how to revise A level history | tips to get A*

Summary

This video offers practical revision tips for A-Level History students, sharing the speaker's personal experiences and strategies. Key advice includes using documentaries for wider reading, creating profiles of significant historical figures, staying organized with coursework, and understanding the significance of events rather than just memorizing them. The speaker emphasizes the importance of practicing essays, mastering different types of exam questions, and using flashcards to reinforce key terms. Overall, the video encourages students to enjoy history, stay focused, and not stress about future university choices.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Wider Reading is Essential**: Watch documentaries or related videos on platforms like BBC iPlayer or YouTube to supplement your history learning. They provide an engaging way to consolidate knowledge beyond textbooks.
• 😀 **Create Profiles of Key Figures**: For each important historical figure, document their political party, years in power, and significant actions. Color-code these profiles for better organization and retention.
• 😀 **Organize Your Notes**: Keep your folders neat and create mind maps or summary sheets for each sub-topic. This helps with both organization and easy revision.
• 😀 **Track Your Sources**: Always keep track of the books, articles, and websites you reference for coursework. Use tools like Google Drive and email backups to ensure you never lose important work.
• 😀 **Focus on Significance**: Don’t just memorize dates and events. Understand their significance by ranking them in terms of importance and analyzing who was affected by these events.
• 😀 **Mind Maps Are Key**: Create mind maps for every sub-topic to divide your folders and make revision more effective. These are quick to create (30 minutes to an hour) but highly useful for visual learners.
• 😀 **Practice Writing Essays**: Writing essays regularly will improve your exam technique. Aim to write one essay a week, get feedback, and practice analyzing different exam question types.
• 😀 **Know Your Question Types**: There are five main types of history exam questions—cause, consequence, continuity/change, similarities/differences, and significance. Tailor your answers to the specific question format.
• 😀 **Use the ‘Four Identifying’ Technique for Exam Questions**: When answering exam questions, break down the task into four parts: chronological focus, topic focus, criteria, and conceptual focus to stay on track and focused.
• 😀 **Use Flashcards for Quick Revision**: Create flashcards with key terms and definitions to quickly quiz yourself. Flashcards are great for reinforcing concepts and can be done on the go.

Q & A

What is the importance of wider reading in history revision?

Wider reading in history revision helps provide context and deepen understanding. Watching documentaries and exploring resources beyond textbooks allows you to learn more about the topics you're studying and reinforces key concepts in a more engaging way.

How can documentaries help with history A-level revision?

Documentaries provide both background knowledge before starting a topic and a consolidation of learned material afterward. They offer a more visual and often entertaining way to grasp historical events compared to traditional textbooks.

What is the benefit of creating profiles for important historical figures?

Creating profiles helps organize essential details about key figures, such as political affiliation, major contributions, and controversies. This method makes it easier to recall specific information during exams and adds depth to your understanding of historical events.

Why is organizing notes and keeping backup copies so important in history revision?

History requires extensive note-taking, and losing these notes can be disastrous. Keeping them organized ensures efficient access during revision. Backups, whether digital or physical, prevent data loss and ensure that all your hard work is safely stored.

How does critical thinking play a role in history revision?

Critical thinking is essential for analyzing the significance of historical events. Instead of just memorizing facts, you need to assess their importance, compare them, and evaluate their impact on different groups. This depth of analysis is crucial for achieving high marks in essays and exams.

What are the advantages of using mind maps and summary sheets for revision?

Mind maps and summary sheets help distill complex information into concise, visual formats, making it easier to remember. They also act as useful dividers within your revision folders, helping you organize your notes by subtopics.

How can practicing essays improve history exam performance?

Regular essay practice helps familiarize you with exam questions and improves your writing speed and structure. It also allows you to refine your argumentation skills, develop a clear thesis, and practice analyzing evidence—essential for scoring high marks.

What is the 'identify four things' technique in history exams?

The 'identify four things' technique involves breaking down an exam question into four critical aspects: chronological focus (the period you're discussing), topic focus (the key theme), criteria (the factors you’re weighing), and conceptual focus (the type of question, like cause or significance). This approach helps ensure a well-structured and focused response.

Why is it important to identify the chronological focus in exam questions?

Identifying the chronological focus ensures you stay within the time period specified in the question. This prevents you from discussing irrelevant events and keeps your answer directly related to the question's scope.

How can flashcards help with history revision?

Flashcards are an effective tool for memorizing key terms and concepts. By writing the term on one side and the definition on the other, you can test your recall and reinforce your understanding of essential vocabulary and facts.