7041 · AQA AS Level
7041/11
Paper 1
History · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
100
180 min
Crusader Consolidation & Angevin Governance
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
100
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment.
With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-grained textual evaluation.
While the essay questions offered accessible hooks on well-trodden topics like Thomas Becket and Crusader consolidation, the source-based questions in Section A required deep contextual knowledge to move past mere comprehension to high-level evaluation.
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.
Source-Based Evaluation
Weight: 7100%Interpretations E
Weight: 571%Historical Argumentation
Weight: 457%Contextual Accuracy
Weight: 229%
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 A
Approx. 74% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 63% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 53% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 43% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 33% 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.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.6
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1149
50 marks this session
Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1189
50 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
The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1149
Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1189
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Component 1A: The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1149: Component 2A: The Reign of Henry II, 1154–1189:
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
The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1149
50 marks this session
Practise in RevuiRoyal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1189
50 marks this session
Practise in RevuiHistory
Session priority from examiner report
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment.
- 2Message
With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-grained textual evaluation.
- 3Message
While the essay questions offered accessible hooks on well-trodden topics like Thomas Becket and Crusader consolidation, the source-based questions in Section A required deep contextual knowledge to move past mere comprehension to high-level evaluation.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
History
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment. With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-gr
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment.
With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-grained textual evaluation.
While the essay questions offered accessible hooks on well-trodden topics like Thomas Becket and Crusader consolidation, the source-based questions in Section A required deep contextual knowledge to move past mere comprehension to high-level evaluation.
- Total marks
- 100
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment. With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-grained textual evaluation. While the essay questions offered accessible hooks on well-trodden topics like Thomas Becket and Crusader consolidation, the source-based questions in Section A required deep contextual knowledge to move past mere comprehension to high-level evaluation.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Component 1A: The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1149: Component 2A: The Reign of Henry II, 1154–1189:
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.
75% 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.
Extract/Source Evaluation
(AO2/AO3)
50·2·50%
Analytical Essay
(AO1)
50·2·50%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Section B (Analytic
0.63 m/minTotal marks
50
Total time
80 min
Avg pace
0.63
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
The First Crusade and the Capture of Jerusalem
85%85%
Henry II and the Great Rebellion of 1173–117
480%80%
Difficulty Verdict
The Summer 2024 papers for both Component 1A (The Crusader States) and Component 2A (The Reign of Henry II) offered a balanced yet intellectually demanding assessment. With a difficulty rating of 3.4 out of 5, the exam succeeded in testing both broad historical trends and fine-grained textual evaluation. While the essay questions offered accessible hooks on well-trodden topics like Thomas Becket and Crusader consolidation, the source-based questions in Section A required deep contextual knowledge to move past mere comprehension to high-level evaluation.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Becket Trap: Many students writing on Q2 focused excessively on the narrative build-up of the dispute (1163–1164) rather than directly addressing why the conflict culminated in his actual death in 1170.
- Simplistic Motives: On the legal reforms essay (Q3), weaker essays presented a binary view of Henry II—either as a purely greedy king seeking judicial fines, or a selfless peacemaker. Top marks went to those who demonstrated how financial opportunism and the consolidation of royal authority went hand-in-hand.
- Crusader Geography & Diplomacy: Several candidates struggled to evaluate the role of Damascus, failing to recognize its long-standing alliance with Jerusalem after 1139, which complicated its status as the "greatest threat."
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.