will give you two marks.
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3. Answering the report
The Report is based on the Decision Making Exercises you completed at Standard
Grade or Intermediate. You will be given a scenario e.g. you are a government
advisor and asked to recommend a course of action to the government i.e. support
or oppose a rise in the minimum wage.
Remember that, unlike Enquiry Skills at Standard Grade or Intermediate, you
must use your own knowledge when answering these questions. The topic will
be something you have studied in Health and Wealth so be prepared for this.
You must write your answer in the form of a report. In this
you must not only explain why you have made your choice
but also discuss possible criticisms of your recommendation.
You must use all Sources in your answer.
TOP TIP
Write all the Sources
at the top of the
page; cross them off
when you use them
to keep a record.
The suggested layout should be followed to cover all parts.
Remember to use sub-headings throughout too, in order to give a full report look.
Finding the
arguments
The easiest way to identify arguments for and against the policy
you are talking about is to have a quick look at Sources A and B.
One will always be for the option and one against. Identify the
general themes/arguments each Source makes; once you do this
it not only gives you the topics for your PEEL paragraphs, it also
gives you direct quotes to use from each source.
If you follow the next page layout you need five arguments for
your recommendation; this is three ‘Arguments for’ and two
rebuttals to the ‘Likely criticisms’. The rebuttal points have to be
linked to the ‘Likely criticisms’ topics.
‘Coat hangers’
In order to include your own knowledge, think ‘coat hangers’.
This means that the Sources might mention an issue you know
more about; include this extra detail in your answer e.g. if the
Sources talk about “various means tested benefits”, give
examples of these (Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, etc).
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4. Suggested report layout
Section
1
Heading
Role/Remit
2
Recommendation
3
Reasons for
recommendation
Content
In this section you should outline who you are,
what your report is about, who it is for and the
evidence you will use. These details can all be
found in the Decision Making task instructions.
In this section simply state your exact
recommendation (no explanation needed).
In this section you need three reasons for your
recommendation (done in PEEL style).
In each PEEL you should aim to include your
argument, a quote from Source A/B to back it up,
a statistic from Source C, a piece of your own
knowledge and a ‘link back’ sentence.
Keep referring back to the report’s topic,
especially in the ‘link back’ where you should
state exactly how your plan will help.
4
Likely criticisms of
recommendation
Give each PEEL a sub-heading.
In this section you need two likely criticisms and
a rebuttal for each (PEERL paragraphs).
Each criticism section needs a PEEL paragraph
which surmises what your opponents will say
(follow the structure above) and then another
PEEL where you prove this wrong.
5
Conclusion
Give each criticism PEERL a sub-heading.
Re-state the purpose of your report, summarise
your arguments in favour, mention the likely
criticisms (and say you have disproved them).
Finish by re-stating your recommendation.
REMEMBER! Use all Sources and your own knowledge
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