Final advice for the exam...

With 24 hours to go, there is still time to do some last minute cramming!

At this point, focus your revision on the areas you are still less sure about. You don't have enough time to do everything; you know the stuff you know; therefore use your time to add to your knowledge in those areas which still have a few gaps.

Also spend a little bit of time reading through the advice in the links at the top of the page on how to answer the questions. No doubt you will have spent a lot of time doing past exam questions this year so just remind yourself of how you should be answering Qa and Qb. Each question has different Assessment Objectives, so make sure you know what you should be looking for in each question.

Finally, some general tips for the exam...

1. Plan your answers before you start writing. Take 10 minutes to carefully read and review each of the sources and produce a plan. This will ensure you don't rush into your answer. do this for each question.

2. If you allow 10 to plan each question, then the number of marks is proportional to the time you have (20 marks = 20 minutes). Keep an eye on the clock!

3. Use the sources as the basis of your answer. This will help keep you focused. Remember to give examples from the sources to support your argument.

4. Develop inferences (what does the source suggest to you?) and support these with evidence.

5. Always sum up your argument in a conclusion which clearly addresses the question!

Good luck!

Online Revision Quizzes

Hodder have recently published online some excellent revision quizzes for the Experience of Warfare Unit. All will test your knowledge of the key units allowing to you build on the strength and weaknesses within your understanding. My advice is to start using them regularly to help develop the depth of your subject knowledge.

http://www.hodderplus.co.uk/myrevisionnotes/a-level-history/the-experience-of-warfare/index.asp

WW1 Centenary site from the IWM

http://www.1914.org/

2014 will mark 100 years since the outbreak of WW1. This site has been created by the Imperial War Museum to collated resources and information surrounding that centenary event.

Already it has lots of great WW1 resources, including some excellent podcasts on various aspects of the war.

http://www.1914.org/podcasts/

A guide to answering the questions...

I have written a detailed guide to how to answer each style of question, both Question a and Question b. Each has its own criteria and you should bear this in mind when answering them! It is vital that you are aware of the different Assessment Objectives. Each question assesses different things and therefore you must approach the sources differently.

See the new page links at the top of this page!

General advice for the exam...

1. Plan your answers before you start writing. Take 10 minutes to carefully read and review each of the sources and produce a plan. this will ensure you dont rush into your answer.

2. The number of marks is proportional to the time you have (20 marks = 20 minutes)

3. Use the sources as the basis of your answer. This will help keep you focussed. Remember to give examples from the sources to support your argument.

4. Develop inferences (what does the source suggest to you?) and support these with evidence.

Preparing for the exam...

I have added some new pages which contain examples of past exam papers on each of the various topics. Simply click on the links at the top of this page to access the new pages.

Now, I don't have a crystal ball and don't wish to start predicting what will appear this year. However, for reference this is how the papers have looked so far...

       Jan 2009     Summer 2009   Jan 2010     Summer 2010  Jan 2011
Q1  Crimea       WW1                WW1          Crimea             Crimea
Q2a Boer          Boer                 Crimea         Boer                 Boer
Q2b WW1        WW1 HF            Boer            WW1               WW1 HF

So, the best advice I can give... revise everything!!

Some hints for those doing the January exam

1. Read and analyse the sources carefully, making brief notes by the side to save you time later on. Relate what you have read back to the question.

2. Plan your answers before you start writing.

3. The number of marks is proportional to the time you have (20 marks = 20 minutes)

4. Use the sources as the basis of your answer. This will help keep you focussed. Remeber to give examples from the sources to support your argument.

5. Use contextual knowledge - on Qb 24 of the 40 marks are awarded for your own knowledge! Use this information to put the sources into context.

6. Cross reference individual points, rather than the sources as a whole.

7. Develop inferences (what does the source suggest to you?) and support these with evidence.

8. Analyse the provenance (Nature, Origin, Purpose). Evaluate the significance of the source and its reliabilty, if appropriate.

9. Weight up the evidence, especially if is asks you for a judgement, eg How far...

10. Dont generalise the sources. Judge each source on its own merits, eg, not all private letters are reliable.

Some final reminders before Thursday!

I have posted this before but no harm in bumping it back to the top.

My top 10 tips to help you in the exam!

1. Read and analyse the sources carefully, making brief notes by the side to save you time later on. Relate what you have read back to the question.
2. Plan your answers before you start writing.
3. The number of marks is proportional to the time you have (20 marks = 20 minutes)
4. Use the sources as the basis of your answer. This will help keep you focussed. Remeber to give examples from the sources to support your argument.
5. Use contextual knowledge - on Qb 24 of the 40 marks are awarded for your own knowledge! Use this information to put the sources into context.
6. Cross reference individual points, rather than the sources as a whole.
7. Develop inferences (what does the source suggest to you?) and support these with evidence.
8. Analyse the provenance (Nature, Origin, Purpose). Evaluate the significance of the source and its reliabilty, if appropriate.
9. Weight up the evidence, especially if is asks you for a judgement, eg How far...
10. Dont generalise the sources. Judge each source on its own merits, eg, not all private letters are reliable.

Revising for the exam - Unit 2 Option C

My top 10 tips to help you in the exam!

1. Read and analyse the sources carefully, making brief notes by the side to save you time later on. Relate what you have read back to the question.
2. Plan your answers before you start writing.
3. The number of marks is proportional to the time you have (20 marks = 20 minutes)
4. Use the sources as the basis of your answer. This will help keep you focussed. Remeber to give examples from the sources to support your argument.
5. Use contextual knowledge - on Qb 24 of the 40 marks are awarded for your own knowledge! Use this information to put the sources into context.
6. Cross reference individual points, rather than the sources as a whole.
7. Develop inferences (what does the source suggest to you?) and support these with evidence.
8. Analyse the provenance (Nature, Origin, Purpose). Evaluate the significance of the source and its reliabilty, if appropriate.
9. Weight up the evidence, especially if is asks you for a judgement, eg How far...
10. Dont generalise the sources. Judge each source on its own merits, eg, not all private letters are reliable.

AS History Experience of Warfare Revision

Some useful sites to help with your revision...
Crimean War
Boer War
First World War

Remember to use the links on the right hand side of the screen to access more specific information about each of the topics.

Past paper questions are also available - see top of page!

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me.