SACE 2022: Expert guide to the written Modern History Examination

There are four steps you should do in the final week before taking the SACE Modern History exam, says an expert tutor.

There are four steps to prepare properly for the Modern History SACE exam.

The following tips have been written specifically for Modern History students with practical ways to ace the exam by highly experienced English and ACER Scholarship and Ignite Entry Exam preparation tutor Kristina Palmer.

On November 11, students from across South Australia will be sitting the 130-minute Modern History exam.

Modern history is one of those subjects where you need to ensure that you know dates, places, people, and events.

Learning the subject content is the best preparation for the exam. The exam is divided into two sections and requires students to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content delivered throughout the year.

The first section is an essay, and I can already hear you saying, “an essay, no!’’

Students must complete a historical argument based on the focus areas in the topic studied from ‘modern nations’.

It is essential that you show your understanding of the role of ideas, people, and events in history. Don’t forget to analyse how the development of the modern world has been shaped by internal and external forces and challenges.

The next section is ‘source analysis’, where you use your detective hat to use the skills of historical inquiry to evaluate the origin, reliability, usefulness, and nature of sources.

You must analyse, interpret, and synthesise evidence from various sources to gain differing perspectives.

I am sure many of you have heard this countless times but having a regular and sustainable study schedule is more beneficial in attaining a high exam grade than cramming or having irregular study sessions.

Having focused study sessions are far more valuable than having longer ones!

When preparing for the exam, ensure that you have all your notes and past assignments in a logical order. The first thing to do is:

KNOW the techniques.

READ past exam papers to gauge the types of materials being offered for study in the past.

BE familiar with the structures and intentions of the critical reading questions

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and more PRACTICE!

TIME management – work on pace.

Exam preparation takes time and dedication; this is not something you can prepare for in a day or so.

Tutors SA tutor Kristina Palmer. Picture: Supplied

Having a positive, resilient mindset is crucial in any exam situation.

Timed, pressure situations are always tricky, but there are ways to alleviate stress.

A perfect way is to practice replicating exam conditions and prepare for the exam is to practice using the demo e-exam on the SACE website.

Finally, the day of the exam has arrived, and you are possibly anxious and a little on edge. Breathe! It is going to be okay.

Ensure you take a charged laptop, charger, pens/pencils, and water to the exam. When the exam begins, read each question carefully and underline all keywords.

From all of us at Tutors SA, where we are committed to making a difference in our students’ academic lives, we wish you every success.

Kristina Palmer is a fully qualified English tutor with Tutors SA and a practising English teacher. Kristina has extensive experience in SACE involving the development, implementation and evaluation of data.