HISTORY-A-EXPLAINING-THE-MODERN-WORLD-J410 · Cambridge OCR GCSE (9–1)
HISTORY-A-EXPLAINING-THE-MODERN-WORLD-J410/21
British Depth Study - War and Society
History A Explaining the Modern World · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
4.2 / 5
210
240 min
Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: Appeasement & Treaty of Versailles
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
210
Duration
240 min
Session difficulty
4.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses.
Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J410/11 (Impact of Empire and Spitalfields)—the examination highly rewards candidates who can seamlessly synthesize precise historical evidence with complex second-order concepts such as significance, utility, and historiographical context.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge Retrieval
Weight: 9100%Historiographical Analysis
Weight: 778%Analysis (Causal
Weight: 556%Explanatio
Weight: 333%Sustained Argument
Weight: 222%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 79% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 72% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 66% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 57% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 48% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 40% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 29% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 17% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939
35 marks this session
The Cold War in Europe 1945–1961: Rising Tensions
30 marks this session
Economic impact of empire on Britain 1688–c.1730
25 marks this session
c.1750–c.2010 (War and British Society c.790 to c.2010)
22 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Economic impact of empire on Britain 1688–c.1730
Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939 (International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975)
Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939
The Cold War in Europe 1945–1961: Rising Tensions
Cold War confrontations and conflict 1954–1975 (International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975)
Establishing Communism in China 1950–1965
c.1750–c.2010 (War and British Society)
English expansion and its impact on the British Isles c.1688–c.1730 (The Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
J410/01: China 1950–1981 & International Relations 1918–1975: J410/10: War and British Society c.790 to c.2010: J410/11: Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730 with Urban Environments:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939
35 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe Cold War in Europe 1945–1961: Rising Tensions
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEconomic impact of empire on Britain 1688–c.1730
25 marks this session
Practise in Revuic.1750–c.2010 (War and British Society c.790 to c.2010)
22 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses.
- 2Message
Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J410/11 (Impact of Empire and Spitalfields)—the examination highly rewards candidates who can seamlessly synthesize precise historical evidence with complex second-order concepts such as significance, utility, and historiographical context.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
History A Explaining the Modern World
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses. Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J41
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses.
Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J410/11 (Impact of Empire and Spitalfields)—the examination highly rewards candidates who can seamlessly synthesize precise historical evidence with complex second-order concepts such as significance, utility, and historiographical context.
- Total marks
- 210
- Duration
- 240 min
- Session difficulty
- 4.2 / 5
Session analysis
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses. Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J410/11 (Impact of Empire and Spitalfields)—the examination highly rewards candidates who can seamlessly synthesize precise historical evidence with complex second-order concepts such as significance, utility, and historiographical context.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
J410/01: China 1950–1981 & International Relations 1918–1975: J410/10: War and British Society c.790 to c.2010: J410/11: Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730 with Urban Environments:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
42% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Interpretation essays & source synthesis
106·4·50%
Causal and impact explanation
48·5·23%
Source analysis & utility
30·3·14%
Short description / outline
16·4·8%
Spelling, punctuation and grammar
(SPaG)
10·2·5%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Establishing Communism in China 1950–196
585%85%
Cold War confrontations and conflict 1954–197
580%80%
The 1930s and the New Deal
75%75%
Paper analysis
The 2024 OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World) series continues to hold its position as one of the most rigorous and analytical GCSE history courses. Spanning three main papers—the J410/01 (International Relations with China), J410/10 (War and British Society), and J410/11 (Impact of Empire and Spitalfields)—the examination highly rewards candidates who can seamlessly synthesize precise historical evidence with complex second-order concepts such as significance, utility, and historiographical context.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h
- Total marks
- 50
- Weighting
- 25%
- Question types
- Short description (two events), Public response explanation, Significance explanation, Thematic essay
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.