GCSE History skills quiz

Two sets of twelve questions on historical skills and ideas rather than facts from any one topic. Choose an answer for each question, then press Check my answers. Nothing is saved and nothing leaves this page.

Set 1: sources, causation and chronology

Question 1. Which question best helps you judge a source’s provenance?

A. Who made it, when, and for what purpose? B. How long is it? C. Do I agree with it? D. Is it handwritten?

Question 2. A diary entry written on the day of an event is best described as:

A. A secondary source B. A primary source C. An interpretation D. A historiography

Question 3. A historian writes a book about a period 100 years later. Their account is:

A. A primary source B. Propaganda C. A secondary source D. Always unreliable

Question 4. A source is clearly biased. What is the most useful next step?

A. Reject it completely B. Ask what it can still show, for example about the author’s attitude C. Assume the opposite is true D. Ignore its date

Question 5. Which is a consequence rather than a cause?

A. A policy that was introduced before an event B. A change that followed from an event C. A long-term tension D. A trigger

Question 6. What is a trigger?

A. A deeper long-term cause B. A summary of an essay C. An event that sets off something already made likely D. A type of source

Question 7. Which best describes continuity?

A. A sudden change B. Something that stays much the same over time C. A type of interpretation D. A later view of the past

Question 8. Judging a medieval person by modern standards without allowing for their time risks:

A. Corroboration B. Anachronism C. Chronology D. Provenance

Question 9. Why can two historians offer different interpretations?

A. One must be dishonest B. They may ask different questions or emphasise different evidence C. History has no evidence D. Sources never survive

Question 10. Which sentence shows an explanation rather than a description?

A. The leader gave a speech in March. B. The speech mattered because it persuaded rivals to support the plan. C. Many people attended. D. The speech was long.

Question 11. Two independent sources agree on a detail. This is an example of:

A. Corroboration B. Bias C. Anachronism D. Revisionism

Question 12. A source is very reliable but does not mention the topic in the question. Its utility is probably:

A. High B. Low for that question C. Impossible to judge D. The same as any other source

Set 2: concepts, judgement and interpretation

Question 1. Which feature most clearly marks propaganda?

A. It always contains false statements B. It is selective or one-sided material aimed at influencing opinion C. It was written by a government D. It is always a poster

Question 2. In a democracy, citizens generally:

A. Have no say in choosing leaders B. Choose leaders directly or through representatives C. Are ruled by inheritance D. Cannot vote on any issue

Question 3. An empire is best described as:

A. A single town B. A group of territories under one ruler or state C. A kind of treaty D. A trade union

Question 4. What does "significance" ask you to judge?

A. The date of an event B. How much something mattered and for how long C. Whether a source is old D. The author’s name

Question 5. A turning point is:

A. A moment after which the direction of events clearly changes B. Any date in a timeline C. A type of source D. A kind of bias

Question 6. Which is the strongest way to end an essay that asks for a judgement?

A. A new topic B. A conclusion that follows from the weighing you did and answers the question set C. A list of dates D. Repeating the question only

Question 7. A historian re-examines an accepted view using new evidence. This is closest to:

A. Revisionism B. Censorship C. Alliance D. Referendum

Question 8. A referendum is:

A. A vote on a single question B. The overthrow of a government C. A formal treaty D. A ranking of power

Question 9. Which pair are best described as a long-term cause and a short-term cause?

A. A growing tension and the incident that set events off B. Two dates C. Two types of source D. Two interpretations

Question 10. You see a source whose author is unknown. What should you do?

A. Say it is useless B. Use content and context to judge what it can show, noting the gap C. Guess the author D. Skip the source

Question 11. Which is a good habit in a timed history answer?

A. Plan a line of argument first B. Write everything you know C. Avoid conclusions D. Copy the source out

Question 12. Totalitarian states are usually described as:

A. Seeking control over most areas of life B. Run by local councils C. Ruled by a single treaty D. Unable to use propaganda

Look up unfamiliar words in the GCSE History glossary, and see the revision guide for technique.

Part of the GCSE History revision set: the revision guide and glossary of key terms.

GCSE History skills quiz

Set 1: sources, causation and chronology

Set 2: concepts, judgement and interpretation

Sources

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