Aboriginal Studies 2017 HSC exam pack

Students should:

• address the key words in the questions, for example ‘outline’, ‘explain’, ‘describe’, ‘to what extent’
• answer the question being asked, rather than writing everything they know about the topic
• use reading time to examine questions and consider how to respond to them
• avoid rewriting the question.

Students can prepare for the examination by:

• becoming familiar with the names of communities, for example ‘Wiradjuri people of Dubbo’, ‘Oglala Lakota of Pine Ridge Reservation’
• revising using past HSC examination papers and marking guidelines
• writing plans for questions from past HSC examination papers.

Questions 11–16(a)

In better responses, students were able to:

• use the source to answer the questions
• link targeted employment positions to the social justice issue they were examining.

Questions 11–16(b)

In better responses, students were able to:

• effectively refer to their Australian Aboriginal and international Indigenous communities
• recognise that the question required them to make a judgement about strategies.

Question 17

In better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate knowledge on national and international communities and link them well to their chosen topics
• include a national and international community and two topics.

Question 18 – Research and inquiry methods

In better responses, students were able to:

• recognise the need to improve the number of Aboriginal researchers and the benefits to the Aboriginal community as a result (Q18 (a) (ii))
• identify ethical research practices (Q18 (b)).

Question 19 – Aboriginality and the land

In better responses, students were able to:

• make a judgement about the importance of Country in improving Aboriginal peoples’ socio-economic status (Q19 (a))
• refer to an Australian Aboriginal community in their response and link significant events to Aboriginal people achieving land rights (Q19 (b)).

Question 20 – Heritage and identity

In better responses, students were able to:

• provide diverse examples of how Aboriginal peoples affirm their heritage and identity in Australia today and effectively used the source to support their response (Q20 (a))
• make an accurate assessment of the importance of gaining access to country for Aboriginal Peoples’ heritage and identity and support their responses by making strong links to their chosen Australian Aboriginal community (Q20 (b)).