Exam prep 1: Tips and History Source based questions

Summary

In the first episode of 'The Platform,' the host introduces an educational series aimed at helping high school students master history exams. The video focuses on how to effectively tackle source-based questions, offering practical tips on how to identify key instructions, avoid common mistakes, and maximize marks. Key advice includes strategies for responding to different types of questions such as defining, explaining, and commenting, with a focus on clarity and precision. The episode promises more in-depth lessons in future videos, ensuring students can improve their marks and achieve distinctions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Platform is an educational resource aimed at helping high school students improve their history marks by teaching essential skills and exam strategies.
• 😀 The focus of the first few episodes will be on source-based questions, covering both the small details and the strategies needed to master them.
• 😀 Source-based questions can be very rewarding, offering a simple way to gain marks if approached correctly, such as by following instructions and definitions closely.
• 😀 Understanding the keywords in source-based questions is crucial, as these will dictate whether you need to define, explain, or list information.
• 😀 Many students lose marks by failing to answer the required number of points in questions that are worth multiple marks (e.g., 2 * 2 questions).
• 😀 When answering source-based questions, always ensure to respond with multiple points as required, rather than providing a single long response.
• 😀 A critical part of answering source-based questions is closely reading the instructions to determine whether the question is asking for a definition, explanation, or a listing of facts.
• 😀 The concept of 'usefulness' in a source-based question is key: students should frame their answers around how the source provides new or useful information for historians.
• 😀 When comparing sources, always refer to both sources together in your answer to show how they complement each other in supporting the same or different information.
• 😀 The word 'comment' in a question requires your personal opinion, judgment, and reasoning, supported by evidence from the source. It's essential to back up your view with clear examples.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of 'The Platform' as described in the video?

'The Platform' is an educational platform designed to teach high school history, focusing on helping students understand the fundamentals, improve their marks, and achieve distinctions in exams.

Which topics will the first few videos cover?

The first few videos will cover Source-based questions, including how to respond to them effectively, followed by essay questions.

What is the difference between source-based questions and essay questions according to the video?

Source-based questions are a series of smaller questions worth multiple marks that require responses based on sources, while essay questions are longer, requiring analysis, opinion, and evidence to compile a full answer.

What common mistakes do students make with source-based questions?

Students often misread instructions, give one big answer instead of multiple responses for multi-mark questions, or fail to answer specifically according to key words such as 'Define,' 'Explain,' or 'List.'

How should a student answer a '2 * 2' source-based question?

A '2 * 2' question requires two separate responses, each earning two marks. Students should provide two distinct points rather than combining them into a single answer.

What does the word 'comment' indicate in a history exam question?

The word 'comment' signals that the student should provide their own opinion or judgment, supported by evidence from the source and their own knowledge.

How can a source be deemed useful to a historian?

A source is useful if it provides new information or insights about a topic, such as visual evidence in a picture or details from a text that help understand historical events.

How should students approach questions asking them to compare sources?

Students should address both sources together, showing how one supports or relates to the other, rather than treating each source separately.

Why is mastering source-based questions important for passing history exams?

Source-based questions offer easily attainable marks (about 15 marks) that can significantly boost a student's overall score and help them pass the exam with minimal difficulty.

What advice does the video give about following instructions in history questions?

Students should carefully read the key words in the question. If the question says 'Define,' only define; if it says 'Explain,' only explain; do not add extra information unless explicitly asked.

What is the overall strategy the video recommends for achieving high marks in history exams?

The strategy involves understanding and following instructions, answering source-based questions carefully, giving multiple responses when required, supporting opinions with evidence, and gradually mastering essay and paragraph questions.