A1 in History?

plmko

Hi I'm going history for my leaving cert in June and I'm hoping for an A1 in it. I really need the A1. My teacher marks us very hard so it's quite impossible for me to tell whether I'm capable of the A1 or not.

However, I'm just wondering if any who got an A1/A2 who could maybe share their tips with me and how you achieved such high marks.

As of now I am ensuring to put loads of suitable quotes in my essays but I do struggle with answering the question instead of just rambling off a load of facts mildly relevant to the topic.

How many pages do you write for a 100 marker? Also, how did you plan your essays before hand?

maedhbh_mac

Hi Pimko,

I got an A1 in 2012 but the course hasn't changed so I might be able to give you a few tips.

I think the first thing to mention is that you have to have broad but also specific knowledge if you're looking for the A1. You say you're using quotes in your essays, which is brilliant, but the fact that you yourself can identify that you're rambling is not so brilliant.

So above all else don't do that because there's generally not a need to pad your essays out with ramble. I mean, I know you'll hear about all these history students who go in and write seven pages for each question but it's entirely unnecessary. Your main objective is to answer the question that's been asked - sometimes this requires you to go into specific detail about one aspect or another but there's no need to try and squeeze every single interesting fact that you've ever learned about the topic. Be concise, be logical and above all be relevant to the question.

Structure is really important in history essays and I know that I found it (and still find it) very helpful to jot down a quick little plan of what each paragraph is going to be about beside your homework and/or on the exam paper. Realistically, with regards preparation for the exam itself, you should always be able to answer at the very least one question from any year. If you can't open your exam papers and look at the questions and not be horrified, then you're not actually properly prepared to sit the exam. There shouldn't be anything in there that you know nothing about, but specialise as needed on broader topics that can cover two or three different questions.

Obviously, if you're looking for the A1, the project is the best place to start - definitely go all out for it because it's easy marks. The same goes for the document question. It's so manageable and easy to prepare that there's really no excuse for not maximising your marks there.

Also, just something that I personally found really helpful (and still do) when it comes to studying history - cut up a dozen flashcards and put a date or key topic on one side and then what happened/an explanation on the other. Then play around with them. Build chronologies. Guess them from one side and then from the other and over the year build up the number of flashcards that you have until you're basically covering everything. I find this a great way to study because you're building up an understanding of dates, context and chronology that can be hard to get your head around otherwise and you're doing it in a relatively stress-free way.

Other than that, the only other advice that I can give is to take care of yourself around exam times - mocks and the leaving cert. History always comes after a few other exams and you're going to be fairly tired so put the spadework in now to learn essay plans and information at this end of the year, rather than trying to cram in the few weeks before the exam.

Good luck with you studies!

plmko

Thankyou so much maedhbh mac!
Specific, concise and logical! I'll remind myself that next time I'm doing an essay! Yes I'll work hard on my document question and my project
Flash cards sound like a brilliant idea, I'll look into it!

Thanks again