What Does a History Exam Actually Ask You?
What Does a History Exam Actually Ask You?
A history exam tests skills, not memory. A typical Sec 1 paper has two sections: a -based case study () and structured-essay questions (). Section A tests making and sources; Section B tests stating, describing, explaining and "" judgements. One rule runs through every question: , Answer The Question, because marks only go to what is asked.
The Paper
- Two sections.
- Section A: a source-based case study. You get a few sources and answer questions about them. 16 marks.
- Section B: structured-essay questions. You write answers from what you've learnt. 20 marks.
- Your school's paper might look a bit different, but these are the two kinds of question you'll meet.
Section A Skills: Sources
- Skill 1, making an inference: "What does Source A tell you about…?" Usually 4–5 marks.
- Skill 2, comparing sources: "How similar are the two sources?" Usually 5–7 marks.
- Evidence: both skills need evidence from the source, not just what you remember.
Section B Skills: Essays
- Two parts: each question usually has a part (a) and a part (b).
- Part (a): or identify. Around 3 marks.
- Part (b): describe or explain. Around 7 marks.
- "To what extent…?": some questions ask you to weigh things up and give a judgement.
Challenge Skill
- Purpose: why was this source made?
- Usually taught from Sec 2, so it's a challenge if you want to try. It builds on inference.
ATQ: Answer The Question
- Key words first: use the question's own key words in your first sentence.
- Example: asked why the British chose Singapore? Start with "Source A tells me the British chose Singapore because…"
- Stay on the question: don't tell the story of Raffles' whole life, because marks only go to what the question asks.
In One Sentence
- A Sec 1 history paper tests skills, not memory: inferring and comparing sources in Section A, stating, describing and explaining in Section B, and always answering the question that is asked.
Think About It
- "Explain why the British had to defend Malaya too." Is this Section A or Section B, and which skill does it test?
- Why would an examiner give few marks to an answer that tells everything you know about a topic?
- Which of the skills in this video do you feel least sure about? What could you practise first?