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Xerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC: OCR GCSE Ancient History questions

OCR GCSE Ancient History past-paper questions on Xerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC, 2021–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.

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280 questions

  1. Q3

    June 2025 · The Persian Empire

    10 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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  2. Q4

    June 2025 · The Persian Empire

    15 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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  3. Q3

    June 2024 · The Persian Empire

    10 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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  4. Q4

    June 2024 · The Persian Empire

    15 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BCThe reign of Darius the Great, 522–486 BC
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  5. Q2

    June 2023 · The Persian Empire

    6 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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  6. Q1(c)

    June 2022 · The Persian Empire

    1 markXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BCThe reign of Darius the Great, 522–486 BC
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  7. Q2

    June 2022 · The Persian Empire

    6 marksXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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  8. Q1(d)

    November 2021 · The Persian Empire

    1 markXerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC
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All 8 questions on Xerxes I and the Greeks, 486–465 BC, as a list
  1. June 2025, The Persian Empire, Q3 (10 marks): Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the tactics of the Greeks that helped them to win the battle of Salamis? [10] Passa
  2. June 2025, The Persian Empire, Q4 (15 marks): Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, explain why Xerxes was unable to defeat the Greeks. [15] Passage A A PERSIAN MESSENGER gives an account of
  3. June 2024, The Persian Empire, Q3 (10 marks): Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the way that Xerxes saw himself as King of Persia? [10] Passage A [1-6] A great god
  4. June 2024, The Persian Empire, Q4 (15 marks): Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, how significant were the actions of the previous Persian kings in influencing the activities of Xerxes? [15
  5. June 2023, The Persian Empire, Q2 (6 marks): Outline the main preparations made by Xerxes for his invasion of Greece. [6]
  6. June 2022, The Persian Empire, Q1(c) (1 mark): Name one battle fought between Greeks and Persians between 490 and 479 BC. [1]
  7. June 2022, The Persian Empire, Q2 (6 marks): Outline the main features of the Battle of Salamis. [6]
  8. November 2021, The Persian Empire, Q1(d) (1 mark): Name the former Spartan king who acted as adviser to both Darius and Xerxes. [1]

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