History can be one of the most difficult subjects out there. It’s often overlooked since it’s a humanities subject, which makes people think it’s an easy A. In actuality, history can be incredibly difficult since there’s so much information to remember and it can be difficult to write in a way that is appealing to the examiner. If this sounds like something you’re struggling with, then these tips might help you get an A in history!
Use anki to memorise
In history, there’s often a lot of content to memorise. Using anki can be a great way to quickly memorise all of the information you need to know. You can also find pre-made sets on quizlet which you can then export to anki! This will make it even easier to study, since you don’t have to make your own flashcards. Make sure you check the flashcards to ensure that they cover the entire syllabus – you don’t want to accidentally miss out on information because your flashcards didn’t cover it.
Make timelines
History is all about the past, and timelines can help you remember chronology (the order in which events happened) a lot better. Essentially, they provide clarity in the causes and effects of historical events. You can make timelines using blurting: read the textbook, cover it, then make the timeline from memory. This is a great way to incorporate more active recall in your studying, which makes you a much more effective student.
Plan essays
There’s a lot of topics the examiner can ask you about, so plan for all of them. Try writing mock essay plans without looking at your notes. This will both help you remember the information and prepare you for anything the examiner will ask you. Your essay plans don’t have to be long to be effective. For each question, plan three paragraphs: write a short thesis statement for each, and add 5-7 historical facts, dates, or statistics that are pertinent to the topic.
Focus on exam technique
Often, different history questions are testing you on different techniques. Make sure you know how to write an answer for each type of question. Create a structure for yourself to follow for each question type. Your teacher will be happy to help you with this if you ask. Also, ask them which questions they think you have the greatest chance of scoring highly in, since you should work to perfect these in order to gain easy marks.
Learn to write quickly
There is a lot of writing in history. Like, pages and pages. Make sure you’re comfortable with writing quickly (and legibly!) under timed conditions. Try to avoid writing practice essays on your laptop (unless you have laptop access during the exam) and write all your practice essays on paper so that you can get into the habit of writing quickly by hand.
