Understanding the Modern World - specimen paper 1B Germany, 1890-1945 - Democracy and dictatorship

Sep 5, 2026

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Specimen GCSE History paper for AQA: Paper 1 Understanding the modern world, focusing on 1B Germany, 1890–1945 (Democracy and dictatorship) and a wider world depth study section. The document sets test administration rules, available materials, time guidance, mark allocations, and SPaG assessment requirements. Section A uses Interpretation A (Albert Speer, 1960) and Interpretation B (Victor Schiff, 1950) plus other prompts to answer questions on Nazi appeal, leadership challenges before 1914, women under Nazi policy, and the Weimar Republic’s danger in 1919–1923. Section B instructs choosing one topic and answering four questions using provided sources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship

Interpretations A and B (Hitler’s appeal)

Problems for Kaiser Wilhelm II’s governments up to 1914

Nazi social policies and women

Weimar Republic danger, 1919–1923

Wider world depth studies

Choose one topic and answer four questions

Conflict and tension, 1894–1918

Sources A, B and C: opinions in Austria about Serbia

SPECIMEN MATERIAL GCSE HISTORY Paper 1 Understanding the modern world 1B Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy and dictatorship with wider world depth studies Specimen 2018 Morning Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes Materials For this paper you must have: • an AQA answer booklet. Instructions • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • Write the information required on the front of your answer booklet. The examining body for this paper is AQA. The paper reference is 8145/ 1B. • Do all rough work in the answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. • Answer all questions from Section A. • Answer all questions on your chosen topic for Section B. • Only answer the questions for the topic you have studied in Section B. Information • The maximum mark for this paper is 84. • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • Extended writing is tested in questions 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 in Section B. • Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) will be assessed in questions 10, 14,18, 22 and 26 in Section B. The marks for SPaG are shown below the mark allocation for each question. Advice • You are advised to spend 50 minutes on Section A and 50 minutes on Section B. SECTION A Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship Answer all six questions on page 3 and then turn to page 5 for Section B Read Interpretations A and B and answer the questions 01, 02 and 03 on page 3. Interpretation A Albert Speer, writing in his book , ‘Inside the Third Reich’written in 1960. He remembers hearing Adolf Hitler speak in January 1931 at Berlin University. Albert Speer went on to become the Nazi Minister for weapons. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison after the war and released in 1966. Everything about him was reasonable and ordinary looking; he was no shrieking fanatic in a uniform. He spoke passionately; it was hypnotic and persuasive. We were carried on a wave of enthusiasm. It swept away our doubts. Here, it seemed was hope, new ideals, a new understanding. The peril of communism could be stopped. Interpretation B Victor Schiff, in an article written in 1950 where he explains Hitler's rise to power. Schiff was a German journalist and socialist who worked as the Paris correspondent for the American ‘Daily Herald’ newspaper in the 1930s. If there is one point on which we all agree, it must be surely that Hitler owes his rise and ultimate victory to the World Economic Crisis. Hitler appealed to the despair of the unemployed workers; the young people who had no future; to the middle class businessman and craftsman heading for bankruptcy and to the farmers threatened with a fall in agricultural prices. 0 1 How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Hitler’s appeal to the people of Germany? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B. [4 marks] 0 2 Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation about Hitler’s appeal to the people of Germany? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge. [4 marks] 0 3 Which interpretation do you find more convincing about Hitler’s appeal to the people of Germany? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge. [8 marks] 0 4 Describe two problems faced by Kaiser Wilhelm II’s governments in ruling Germany up to 1914. [4 marks] 0 5 In what ways were the lives of women in Germany affected by Nazi social policies? Explain your answer. [8 marks] 0 6 Which of the following was the more important reason why the Weimar Republic was in danger in the years 1919–1923: • economic problems • political unrest? Explain your answer with reference to both reasons. [ 12 marks] Now turn to page 5 for Section B | | | | --- | --- | | | | | --- | --- | | | | | --- | --- | | | | | --- | --- | | | | | --- | --- | | | | | --- | --- | This page has been left intentionally blank SECTION B

FAQs

What are the key instructions for completing this AQA GCSE History specimen paper?

Use black ink or a black ball-point pen, write required information on the answer booklet front, and do rough work in the answer book. Answer all questions in Section A and then all questions on your chosen topic in Section B, using only that topic studied.

How should the Hitler appeal question be answered in Section A?

Question 01 asks how Interpretation B differs from Interpretation A about Hitler’s appeal, using both interpretations. Question 02 asks why the authors may interpret Hitler’s appeal differently, using interpretations plus contextual knowledge. Question 03 requires choosing which interpretation is more convincing and explaining with both interpretations plus contextual knowledge.

What does Section B require, and how do you select the correct questions?

Section B asks you to choose one topic and answer all four questions from that topic. The paper directs which numbered questions to answer based on which Conflict and tension time period you studied (e.g., 1894–1918 uses questions 07–10).

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Hazel