A GCSE history describe two features question is worth 4 marks and tests knowledge recall: you name two accurate features of the topic given and add one specific supporting detail to each. It needs no analysis or judgement — just precise, exam-relevant facts, correctly structured into two clearly separated points.
What is a "describe two features" question testing?
This question type appears most often in the British depth study sections of Paper 2, though similar recall-style questions appear elsewhere too. It's designed to be the most straightforward question on the paper — a quick knowledge check before you move into longer explanation and essay questions.
Crucially, examiners are not asking you to explain causes, weigh evidence, or reach a judgement here. They want two separate, correct features of whatever is named in the question — for example, "Describe two features of the Peasants' Revolt" or "Describe two features of Puritan attitudes to religion." Each feature needs a specific supporting detail; a vague, general statement without detail will not score full marks.
How is the 4-mark question structured?
Mark schemes for this question type typically award marks in a simple, predictable pattern:
| Mark | What it rewards |
|---|---|
| 1 mark | Identifying a valid first feature |
| 1 mark | Adding accurate supporting detail to that first feature |
| 1 mark | Identifying a valid second, different feature |
| 1 mark | Adding accurate supporting detail to that second feature |
Two things trip students up most often: repeating the same feature in different words (which only scores once), and identifying a feature correctly but failing to add any specific supporting detail (which caps you at 2 marks instead of 4).
How do you answer a describe two features question?
Follow this four-step method every time you meet this question type, regardless of the topic named:
- Read the question and underline the exact topic. Note precisely what you're being asked to describe features of — the topic word matters, since an accurate feature of the wrong subject scores nothing.
- Recall two genuinely different features from memory. Avoid picking two features that are really the same point phrased differently; examiners are trained to spot this and will only credit it once.
- Write feature one, then immediately add its supporting detail. State the feature in a short sentence, then follow it straight away with a specific fact, name, date or number that proves you know it in detail.
- Repeat the same pattern for feature two, keeping the two points in clearly separate sentences or paragraphs so the examiner can identify each one instantly.
Sticking to this order — feature, then detail, feature, then detail — is the single most reliable way to guarantee all 4 marks are visible to the examiner.
What does a full-mark answer look like — a worked example?
Question: Describe two features of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. (4 marks)
Model answer:
"One feature of the Peasants' Revolt was anger at the poll tax. In 1381, a new poll tax charged every adult the same amount regardless of income, which peasants saw as deeply unfair and which triggered widespread refusal to pay.
A second feature was the march on London. Rebels led by Wat Tyler marched to London and met King Richard II at Smithfield, where Tyler was killed during the confrontation, ending the immediate uprising."
Notice the structure: each paragraph names one clear feature ("anger at the poll tax," "the march on London") and immediately backs it up with a specific, accurate detail (the year, a named individual, a named location). Nothing in this answer explains why the revolt happened or judges its significance — that level of analysis belongs to different question types, not this one.
What common mistakes cost marks on this question?
- Writing only one feature in great depth. Even a brilliant single point can only ever score a maximum of 2 marks on this question, because the mark scheme requires two separate features.
- Giving two features with no supporting detail. "The peasants were angry" and "they marched to London" are valid feature statements alone, but without dates, names or specifics attached, each is capped at 1 mark.
- Straying into explanation. Words like "because" or "this led to" often signal you've drifted from describing into explaining, which isn't what this question rewards — save that reasoning for longer questions later on the paper.
- Running out of time. Because it's worth only 4 marks, this question should take a few minutes at most; spending too long here leaves less time for higher-value essay questions.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend on a describe two features question in the exam?
Around 3 to 5 minutes is typical, since it's only worth 4 marks out of a much larger paper. Practising the four-step method until it feels automatic is what actually saves you time in the exam, not writing quickly under pressure.
Do I need to write in full paragraphs for this question?
No — clear, well-organised sentences are enough, and many students find two short paragraphs, one per feature, the easiest structure to mark themselves against. What matters is that each feature and its supporting detail are unmistakably separate from the other.
Can I lose marks for including an inaccurate feature?
An inaccurate feature simply won't be credited, but it doesn't cost you marks that a correct second feature would otherwise earn. That said, spending time on a feature you're unsure of instead of a stronger one you know well is the real risk, so choose your two features carefully before you start writing.
Is "describe two features" the same question type on every exam board?
The wording and mark allocation for this exact 4-mark format is most associated with AQA's GCSE History papers, though other boards use similarly structured short recall questions worth comparable marks. Always check your own exam board's specimen papers to confirm the exact phrasing and mark total you'll face.
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