This is one of my most requested post topics, so today, I’ll finally be telling you how to effectively study history. History is a very challenging subject, since you have to memorise many details and dates, all while writing multiple-page essays.
- Make timelines for chronology
- Summarise your information
- Use flashcards for memorisation
- Understand the why
- Know what the examiner wants
- Do practice papers
Make timelines for chronology
History is the study of the past, so it’s very important to know what happened, and when. Timelines are one of the best ways of organising information, since they let you visualise when various events happened. They’re also incredibly helpful for remembering chronology and being able to better explain which events lead to other events.
Summarise your information
In most history courses, there is a lot of content to cover. Like, a lot. Unfortunately, as much as we’d like to remember everything we learn, that just isn’t possible. When you make your summaries or timelines, try to prioritise information so that you only have to memorise the most important dates and facts.
Use flashcards for memorisation
Active recall is one of the best ways to study! I’ve found that flashcards can be a very helpful way of using active recall to memorise various details. The format doesn’t matter – they can be paper or digital – all flashcards can boost your memory and help you remember important historical concepts for longer!
Understand the why
In many history essays, you’ll be asked to explain why something happened, or the effects of one event on another. Of course, memorisation is important, but you also have to be able to logically explain to the examiner why a factor caused something to happen. Dates and facts should supplement this – they supplement your essays, they aren’t the end-all, be-all of your essay.
Know what the examiner wants
History papers can be incredibly specific, so make sure you read the exam specification very carefully! Look at example answers online to fully understand what the examiner wants and how to answer the question perfectly.
Do practice papers
Not only does answering past papers help you practice your exam technique, but it can also help you increase your writing speed and stamina. As well as this, doing practice papers can help you figure out which questions or topics you struggle with, so you can make your revision more effective.
