OCRGCSE103 resources

OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE History B SHP (J411) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Vikings, Normans, Elizabethans, Nazi rule and more. 122 resources.

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103 of 103 resources — page 1 of 5

June 2023

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050 with Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519–1535

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050 with living under Nazi rule, 1933–1945

Question Paper
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050 with The First Crusade, c.1070–1100

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present with Britain in peace and war, 1900-1918

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present with The Elizabethans, 1580–1603

Question Paper

History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Mark scheme – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050 with Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519–1535

Mark Scheme

History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Mark scheme – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050 with living under Nazi rule, 1933–1945

Mark Scheme

June 2022

4 files
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050

Question Paper

History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Mark scheme – Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050

Mark Scheme
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Crime and punishment, c.1250 to present

Question Paper

November 2021

5 files
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050

Question Paper
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Britain in peace and war 1900–1918

Question Paper

History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Mark scheme – Viking expansion, c.750–c.1050

Mark Scheme
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – Crime and punishment, c.1250 to present

Question Paper
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Question paper – The Elizabethans, 1580–1603

Question Paper

No date

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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 with Living under Nazi rule, 1933-1945

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 with The First Crusade, c.1070-1100

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050 with Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050 with Living under Nazi rule, 1933-1945

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050 with The First Crusade, c.1070-1100

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The making of America, 1789-1900 with Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The making of America, 1789-1900 with Living under Nazi rule, 1933-1945

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The making of America, 1789-1900 with The First Crusade, c.1070-1100

Sample Assessment Materials
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History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) – The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 with Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535

Sample Assessment Materials

OCR History B SHP (J411): Vikings to Nazis — the Schools History Project Approach to the Past

OCR GCSE History B: Schools History Project (J411) takes its name from the influential Schools History Project, which pioneered the skills-based approach to history teaching in the UK. The specification emphasises historical enquiry, source skills, and the ability to construct sustained arguments — making it one of the most analytically demanding GCSE history courses. Paper 1 combines a thematic survey of British history with a focused depth study, offering three thematic options spanning c.1250 to the present: Crime and Punishment, Migrants to Britain, or The People's Health. Each thematic study is paired with a British depth study — The Elizabethans 1580–1603, The Norman Conquest 1065–1087, or Britain in Peace and War 1900–1918. Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 40% of the grade. Paper 2, the world period study with a world depth study, pairs a long period study (Viking Expansion c.750–c.1050, The Making of America 1789–1900, or The Mughal Empire 1526–1707) with a depth study (The First Crusade c.1070–1100, Living Under Nazi Rule 1933–1945, or Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest 1519–1535). Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 40%. The remaining 20% comes from the History Around Us NEA. With 122 resources covering numerous option combinations, the collection supports targeted revision for every pairing the specification offers.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1

British Thematic Study and British Depth Study

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 40% of grade
British thematic study — Crime and Punishment, Migrants to Britain, or People's HealthBritish depth study — Elizabethans, Norman Conquest, or Britain 1900–1918Source and interpretation analysis
Paper 2

World Period Study and World Depth Study

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 40% of grade
World period study — Viking Expansion, Making of America, or Mughal EmpireWorld depth study — First Crusade, Living Under Nazi Rule, or AztecsExtended analytical and evaluative writing

Key Information

Exam BoardOCR
Specification CodeJ411
QualificationGCSE
Grading Scale9–1
Assessment Type2 written exams (80%) + NEA (20%)
TiersNone (single tier)
Number Of Papers2 (plus NEA)
Exam Duration1 hour 45 minutes per paper
Total Marks160 (80 per paper) + NEA
Calculator StatusNot applicable
Total Resources122

Key Topics in History B (Schools History Project) (9-1)

Topics you need to know

Crime and punishment across 750 years of British historyMigration patterns and their impact on BritainPublic health — causes, treatments and reformViking expansion, settlement and legacyLiving under Nazi rule — propaganda, persecution and resistanceSource skills — utility, reliability and interpretation

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
DescribeGive an account of the main features, events or characteristics
ExplainGive developed reasons, supported by specific historical knowledge
How usefulEvaluate a source as evidence, considering content, origin and purpose
How far do you agreeWeigh evidence for and against a statement, reaching a substantiated judgement
Write an accountNarrate events analytically, explaining their significance and connections
CompareIdentify similarities and differences between two periods, events or interpretations

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
Grade 977–87%
Grade 866–76%
Grade 755–65%
Grade 645–54%
Grade 536–44%
Grade 427–35%
Grade 319–26%
Grade 211–18%
Grade 1~5–10%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across written papers (excluding NEA). Actual boundaries vary by series — check OCR's website.

Crime, Vikings, and the Elizabethans: Structuring Your SHP Revision Across Option Pairs

The SHP specification rewards students who can see connections between their thematic study and depth study. If you study Crime and Punishment with The Norman Conquest, revise how Norman rule affected the legal system — this overlap earns extra marks when you can weave depth-study knowledge into thematic answers. For the thematic study, create a revision grid with three columns: Medieval period, Early Modern period, and Modern period. For each row (e.g., types of crime, punishments, law enforcement), note how things changed and — critically — what caused the change. The exam requires you to explain change over time, not just describe what happened at each stage. The world period study and depth study in Paper 2 require contrasting revision approaches. The period study demands broad chronological knowledge — key dates, turning points, and trends across 100–200 years. The depth study demands detailed knowledge of a much shorter period — specific individuals, events, and their significance. Past papers for this specification come in many option combinations. Make sure you are practising the correct combination — a paper on 'Crime and Punishment with The Elizabethans' contains different depth-study questions from 'Crime and Punishment with The Norman Conquest'. Check the paper's full title before you begin.

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