History Extension 2014 HSC exam pack (archive)
2014 History Extension HSC exam papers
Marking guidelines
Marking guidelines are developed with the exam paper and are used by markers to guide their marking of a student's response. The table shows the criteria with each mark or mark range.
Sample answers may also be developed and included in the guidelines to make sure questions assess a student's knowledge and skills, and guide the Supervisor of Marking on the expected nature and scope of a student's response. They are not intended to be exemplary or even complete answers or responses.
Marking feedback
Select from the sections below to view feedback from HSC markers about how students performed in this year’s exam.
Use the feedback to guide preparation for future exams. Feedback includes an overview of the qualities of better responses. Feedback may not be provided for every question.
Feedback on written exam
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- making some form of judgement
- understanding the concept of truth as a purpose of history
- demonstrating an understanding of a range of relevant historiographical issues and ideologies as determined by the question.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- analysing the source to gain a more holistic understanding of what the author is saying
- selecting examples from the source that are relevant to the argument that the author (in this case, Fischer) is making
- selecting sources that work well with the provided source and the question
- constructing a response that relates to the source and the questions, and not just going into the exam with a prepared response that reflects a narrative or biographical approach
- using a variety of sources, including a range of contemporary, traditional and popular sources.
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- knowing their area of debate and the historians’ interpretations
- engaging with the source
- making some form of judgement, rather than writing a narrative
- using the source to shape their argument.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- analysing the source to gain a more holistic understanding of what the author is saying
- identifying the case study and the area of debate at the beginning of the response
- addressing the key words of the question – ‘to what extent’
- not dealing with too many debates, which can lead to a superficial overview of the case study
- looking at different types of history, as well as more recent academic and/or popular interpretations.
HSC exam resources
Search for more HSC standards materials and exam packs.
History Extension syllabus
Find out more about the History Extension syllabus.
Request accessible format of this publication.