The First World War lasted longer than expected.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail
2. The German army attacked on 5 August.
3. They took 13 days to capture the town.
4. The Belgians defended Liege even though they were outnumbered.
5. The Belgians flooded land and blocked roads to slow down the German army.
6. The last fort fell to the Germans on 16 August.
7. The delay gave time for the BEF to arrive.
8. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
9. [4-5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason
10. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons
11. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
12. e.g. 'The Germans lost the battle because 6000 French reserve troops arrived from Paris in a fleet of 600 taxis. This added much needed reinforcements to the French 5th Army and BEF forces which were already fighting.'
13. e.g. '6000 French troops arrived.'
14. 'The BEF was fighting with the French and the combined force was much more effective.'
15. 'The French forces were 150 000 strong.'
16. 'The German forces were split.'
17. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far'
18. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
19. [4-6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides 5-6 marks
20. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes
21. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
22. e.g. 'The war did not end by Christmas 1914 because of the race to the sea. From September 1914 both sides moved north. The Germans wanted to capture the Channel ports and cut off supplies from Britain. As the 'race to the sea' went on the weather grew worse and both sides became exhausted. They began to dig defensive trenches. This meant the war of movement was over and a war of attrition began.'
23. OR e.g. 'The Russian army mobilised much more quickly that the Germans expected. This meant they had to send two army corps to the Eastern Front. This in turn meant the Germans found it difficult to defeat the French and the BEF as the two sides were more evenly matched.'
24. e.g. 'The halting and failure of the Schlieffen Plan.'
25. 'The Battle of the Marne ended open warfare.'
26. 'Neither side could encircle the other to entrap the other's armies.'
27. 'Both sides were evenly matched.'
28. 'Russia mobilised more quickly than expected.'
29. 'The machine gun kept troops pinned down in their trenches.'
30. 'Trenches developed as a defensive tactic.'