How do I read and interpret questions about the end of the Cold War in Europe?

Questions about the end of the Cold War, although they might seem to be about the same event, can vary significantly due to the wording of the question.

So as an example, read and understand this question: "What role did the notion of a “balance of power” play in the collapse of Soviet Communism?"

This question is asking about:

1. The collapse of Soviet communism (why did communism fail in the Soviet 'sphere of influence'). It is not asking what caused the decline of hostilities between the USSR and USA, or the collapse of the USSR as a nation state.

2. The idea of the "Balance of Power", which is a historiographical narrative - not necessarily a historical fact. So in some regard this question asks for an assessment of the validity of using the 'balance of power' narrative to explain the event (do not just take this narrative for fact). Also, it would help to give a brief interpretation of the 'balance of power' - i.e. (power over where/what? and balance between whom?).

From there, you must be flexible with the factors you have revised (say, economic decline, Gorbachev's reforms, and unrest in Eastern Europe). One approach would be to assume that together these factors constitute the reason for the decline of Soviet Communism, and then run through each factor evaluating the role that 'balance of power' had in determining these factors. For example, was it Gorbachev's long-held intention to advocate diplomacy over military aggression towards the US, or was this a reaction to a shifting balance of military power in favour of the US?

This is quite a tricky question, especially during a pressurised exam situation when you might have revised certain ways of answering a particular question. However, it emphasises the need to be adaptable in your preparation and think critically on the spot if you want to get top grades!