EXAM SKILLS
The Basics: Here is a good rule of thumb for taking on the History Exam...
The Basics: Here is a good rule of thumb for taking on the History Exam...
- Use your reading time to work out exactly how you will respond to each Section. You can follow three different paths for writing your exam: (i) Once Reading Time is over respond to Section C and D first and give yourself time to quickly write a plan next to each section. These Sections are the most time consuming and once you have them complete you will be in a rhythm to complete the complete Sections A and B; (ii) Alternatively very quickly write your plan on Section C and Section D in point form next to the question. Subsequently when you get through Section A and B you will have a plan waiting for you instead of being in a situation where you might have forgotten a point or are forced to waste time remembering what you planned; Lastly you can quickly respond to Section D as it is the most recent and easily prepared for task and then you go through and answer each Section A-C BUT make sure you write a plan for Section C before you start anything else.
- Each question is given different marks and therefore different importance and difficulty. Subsequently organise your responses as such: One mark = one sentence and one minute of time.
- Each section is worth 20 marks so you should spend around 20 - 25 minutes on each. Therefore, ideally, you will finish the exam about 20 - 40 minutes early so that you can proof-read your answers and add more information or even fix small mistakes.
- For Section A and D use every bit of information in the document presented to you to respond to the question BUT make sure you RESPOND TO THE QUESTION. Don't just write everything you know!!!