To what extent did China’s First Five-Year Plan succeed in meeting its objectives?

Candidates will consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that China’s First Five-Year Plan succeeded in meeting its objectives. Results may extend beyond the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. The objectives of the Five-Year Plan included increasing economic growth with an emphasis on industrial development and the socialization of the economy. Assisted by the Soviets, these measures led to a rapid growth in industrial production and national income. Candidates may also refer to the agricultural initiatives such as the Agricultural Producer’s Cooperatives and their impact on grain production, as well as on the pace and extent of collectivization. Other relevant impacts may be addressed, for example the expansion of state ownership that was part of the socialization process, as well as the fact that agriculture production did not keep pace with industrial production. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

This was a very popular question. Candidates were required to consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that China's First Five-Year Plan succeeded in meeting its objectives. Responses varied greatly in quality. There were some strong responses that demonstrated an excellent understanding of the First Five Year Plan. However, a significant number of candidates wrote about the Second Five Year Plan (Great Leap forward) in-depth and consequently there were large sections of responses that were not relevant to the question.