What age/year would you think this exam question was intended for?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

One map, showing Sparta, the topography (is that the right word?) and the nearby towns. Two paragraphs, explaining which of the nearby towns Sparta has good relations with, which it doesn't get on with and why, and a bit of history about wars. Set in ancient times. Sparta and ancient Greece not previously studied before, so coming at the paper cold.

The question is "Explain how Sparta's physical and political geography contributed to its military victories."

I suspect my dyslexic son wouldn't have understood the question at that age. My daughter would have been fine. He's been into greek and roman stuff since starting school though so may have been OK, although the concept of "political geography" may have been beyond him.

My point was, largely, that this was a topic not previously studied before. So no knowledge of Sparta/ancient Greece. I would imagine any child who had studied the ancient Greeks for a term would have been able to have a decent stab at it. If it was a completely unknown place/town would your primary age children have been able to answer it? It was given to them to see how they coped and if they could analyse at a basic level.

As I said, not in UK, and studying the Vikings at the moment!

Depends on which level your going on?

Year 8/9 secondary school.