| Class: 7/8 |
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Preparation
The History Exam is a vehicle that allows me to evaluate the level of skill attained in a particular area over a particular period of time. Throughout the year you need to improve your skills in reading, writing, recalling, summarizing, assessing and analyzing information.
1. Topic of the Exam
A breakdown of an exam is usually given. It is a useful idea to follow the breakdown! It is a guide to what is coming up in the exam.
2. Organize Your Time
Prepare a timetable for review. Calculate number of days till exam and pace your review program accordingly.
3. For any History Exam, you first must acquire:
HISTORICAL FACTS, i.e. dates, names, events, places
- ACCURACY is very important. Get a new notebook for exam preparation. Go through one topic at a time; list the main important facts, leaving several lines between each (underline these facts; they are now subtitles). In the blank lines, you will go back and fill in relevant information associated with that fact.
e.g. BIRTH RATE
MORTALITY RATE - decreased, medical improvement, sanitation,
diets,etc.
IMMIGRATION
REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANALYSIS OF SOMETHING WITHOUT THE FACTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACCURACY!
A review, or revision program, of specific topics must
go beyond dates, events and personalities. It must be selective in:
1. highlighting trends2. illustrating conclusions with representative evidence
3. raising questions that challenge one's ability to formulate a compelling answer with clarity
4. Once you have gone through this stage systematically, commit it to memory. Remember that memorizing basic facts should trigger subsequent relevant information.
5. Learning, absorbing and retaining factual information is a basic skill.
Exam-taking techniques
1. Allow yourself 5 - 10 minutes to carefully read the instructions and the questions.
2. Like an essay for history - answer the question asked! Do not waffle!
3. You can select the order in which you do the questions, especially those with essay type answers. Attempt the questions you know most about first.
4. Look at the allocation of points. A question more heavily weighted is worth more time spent on it.
5. Be aware of the clock - pace yourself, don't spend too much time on some sections at the expense of others.
6. Attempt all questions - especially in multiple choice sections.
7. Read the question again before you answer it.
8. Answering essay type questions in exams -
Before you launch into answering/writing your answer, put down in note form all the facts and information you can remember. Then you can formulate your answer referring to your notes. When you finish your answer, simply draw a line through the notes.
9. Remember it's all down to ORGANIZATION, TIME, MEMORY!!!