'The Spanish Armada was the greatest threat to Elizabeth I's reign.' How far do you agree with this statement?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme. The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Question Number 7(a)
2. Level 1 (1-2 marks): Simple statements about the Armada.
3. Level 2 (3-5 marks): Describes the Armada and its potential threat.
4. Level 3 (6-8 marks): Explains various aspects of the Armada as a threat (e.g., invasion, religious war, foreign domination, loss of prestige).
5. Level 4 (9-10 marks): Detailed and analytical explanation of the Armada's multi-faceted threat, showing depth of understanding of its potential consequences for Elizabeth's reign.
6. Question Number 7(b)
7. Level 1 (1-3 marks): Simple agreement/disagreement.
8. Level 2 (4-6 marks): Explains factors supporting/challenging the statement with limited detail.
9. Level 3 (7-9 marks): Balanced explanation, discussing the Armada's threat and other threats (e.g., Mary Queen of Scots, religious challenges, succession, economic issues), with some evaluation.
10. Level 4 (10-12 marks): Detailed, analytical, and well-structured argument directly addressing 'how far', with sustained evaluation of the Armada's significance relative to other major threats throughout Elizabeth's reign.