Four past Q types with the AO1/AO2/AO3 split, mark scheme bullets, and a default line of argument. Plus a match-the-evidence quiz at the end.
Question 1
Evaluate the view that the use of referendums has damaged UK democracy. P1 2022 / typical Q2(a) 30-mark.
Mark scheme - FOR the view
FOR: referendums force binary choices on multi-faceted issues; turnout still excludes 30%+; reduce MPs to party-line voters; campaign quality (2016) poor; outcome can bind future Parliaments.
Mark scheme - AGAINST the view
AGAINST: 2016 EU 72% turnout - higher than any GE in this period; 2014 IndyRef 84.6% - the highest ever; settled question decisively (AV 2011); the 2014 IndyRef-style citizens-assembly add-on improves them.
Default line of argument
LoA: Referendums have NOT damaged UK democracy - they have widened it where representative politics was failing. The 2014 IndyRef and 2011 AV vote settled questions Parliament had refused to settle. The 2016 EU vote produced harder politics but the cause was the question (binary on a complex issue) not the device.
Question 2
Evaluate the view that the UK has a participation crisis. P1 typical Q2(a) 30-mark.
Mark scheme - FOR the view
FOR: 2024 turnout 60% (lowest since 2001); party membership down (~1.5% of electorate); voter dealignment; safe-seat apathy.
Mark scheme - AGAINST the view
AGAINST: 2014 IndyRef 84.6% and 2016 EU 72% show high turnout when the stakes are clear; 38 Degrees mobilises millions; e-petitions; pressure-group memberships RSPB/National Trust dwarf parties; participation has shifted form not vanished.
Default line of argument
LoA: Yes - but it is a crisis of representative-channel participation, not participation overall. Citizens are still active through petitions, pressure groups and referendums. The crisis is specifically that the formal channels (parties, GE voting) no longer hold them.
Question 3
Evaluate the view that votes at 16 would strengthen UK democracy. P1 typical 30-mark.
Mark scheme - FOR the view
FOR: Scotland (2014+) and Wales (2021+) already use 16; engagement evidence shows 16-17s vote at higher rates than 18-24s when first eligible; civic-education tie-in; consistent with other rights at 16.
Mark scheme - AGAINST the view
AGAINST: maturity / political knowledge weak at 16; turnout among first-time voters drops sharply after the first election; would not fix the deeper participation problem; 18 is the standard rights age in many domains.
Default line of argument
LoA: Votes at 16 would strengthen UK democracy modestly but durably. The Scottish and Welsh evidence shows it works. The standard counter-arguments do not survive contact with the actual figures.
Question 4
Evaluate the view that the UK has effective democracy. P1 2024 / typical Q2(a) 30-mark.
Mark scheme - FOR the view
FOR: regular free elections; rule of law and judicial independence; devolution since 1998; recall + e-petitions + citizens-assembly experiments; vibrant pressure-group ecosystem (pluralism case).
Mark scheme - AGAINST the view
AGAINST: democratic deficit (Lords, FPTP distortion, party-controlled selection); 2024 turnout 60%; lobbying scandals; 2024 result - Labour 411 seats on 33.7% of the vote - majoritarian distortion at full force.
Default line of argument
LoA: The UK has effective but uneven democracy. Strong on rule of law and free elections, weak on equal-influence and accountable Lords. The deficit is real but the headline 'crisis' framing overstates it.
Match the evidence to the question
Match each headline piece of evidence to the past Q it does the most work for. Helps stop you wasting strong evidence on the wrong question.
Evidence-to-question matcher
Four scenarios.
Question 1 of 0
Score: 0
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