What is the BEST way to Study for QCAA Modern History Exam?

Modern History exam is known to be quite challenging, so it is alright if you are slightly intimidated by it. But you do not have to be. This guide will help you find the best method to study for this exam, and get you that high 90 score.

What is the Modern History Exam?

Referenced from the QCAA syllabus, the external examination:

• Consists of questions relating to the selected Unit 4 topic and aspect of the topic for the external assessment;
• Requires students to respond using paragraphs based on evidence from the historical sources provided.

You will be given:

• Up to 12 unseen sources
• 15 minutes of planning time
• 2 hours of working time

You are not allowed to bring in any notes, quotes or extra materials outside of your pens.

How to Start Studying?

It is pivotal to understand the topic, and period the exam covers. This will give you a deeper understanding of the historical context. Here are the revision techniques I utilised to better understand the historical context of a specific topic:

• Watch online recap videos of the different topics. This can help you contextualise the topic, and develop different perspectives on that topic and/or overarching question.
• Take a look at the “Senior Modern History for Queensland” Cambridge book. It has an immense number of resources, information and activities to help you improve your historical understanding.
• Compile a list of key terms and individuals.
• Draw up a timeline of the period and important events that occurred. This gives you a quick summary, and contextualises those events.

How to Answer Exam Questions?

Read each question carefully. There are specific command words that will highlight what the question is asking of you (e.g 1 similarity and 2 differences), and what sources to refer to.

There are 5 criteria used to mark your answers:

1. Comprehend

• Comprehending is assessed across the paper.
• It requires you to identify, explain and/or use relevant terms or concepts in a historical context with an understanding of relevant issues from sources.
• This is where your list of key terms, events and individuals will come in handy.

2. Analyse

• This section requires you to analyse features of evidence in historical sources.
• The examiner may ask you to identify and examine features of evidence from a source or sources. They may also ask you to identify similarities and differences across sources.
• Signpost your response to demonstrate that you are addressing the question requirement/s (e.g. First similarity is).
  • Even if you are only asked to identify a feature of evidence, explain using evidence from the source and/or context statement.
  • If you are asked to “compare”, this means you should identify and explain a similarity and difference, you can split these into 2 paragraphs to make it extra clear for the marker.

3. Evaluate

• This involves evaluating the usefulness and reliability of sources, and the extent to which they corroborate.

There are two main ways to structure your response:

1. Judge the usefulness and reliability of each source, one-by-one
2. Start with usefulness/ reliability, then make a judgement for all the sources based on that criteria. Then move on to evaluate the other aspect of the sources.

4. Synthesis

• This requires a skilful combination of evidence from a range of sources to create and support a sophisticated argument.
• You will be marked on your argument, chosen combination of sources, use of historical terms, and clear writing. 

5. Creating and Communicating

You are marked on this criterion across your entire paper.

• Organise your paragraph/ paragraphs succinctly and purposefully around a central idea.
• Use the question structure as a guide for other question types.
• Use spelling, grammar and punctuation proficiently.
• Acknowledge sources used appropriately, e.g. The cartoon (Source 2) shows.

Study Tips and Tricks

1. Use planning time well

• Read and highlight all sources, including the context and references for all of them.
• Identify any key terms or concepts.
• Write which question each source is allocated to, and the relevant criterion.
• You can also annotate your sources. Identify what the sources are showing, and how they can potentially be used.
• I also like to take a few deep breaths just before writing time commences. This helps to keep me calm, which allows me to think clearly when answering the questions.

2. Edit your work (if possible)

• My teacher always told me “great writing starts with great editing”.
• Ensure you have chosen the best word for the best place in your essay.
• This will greatly assist in increasing your writing in every criterion of the ISMG.

3. Check your Work

• Ensure that you have answered every part of every question, and sign-posted your paragraphs.
• There may be a unique number of “things” you have to identify (similarities, corroborations, reliability, etc), so make sure you have met all the requirements.

Conclusion

With these tips and tricks, you are now ready to take on the QCAA Modern History exam. If you are not confident about the content so far, a private tutor from KIS Academics can help to clarify your doubts.

 FAQs

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for QCE Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods, Ragulan Gnanavel. Ragulan is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW. He has outstanding credentials as a tutor, and you can view Ragulan’s profile here and request him as a tutor.

Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor from KIS Academics can make the biggest difference!