Ancient History 2014 HSC exam pack (archive)

Questions 7 and 8

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• providing accurate and relevant information about Greek influences at Pompeii and Herculaneum (Q.7)
• drawing and integrating evidence from the sources cited in both questions and supplementing this with their own knowledge (Q.7 and Q.8)
• demonstrating their knowledge of the different types of economic activity that took place in Pompeii and Herculaneum (Q.8).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• selecting relevant evidence from their own knowledge to expand upon the sources provided (Q.8)
• containing their answers by being precise (Q.7 and Q.8).

Question 9

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• providing relevant information about Italian and international contributions to the conservation of the sites
• using the sources provided and constructing a response.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• constructing an informed and comprehensive response that answers the question rather than providing a collection of facts about conservation efforts over time
• integrating judicious examples from their own knowledge with the sources, rather than recounting irrelevant information.

Questions 10–19

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• providing accurate, detailed information and displaying comprehensive knowledge, particularly in part (d)
• making extensive reference to a wide range of sources, both written and archaeological, including references to recent research
• integrating evidence from the source provided and other sources to reveal what is known about the role and status of women, or other relevant groups in society (part (d))
• providing a well-structured and coherent response
• using historical terms and concepts.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing accurate and relevant information in all parts of the question
• making effective use of the source provided
• providing a structured response that avoids making generalisations that could be relevant to any society
• demonstrating greater understanding of appropriate historical terms and concepts
• referring more extensively to other sources.

Questions 20–31

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• accurately identifying a range of information relevant to the question
• providing a detailed description and using sources as evidence
• making a critical judgement about the usefulness of the quotation and integrating this into the response
• identifying a wide range of issues relevant to legacy to support the judgement, and keeping a clear focus on this throughout the response
• integrating information from ancient and contemporary sources to support their arguments.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• responding to the question in detail rather than providing lengthy descriptions of non-specific or irrelevant information OR focusing too heavily on an analysis of the reforms/images rather than a description of them in part (a)
• writing an appropriate amount relevant to the value of the question
• integrating relevant sources to support the response
• dealing with the issue of ‘extent’ central to the question by identifying issues that are from their own knowledge, not only those identified within the quotation
• making consistent judgements throughout the response in relation to the question of extent and legacy.

Questions 32–47

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• directly answering the set question and, where appropriate, addressing relevant issues from across the entire historical period
• demonstrating comprehensive and accurate historical knowledge and understanding, supporting the response with accurate and detailed reference to a range of relevant archaeological and written evidence
• displaying evidence of wide understanding of the historical period, and of the historical process, through their use of appropriate vocabulary and historical terms.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• avoiding a narrative response that is of marginal relevance to the set question or includes substantial amounts of material that is irrelevant to the parameters of the question
• integrating sources appropriately as evidence to support the point the candidate is trying to make, rather than simply naming the source or attributing sources incorrectly
• being historically accurate
• writing responses that are structured and of appropriate length to adequately address issues raised by the question and incorporating a range of historical terms and concepts.