Does anyone teaching Pre-U know where I can find a bank of past exam papers? I have signed up to the Pre-U forum but can't find much on there when using the search function.
I am teaching the founding of the PRC and so far can only find 2 essay questions from previous exams, 1) assessing the importance of the USSR in early years of the PRC, and 2) discussing how the CCP exerted political control during the early years of the PRC.
It would be so helpful to see other example essays to give me an idea of what I might could be teaching towards.
On another note, regarding essay technique for the English-language essays, the teacher support pack suggests that candidates should not state their own view clearly in the introduction in order to maintain a sense of mystery and then build up the argument before finally revealing and emphasising their main viewpoint at the very end of the conclusion, even in the last sentence.
While this is certainly a great essay style, I am interested in whether you think examiners will be flexible and treat
every essay on its own merits; most history departments in secondary schools as far as I gather do stress that pupils should state their opinion at the outset and use that as a point of reference throughout their essays to keep them focussed, which can be very helpful for secondary-level pupils who may not yet be fully-fledged PhD holders, and can still lead to a very logical, cogent, coherent argument.
Any views would be extremely welcome.