The First World War soon became a war of attrition.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] It was designed to avoid a two-front war.
2. [1] It was meant to work quickly.
3. [1] The plan was first to defeat France quickly before Russia could mobilise.
4. [1] Massive German forces would go through Belgium and attack the flanks and rear of the French defences.
5. [1] They assumed that Belgium would not put up any resistance.
6. [1] Paris would be encircled.
7. [1] Germany could then deal with Russia.
8. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
9. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason.
10. [5] This battle was important because the Germans planned to take Ypres and other Channel ports and thus control access to the North Sea. The battle ended in stalemate, and then winter brought the battle to an end. This established the stalemate on the Western Front that would last for years.
11. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain.
12. [1] Each side was trying to outflank the other in the race to the sea.
13. [1] The battle ended in stalemate and a mobile war was ended.
14. [1] The end of the battle led to both sides digging in and the creation of trench systems.
15. [1] It ended hopes of a quick war.
16. [1] The battle showed how the fighting on the Western Front would be for much of the rest of the war.
17. [1] It resulted in heavy casualties.
18. [1] It led to the end of the involvement of the BEF.
19. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
20. [1] It was important because it had an enormous effect on the rest of the First World War.
21. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'.
22. [10] Both factors were important. Haig thought that sending huge numbers of men in to attack would eventually defeat the Germans. This led to very high numbers of dead and wounded. Haig's tactics were doomed because of the Germans' very strong trench system, which meant it was very difficult to make any advance. This meant that both factors were important - Haig's tactics were wrong in the context of trench warfare. His commitment to attritional warfare resulted in minimal territorial gain.
23. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides.
24. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side.
25. [6] Trench warfare had a big effect on the battle. Both sides had dug in and created enormous trench systems which were very difficult to attack. They were defended by machine guns which could bring down many men as they attacked across No Man's Land. This explains why casualties were so high.
26. [6] OR Haig's tactics had a significant effect on the battle. He wanted to launch an enormous attack on the German positions. He planned to start with an artillery bombardment of the Germans and then launch the attack. Haig wanted a major advance, and this led him to spread the artillery attack too thinly over the whole German defence. This failed to destroy the German artillery and machine guns. This led to 19 000 men being killed on the first day of the Allied attack.
27. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain.
28. [1] The shelling did not destroy German defences.
29. [1] Haig sent thousands of men in the attack on the first day.
30. [1] Haig fought a war of attrition.
31. [1] Haig believed the German defences could be broken.
32. [1] The Germans had a strong defensive trench system.
33. [1] The trenches made it difficult for either side to advance.
34. [1] When the British shelling stopped the Germans knew an attack was coming.
35. [1] Many of the tanks simply broke down.
36. [1] The defences were stronger than the methods of attack.
37. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
38. [1] Both of these had an impact. The Battle of the Somme was an enormous battle, and the casualties were very high.