Exam Technique: Thematic Study Overview

Change: From Four Humours to DNA; from bleeding to antibiotics; from miasma to germ theory; from fee-paying to NHS

Continuity: Some things persist — public health still depends on government; individuals still make key discoveries; technology still drives progress; health inequalities persist

Rate of change: Slow (medieval), faster (Renaissance), accelerating rapidly (1850–present)

Key turning points: Germ Theory (1861), Penicillin (1928/1944), DNA (1953), NHS (1948)

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🏫 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.