Exam Technique: Continuity vs Change

Part of The Great Plague · Section 4 of 13

Exam FocusUnit: Medicine Through TimeGCSE

For comparison questions: The Great Plague shows CONTINUITY in medical ideas but CHANGE in government response.

  • Continuity: Same causes believed (miasma), same treatments used (bleeding), same religious responses (prayer)
  • Change: More organised government action, record-keeping, attempts at public health measures
  • Significance: Government role in public health was growing — a trend that would accelerate in 19th century

    • 🏫 Edexcel 1HI0/10 — Medicine in Britain (Paper 1, Option 1HI0/10): This topic is tested on Paper 1 alongside the Historic Environment (Western Front). Edexcel question types differ from AQA:

    • "Describe two features of..." (4 marks) — Identify a feature (1 mark) + supporting detail (1 mark). Write two separate PEEL-style paragraphs. No evaluation needed.
    • "Explain why..." (12 marks) — Explain two or three reasons with specific evidence. Level 3 (7–9 marks) requires explained reasons; Level 4 (10–12 marks) requires explanation showing how factors connect or reinforce each other.
    • "How far do you agree that..." (16 marks + 4 SPaG) — Extended writing. Two sides: evidence FOR the statement, evidence AGAINST. Reach a supported judgement. Level 4 (13–16 marks) requires a consistently argued judgement. SPaG marks reward accurate spelling of key historical terms.

    This exam focus covers Exam Technique: Continuity vs Change within The Great Plague for GCSE History. Revise The Great Plague in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 4 of 13 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.

    Practice questions for The Great Plague

    Approximately how many people died in the Great Plague in London in 1665?

    • A. 10,000
    • B. 100,000
    • C. 500,000
    • D. 2 million
    1 markfoundation

    What were Bills of Mortality introduced during the Great Plague of 1665?

    • A. Laws banning public gatherings
    • B. Fines imposed on households that broke quarantine
    • C. Weekly published counts of deaths from plague
    • D. Orders to kill dogs and cats in infected areas
    1 markfoundation

    Quick recall flashcards

    What were Bills of Mortality?
    Weekly death counts published by the government — first systematic disease tracking
    What were the Plague Orders?
    Government rules during the Great Plague: infected houses marked with a red cross, residents locked inside for 40 days, watchmen posted to enforce quarantine

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    Government Measures 1665

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    Why Did the Great Plague Kill 100,000 Londoners Despite 300 Years of Medical "Progress"?

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