2025
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 1Download
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the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
2025 OCR AS Level History A
Y253/01 The Cold War in Europe 1941–1995
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 19 May 2025 – Afternoon
AS Level History A
Y253/01 The Cold War in Europe 1941–1995
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 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.
• Answer either Question 1 or Question 2 in Section A. Answer Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [F/506/4350] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW) 351072/1 Turn over
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
,2025
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 2Download
Download
the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
2
Section A
Answer Question 1 or Question 2.
1* How important were atomic weapons in the development of the Cold War during the period from 1946
to 1955? [30]
2* ‘Economic problems in the USSR and Eastern Europe were the main reason for the end of the Cold
War.’
How far do you agree? [30]
© OCR 2025 Y253/01 Jun25
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
, 2025
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 3Download
Download
the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
3
Section B
3 Read the interpretation and answer the question that follows.
© Richard Brown and Christopher Daniels, Twentieth Century Europe, p.108, Macmillan, 1981. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of this interpretation of the origins of the Cold War during the
period from 1941 to 1945, making reference to other interpretations you have studied. [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y253/01 Jun25
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 1Download
Download
the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
2025 OCR AS Level History A
Y253/01 The Cold War in Europe 1941–1995
Verified Question paper with Marking Scheme Attached
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 19 May 2025 – Afternoon
AS Level History A
Y253/01 The Cold War in Europe 1941–1995
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 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.
• Answer either Question 1 or Question 2 in Section A. Answer Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [F/506/4350] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW) 351072/1 Turn over
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
,2025
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 2Download
Download
the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
2
Section A
Answer Question 1 or Question 2.
1* How important were atomic weapons in the development of the Cold War during the period from 1946
to 1955? [30]
2* ‘Economic problems in the USSR and Eastern Europe were the main reason for the end of the Cold
War.’
How far do you agree? [30]
© OCR 2025 Y253/01 Jun25
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
, 2025
2025
2025OCR
OCR
OCRAS
AS
ASLevel
Level
LevelHistory
History
HistoryAA
AY253-01
Y253-01
Y253-01The
The
TheCold
Cold
ColdWar
War
Warinin
inEurope
Europe
Europe1941–1995
1941–1995
1941–1995Verified
Verified
VerifiedQuestion
Question
Questionpaper
paper
paperwith
with
withMarking
Marking
MarkingScheme
Scheme
SchemeAttached
Attached
Attached---converted.pdf
converted.pdf
converted.pdf
Page 3Download
Download
the 2025the
OCR
2025
A/AS
OCRLevel
A/ASquestion
Level question
paper, including
paper, including
the complete
the complete
Question
Question
Paper with
Paper
Exam-Ready
with Exam-Ready
Examiner
Examiner
Mark Scheme
Mark Scheme
3
Section B
3 Read the interpretation and answer the question that follows.
© Richard Brown and Christopher Daniels, Twentieth Century Europe, p.108, Macmillan, 1981. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of this interpretation of the origins of the Cold War during the
period from 1941 to 1945, making reference to other interpretations you have studied. [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y253/01 Jun25
2025 OCR
Download
AS Level
2025
theHistory
2025
OCR OCR
AS
A Y253-01
Level
A/ASHistory
Level
The Cold
A
question
Y253-01
War paper,
inThe
Europe
Cold
including
1941–1995
War the
in Europe
complete
Verified
1941–1995
Question
Question
Paper
Verified
paper
with
with
Question
Exam-Ready
Marking
paper
Scheme
Examiner
with Marking
Attached.pdf
Mark
Scheme
Scheme Attached
2025
2025 OCR
OCR AS
AS Level
Level History
History A
A Y253-01
Y253-01 The
The Cold
Cold War
War in
in Europe
Europe 1941–1995
1941–1995 Verified
Verified Question
Question paper
paper with
with Marking
Marking Scheme
Scheme Attached
Attached -- converted.pdf
converted.pdf
4/28/2026
