2025 OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)
J411/11; The People’s Health, c.1250 to present with
The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087.
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined.
Thursday 5 June 2025 – Morning
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/11 The People’s Health, c.1250 to present with The
Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers
must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Section A – The People’s Health, c.1250 to present: Answer Questions 1(a–c), 2, 3 and
either Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087: Answer Questions 6(a–b) and 7, and
either Question 8 or Question 9.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
The People’s Health, c.1250 to present
Answer Questions 1(a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of how early modern towns tried to improve public health in their local areas
between 1500 and 1750. [1]
(b) Name one way in which people in towns obtained their water between 1750 and 1900. [1]
(c) Name one person whose work during the 1900s had a positive effect on public health. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses responses to outbreaks of plague during the
period 1348 (the Black Death) to c.1670.
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why did the gin craze become a significant public health issue during the period 1660 to
1751?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘Government action was not effective in improving public health between 1750
and 1900.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Since c.1900, changes in living conditions and lifestyles in Britain have
improved people’s health.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR J411/11
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
Answer Questions 6(a–b) and 7.
6
(a) In Interpretation A, the podcaster gives us a negative impression of the role of knights in
Norman culture.
Identify and explain one way in which he does this. [3]
Interpretation A
An extract from ‘The British History Podcast’ by Jamie Jeffers. The podcast was made
recently.
Before 1066, in Anglo-Saxon England, the sons of noblemen were expected to be
educated and literate. They took an interest in culture and the arts. They were
expected to take an interest in the law and in international events.
Anglo-Saxon England was sheltered from the culture of knights. This culture was
at the centre of Norman society and mainly focused on horsemanship and war.
Culturally, this was a disaster. A boy who trained as a Norman knight had no book
learning. After fifteen or twenty years of education he would know how to do only
two things: hunt and fight. He had no other useful skills, and looked down upon
those who did.
Craftsmanship, education and the arts did not matter to Norman knights. Their
self-worth and identity rested entirely on their ability to hand out violence. The
culture of knights was brutish and barbaric. It created a flood of illiterate,
uncultured young men who were desperate for an opportunity to be violent.
(b) If you were asked to do further research on one aspect of Interpretation A,
what would you choose to investigate?
Explain how this would help us to analyse and understand Normandy before 1066. [5]
© OCR J411/11 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
7 Interpretations B and C both focus on how William the Conqueror dealt with his opponents.
How far do they differ and what might explain any differences? [12]
Interpretation B
An extract from a recent TV documentary called ‘Rebellion in the North’. It was part
of a series of programmes which celebrated the rebels who challenged the
treatment of the North of England across different periods of history.
Adapted from access.historyhit.com/rebellion-in-the-north/season:1/videos/the-harrying-of-the-north. Item removed due to third party
copyright restrictions.
Interpretation C
An extract from a biography of William the Conqueror by historian Marc Morris,
published in 2016. This extract is taken from the concluding chapter which looked
back over the rest of the book.
William has been seen by some as a peace-loving ruler, and by others as an
oppressive ruler. The truth lies somewhere between the two.
Whilst harrying was standard practice in medieval warfare, the scale of the
destruction brought about by the Harrying of the North had such terrible
consequences that even writers at the time thought it went too far. Nevertheless,
despite their views on the Harrying of the North, not all Anglo-Saxon writers
judged William’s rule to be cruel overall.
Of course, by present standards, some of the punishments William dished out
were savage – his mutilation and blinding of some Saxon rebels, for example,
would today be regarded as unacceptable. However, the eleventh century was a
cruel time. In Anglo-Saxon England, for example, disobedient slaves were stoned
or burned to death. Therefore, we cannot be sure whether all of William’s
© OCR J411/11
2025 Jun25
J411/11; The People’s Health, c.1250 to present with
The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087.
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined.
Thursday 5 June 2025 – Morning
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/11 The People’s Health, c.1250 to present with The
Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers
must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Section A – The People’s Health, c.1250 to present: Answer Questions 1(a–c), 2, 3 and
either Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087: Answer Questions 6(a–b) and 7, and
either Question 8 or Question 9.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
The People’s Health, c.1250 to present
Answer Questions 1(a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of how early modern towns tried to improve public health in their local areas
between 1500 and 1750. [1]
(b) Name one way in which people in towns obtained their water between 1750 and 1900. [1]
(c) Name one person whose work during the 1900s had a positive effect on public health. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses responses to outbreaks of plague during the
period 1348 (the Black Death) to c.1670.
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why did the gin craze become a significant public health issue during the period 1660 to
1751?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘Government action was not effective in improving public health between 1750
and 1900.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Since c.1900, changes in living conditions and lifestyles in Britain have
improved people’s health.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR J411/11
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
Answer Questions 6(a–b) and 7.
6
(a) In Interpretation A, the podcaster gives us a negative impression of the role of knights in
Norman culture.
Identify and explain one way in which he does this. [3]
Interpretation A
An extract from ‘The British History Podcast’ by Jamie Jeffers. The podcast was made
recently.
Before 1066, in Anglo-Saxon England, the sons of noblemen were expected to be
educated and literate. They took an interest in culture and the arts. They were
expected to take an interest in the law and in international events.
Anglo-Saxon England was sheltered from the culture of knights. This culture was
at the centre of Norman society and mainly focused on horsemanship and war.
Culturally, this was a disaster. A boy who trained as a Norman knight had no book
learning. After fifteen or twenty years of education he would know how to do only
two things: hunt and fight. He had no other useful skills, and looked down upon
those who did.
Craftsmanship, education and the arts did not matter to Norman knights. Their
self-worth and identity rested entirely on their ability to hand out violence. The
culture of knights was brutish and barbaric. It created a flood of illiterate,
uncultured young men who were desperate for an opportunity to be violent.
(b) If you were asked to do further research on one aspect of Interpretation A,
what would you choose to investigate?
Explain how this would help us to analyse and understand Normandy before 1066. [5]
© OCR J411/11 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
7 Interpretations B and C both focus on how William the Conqueror dealt with his opponents.
How far do they differ and what might explain any differences? [12]
Interpretation B
An extract from a recent TV documentary called ‘Rebellion in the North’. It was part
of a series of programmes which celebrated the rebels who challenged the
treatment of the North of England across different periods of history.
Adapted from access.historyhit.com/rebellion-in-the-north/season:1/videos/the-harrying-of-the-north. Item removed due to third party
copyright restrictions.
Interpretation C
An extract from a biography of William the Conqueror by historian Marc Morris,
published in 2016. This extract is taken from the concluding chapter which looked
back over the rest of the book.
William has been seen by some as a peace-loving ruler, and by others as an
oppressive ruler. The truth lies somewhere between the two.
Whilst harrying was standard practice in medieval warfare, the scale of the
destruction brought about by the Harrying of the North had such terrible
consequences that even writers at the time thought it went too far. Nevertheless,
despite their views on the Harrying of the North, not all Anglo-Saxon writers
judged William’s rule to be cruel overall.
Of course, by present standards, some of the punishments William dished out
were savage – his mutilation and blinding of some Saxon rebels, for example,
would today be regarded as unacceptable. However, the eleventh century was a
cruel time. In Anglo-Saxon England, for example, disobedient slaves were stoned
or burned to death. Therefore, we cannot be sure whether all of William’s
© OCR J411/11
2025 Jun25
