Below is an ordered list from easiest to hardest, with concise reasons for each ranking and a short tip for answering that question well. I used the student scores/feedback and the cognitive demand of each question (literal retrieval, listing, synthesis, inference, clause‑accuracy) to decide difficulty.
- Q12 — "What may steward do with fish when king is away? (may sell fish)"
Why easiest: Single, literal retrieval from clause 65. Very low inference required. Student got full marks (2/2).
Tip: Quote the clause phrase exactly (e.g. "may sell fish when the king is away"). - Q14 — "Where should steward keep or build fishpond by Xmas? (build where 'practicable')"
Why: Direct recall of clause 21 wording — phrase 'where practicable' is explicit and repeated across items.
Tip: Use the exact clause language and note timing (by Christmas if asked). - Q15 — "If practicable what should steward do? (check for fishpond expansion)"
Why: Very similar to Q14 — direct restatement of clause 21. Minimal synthesis.
Tip: Mention "expand/build ponds where practicable" and briefly what 'practicable' means (feasible given water/land). - Q2 — "What must a steward do about ponds? (expand if practicable)"
Why: Straightforward clause recall (cl.21). Student answered correctly (2/2).
Tip: Use clause wording and one short reason why (to increase production/stock). - Q4 — "Which workmen do stewards keep? (skilled fishermen, netmakers, etc.)"
Why: Simple list retrieval from clause 45. Little interpretation required.
Tip: List a few named trades and, if space, one reason (specialised skills needed). - Q13 — "Which workers must steward have for Christmas and everyday needs? (netmaker, blacksmiths, shoemakers, fishermen)"
Why: Another list‑type recall question; slightly more applied because it ties to occasions (Christmas/everyday) but still low demand.
Tip: Match items to their functions (e.g. shoemakers for footwear) if asked for justification. - Q10 — "Important people for steward to keep on estate? (soapmakers, blacksmiths etc.)"
Why: List plus brief explanation of role. Requires one step of reasoning (link trade to estate need) but still basic.
Tip: Name the trade then immediately give its purpose (hygiene, defence, repairs). - Q3 — "When and what do stewards send to the king? (Christmas statements of incomes/costs)"
Why: Requires recalling both timing and content (multi‑part retrieval). Medium demand because you must list examples.
Tip: State timing (Christmas) then give 3–4 representative items from clause 62 (fish, eggs, pigs, smiths costs). - Q8 — "What do stewards report come Christmas, why? (list incomes: geese, firewood, turnips, smiths, fish)"
Why: Similar to Q3 — list retrieval plus showing purpose of the statement (accounting). Slightly higher because student must show why these items matter.
Tip: Explain briefly that the statement is for accounting/estate oversight. - Q9 — "What do stewards need to report by Christmas? (income from fishponds, eggs, wine, pigs, smiths)"
Why: Another listing task but thoroughness matters — more items required means higher demand than single‑item recall.
Tip: Prioritise the most prominent items and note that costs as well as income are reported. - Q16 — "What should steward include in report for king? (stock numbers, pond upkeep quality, cost of fish)"
Why: Requires specific kinds of details (quantities, quality indicators, costs) — moves from simple listing to specifying categories of data.
Tip: Mention numbers, condition/quality, and financial figures — that aligns with clause 62's accounting focus. - Q17 — "Why should steward keep fisherman instead of hiring for each catch? (efficiency, experience, reliability)"
Why: Requires short‑form reasoning/analysis rather than pure recall — higher cognitive demand though still straightforward.
Tip: Link practical benefits (efficiency, skill retention, reliability) back to estate management. - Q7 — "Where should ponds be kept or built, explain? (practicable, clean water, reliable workers)"
Why: Requires synthesis of conditions (water supply, labour, feasibility) — applied judgement rather than quote‑recall. Student did well (2/2) but the task asks for reasoning.
Tip: Give the clause wording and then 2–3 explicit site criteria (water, access, labour). - Q5 — "If you were a steward where would you place a pond? (answer: near a field crop — partial credit given)
Why: Asks for application (putting yourself in the steward's shoes) and requires justification — student answer was partial because reasons were not stated. Open‑ended placement increases difficulty.
Tip: Give a specific location and immediately justify it (water availability, integration with crops, labour access), reference cl.21. - Q11 — "When does steward sell fish and what action do they take after? (selling allowed but must restock)"
Why: Normative understanding of the clause (permission plus obligation) — one must state both the condition and the required follow‑up. Slightly harder than pure recall because of the rule/exception dynamic.
Tip: State the condition (king away allowed) and the required action (restock breeding stock) clearly; cite cl.65. - Q1 — "When can fish be sold and what must be done after?"
Why: Very similar to Q11 but ranked harder here because the student added an unsupported claim about proceeds going to "military supply" and omitted the clause about recording (cl.62). This question tests precision: you must not add unsupported allocations and should mention recording obligations if present — higher demand on careful clause reading.
Tip: Answer succinctly and avoid adding information unless the clause supports it. Include both restocking obligation (cl.65) and the need to record sales in the estate statement (cl.62) if the clause requires it. - Q6 — "Why should king care if garum is made with dirty hands? (hygiene/contamination concerns)"
Why hardest: Requires inference beyond a single sentence — connect hygiene to health risk, product reputation, and royal interest. The student had the right idea (contamination) but cited the wrong clause number; accuracy of citation and drawing implied consequences make this most demanding.
Tip: State the immediate risk (contamination — food safety), then the broader implications (health of consumers, reputation of royal supplies, legal/administrative responsibility). Check and cite the correct clause number.
Final note on ranking criteria:
- Questions that ask for a single phrase or a short list directly stated in a clause (literal retrieval) are easiest.
- Questions asking for several items, numbers, or the timing of reporting are medium difficulty (require thorough recall of clause 62 content).
- Application, justification, and inference questions (placing a pond, why keep staff, health/reputational risks) are hardest because they demand synthesis or implications beyond the clause wording.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a shortened study checklist grouping questions by clause (21, 45, 62, 65) so you can revise efficiently; or
- Turn this ranking into practice prompts with model answers and exact clause citations for each question.