National 5 History National 5 History

Final Exam OutlineFinal Exam Outline

Outline of the PaperThe paper lasts for 1 hour 30 mins.There are 60 marks worth of questions.The KU questions are worth 60% of the

total mark – revision of the topics is essential.

For every mark you have one and a half minutes, for example:

5 mark question 7 ½ mins6 mark question 9 mins8 mark question 12 mins

How Should I Revise?Prepare summary notes for each topic - -

include keywords , key dates and key facts.

Do a self-check test – pick an area of the topic, revise the key facts then write down everything you can remember in 5 mins.

Practice timed answers – remember you will have roughly 1 ½ mins per mark.

How Should I Revise?Use the School Website – all the key power points for

each topic are on there.

http://www.scottishschools.info/obanhigh/

Use the SQA website for the specimen paper.

http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47447.html

Use the BBC Bitesize revision website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/z2phvcw

Types of QuestionsThe final exam has SIX types of questions:

• Type 1: the describe question• Type 2: the explain questions• Type 3: the to what extent question (8

mark)

These questions are all Knowledge and Understanding questions – they test what you know about the topic.

Types of Questions

• Type 4: the how useful question• Type 5: the compare questions• Type 6: the how fully question

These questions are all Enquiry Skills questions – you will use sources to

answer this type of question.

Type 1: The ‘Describe’ Question (5 or 6 marks)

Describe what happened ORDescribe the effects of an event

or developmentInclude five or six pieces of your

own knowledge (recall).Recall must be relevant and

accurate.Your answer must be written in

sentences.

Type 2: The ‘Explain’ Question (5 or 6 marks)

Explain why something happened.

Include five or six pieces of your own knowledge (recall).

Recall must be relevant and accurate.

Your answer must be written in sentences.

Type 3: The ‘To What Extent’ Question (8 marks)

Write a balanced answer Include at least five pieces of

relevant information.Give a short conclusion which

sums up your answer to the question.

Give a reason to support your conclusion.

Type 4: The ‘How Useful’ Question (5 or 6 marks)

In this question you have to evaluate a source – this means you have to judge how good a source is as evidence for finding out about something.

A source will always be partly useful, but it will never be entirely useful and give you all the information you need.

Always start your answer ‘the source is useful to an extent….’

Points to Consider:WHO produced the source? Is the

authorship of the source relevant?WHEN was the source produced and does

that make it a primary or secondary source?

WHY was the source produced? Did the author have a particular purpose in mind?

WHAT information is in the source which is relevant to the question? (up to 2 marks)

WHAT’S NOT THERE? What important information is missing or omitted from the source? (up to 2 marks)

Type 5: The ‘Compare’ Question (4 marks)Make clear connections between

two sources.Look for points the sources agree or

disagree on – there could be a mixture.

Explain the point you are making by using your own words and then use the source to support your points.

Make two full comparisons in your answer.

Type 6: The ‘How Fully’ Question (5-6 marks)Always start your answer ‘The

source partly explains……………..’Select information from the

source which is relevant to the question – there will usually be three points of information for you to use.

Use recall that is accurate and relevant to make your answer more balanced.