Modern History 2016 HSC exam pack (archive)

Question 6

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• using the source and their own knowledge to identify one impact of the Russian withdrawal on World War I.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• ensuring that the source is clearly referenced
• ensuring that their answer responds to the question, that is, describing the impact of the Russian withdrawal on World War I.

Question 7

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• using both Sources C and D and their own knowledge to explain how the entry of the USA influenced the course of World War I
• using their own knowledge to either add value to the information contained in the sources or to clearly differentiate from that contained in the sources.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• ensuring that their answer responds to the question, rather than discussing why the USA entered World War I
• referring to both sources.

Question 8

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• making a judgement about the usefulness of Sources A and B for a historian studying the impact of the war on women’s lives and experiences in Britain
• understanding the term ‘perspective’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘reliability’
• appreciating the merits of secondary sources in terms of reliability.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• understanding that primary material can be contained in a secondary source
• understanding that propaganda material promotes a particular perspective
• ensuring that both sources are given thoughtful consideration
• providing a judgement rather than a description of the sources
• focusing on the intent of the question rather than providing too much context or background
• differentiating between authentic and reliable material
• avoiding general statements about primary sources.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• presenting a sophisticated judgement that clearly reflected the demands of the question
• supporting a judgement with relevant and accurate historical information.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing a sustained judgement rather than a narrative of events
• providing accurate knowledge that refers to and is relevant to the question
• avoiding unnecessary, incorrect and distracting historiography
• providing information from the correct time period.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• providing a detailed, relevant and accurate description (Q18a)
• making an assessment with a logical and cohesive argument (Q18b)
• evaluating the significance of the personality studied (Q18b)
• using a range of appropriate historical terms and concepts.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• responding to the question rather than relying on prepared answers (Q18a and b)
• making an assessment rather than providing general statements (Q18a)
• ensuring information is relevant to the parameters of the question (Q18a)
• avoiding narrative and descriptive responses (Q18b)
• making reference to the statement where it is part of the question (Q18b).

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• addressing the question asked with a clear and sustained judgement
• using appropriate terms and concepts
• providing detailed, accurate historical information
• presenting a sustained and detailed assessment.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing a judgement rather than a narrative or descriptive response
• including relevant historical knowledge rather than providing general statements
• including historiography only when relevant and correct.