Preparing for the History 12 Provincial Exam K.J. Benoy

Know What You Are Facing This is an exam that students all over the province will write. The school-based exam is in the identical format to ensure absolute consistency. –It looks different to class exams, so get familiar with the layout. The questions may also be worded a little differently to what you are used to. –At Sutherland we carefully follow the curriculum, so all parts of the course were covered – but one or two details may be unfamiliar and the emphasis may sometimes be a little different to the way it was in class. –Don’t worry. All students in the province will face these things – even those who had a teacher on the exam writing team.

Know What You Are Facing The exam has three parts: –Multiple choice questions (55% of the test value). –Written response and evidence questions (one of each), at 18% of the test value. You have a choice of 2 options on the first of these, but not on the evidence question. –One thematic essay question, valued at 27% of the test.

Look at the Exam Specifications This can be found online at:

How to Study Know the language of the course. –Use flash cards to study names and terms. –Only study the names and terms you do not know. Don’t waste time with familiar material. Karl Marx The creator of Communism (Marxism). He believed in materialism – only things you can touch and feel are real. He wanted a world where everyone was equal.

How to Study For History, use timelines to get events in the right order. Visual learners benefit from adding images.

How To Study Predict and Practice Essay Questions –These are the big questions that make you think and combine information. –These questions will come from the themes of the course: Geopolitical Events Social Change Economic Developments Ideologies The Role of the Individual

Essay - Themes Geopolitical Events –Topics within this include: Nationalism Imperialism Conflict and Conflict Resolution Balance of Power

Essay - Themes Social Change –Topics that may be examined include: The Struggle for Human Rights Causes of Social Change Mass Movements

Essay - Themes Economic Developments –Topics may be selected from: Economic Competition Economic Imperialism Globalization

Essay - Themes Ideologies –These may relate to: Democracy Fascism Communism Totalitarianism Conservatism, Liberalism & Islamism are not specified in the exam specifications, but knowledge of them cannot hurt.

Essay - Themes The Role of the Individual in History –Refer back to the “great man theory” (which, obviously, includes great women). –Be able to use the terms “event-making” and “eventful.”

Entering the Battle Be physically prepared. –Get a good night’s sleep. Don’t study all night. Watch a comedy the evening before the test. –Eat a good meal at least an hour before the test – you don’t want to be hungry or tired as you digest food. –Dress in layers. You don’t want to feel too hot or cold when writing. –Arrive early to reduce stress. –Go to the bathroom before the test – you don’t want to be distressed during the test. How not to feel.

Entering the Battle Reduce Stress: –A little worry is good – it helps to focus your attention. Too much stress is bad and interferes with memory Take 5 deep breaths to pump oxygen to your brain. If still anxious (you feel this in your neck muscles), practice passive relaxation – consciously relax muscle groups. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favourite comfortable place.

Writing the Test Multiple Choice Questions. –Only one answer is right. –Eliminate wrong answers first – cross them out on the test. –History questions are usually in time order – this may give you a clue. –Whenever a question says “except” or “not,” slow down to think more carefully. –Guess if you don’t know. Never leave a blank. –There are no trick questions. If it looks too easy, it actually just is so. –Check for frame-shifts from time to time.

Writing the Test – Written Response Question You have a choice of two questions to answer. Do not answer both, or your first response will be marked and the second will be ignored. Be sure to write in full sentences and paragraphs.

Writing the Test – The Evidence Question This question presents you with a series of bits of evidence. –These could be: Quotations Cartoons Images Statistics Maps –Data –You have to answer a question by referring to this data and other knowledge you have. –Sometimes the information is contradictory, so you have to judge the evidence. –Be sure to look at the source information given! –The question for the documents to the right asks: To what extent were the Muslims responsible for the partition of India? Refer to the five documents provided as well as other historical evidence.

Writing the Test - Essays There is one essay question – but you are given two choices. Write only one of them. This is not like the Social Studies 11 final. The test writing time is long – you should have plenty of time.

Writing the Test - Essays Know what the command words mean – see the handout.

Writing the Test - Essays Be careful, many students make the mistake of relying too much on common knowledge Make sure you use specific course content and employ terms we have learned.

Writing the Test - Essays Always plan before you write. Never just write off the top of your head. Above all, your writing needs a thesis – a controlling statement. This is a one sentence answer to the question.

Writing the Test - Essays The following suggestions from the Open School’s Social Studies 11; Provincial Exam Preparation book are spot-on for the History 12 Exam too: –“Read the Question Carefully.” Know what you are being asked to do. –“Identify the Command word.” Circle it or put a box around it and underline any other key words. –“Create a chart in your planning space.” Fill it with appropriate information.

Writing the Test – Essays Sample Charts The kind of chart you should use depends on the question. A history question might ask you to cover a time period – like from If so use a chronology chart like the one to the left, to make sure you use information from the whole time period.

Writing the Test – Essays Sample Charts A chronology question that asks you to assess something over a time span could use a diagram like the one to the right – for example: –“The most important influence on Canadian government policy during the 20 th Century was the United States.” Assess the truth of this statement making reference to events throughout the time period

Writing the Test – Essays Sample Charts SPERM-G –This is an acronym for: Social, Political, Economic, Religious, Military, and Geographic. –Not all of these categories might relate to any given question, but if several do, then making a chart that includes them will help you write a thorough paper that doesn’t miss important material. –This chart might accompany the question: Assess how much Britain changed as a result of World War I.

Any question that asks you to look at two sides of an issue could use a chart like the one to the right. An example of such a question might be: –To what extent is Nationalism a positive force in the world? Writing the Test – Essays Sample Charts

Writing the Test – Essays Write in essay format. This will ensure that you are organized. –Introduction (with thesis). –Body (at least 3 points of a paragraph each). –Conclusion.

Writing the Test – Essays Write legibly. If a marker cannot read your writing it cannot be credited. If your handwriting is as bad as mine, print! Use all of the time allowed. Once you leave the test, you cannot return. Do not rush. Check your work and edit neatly (there is no space to write a good copy, so do not rewrite). If you go back and check multiple choice items, do not change them unless you are 100% sure. First guesses are often the best.

Now Practice on Sample Exams