Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

History GCSE help

15 replies

Historyhelpplease · 09/05/2023 10:42

Hi

Posting here for traffic. Child has their GCSE start next week. They are spiralling about their History exams. First paper is next week.

Examining board is AQA.

They say they are confident on medicine topic.

But not on the rest. (Charles II, Cold War, Russia - I may have those exact topic names incorrect but hoping someone with knowledge of the syllabus will be able to fathom what I mean!).

I tried to help her yesterday. We read over a couple of pages Vietnam and USSR relations with Allies and Germany. And she seemed to take some in. But she has looked at all these before. It’s like it’s just not going in (she is generally very “able” so not sure if the spinning is because she is finding this unusually difficult to understand/stick).

Ive seen her revision techniques for other subjects and they seem to be useful and work. For this she just seems to paraphrase what she has just read but doesn’t seem to understand it.

Teacher has been off sick last week and we’ve been told they won’t be available until June. I’m sure they will get someone else in.

But looking for advice about parts she should focus on. Am realistic - realise with a little over a week to go and other revision to do too, she won’t be leaning much. But if I can help at all, I want to, hence the question here.

Many moons ago I did History A Level (it as called “modern History then an covered from WW1 to Cuban Missile Crisis) so I feel like I can help a little with some guidance if anyone can pick out some gems for me!

(Or should I just do with what I’m doing for other subjects - providing the silent support by way of meals, snacks, preventing the sibling fights to a minimum etc?)

Thank you

OP posts:
RachelGreensHair · 09/05/2023 10:58

The AQA website has the spec and past papers and other useful info. So late in the day I'd suggest she watches some youtube videos and does bbc bitesize and a couple of past papers.

Headunderthecovers · 09/05/2023 11:08

With my ds (he got a 9) the revision guides did help break it down into manageable chunks.
He performed best on the topics/papers he enjoyed,so I think there is an element of engagement with what you are learning that helps.
I don't think you need to understand so much at GCSE (unlike A level), as be able to jump through the hoops.

You could write/type out the past exam questions for each paper for the last 5+ years into one sheet; to see if there are popular questions/focus areas. Narrow down the volume for her.

christmastreefarm · 09/05/2023 11:11

My daughters revision technique for history is blurting.

Pick a topic, (don't look at any notes before) write down all the points you can remember. Cross reference what you have written against your full notes to identify gaps. Revise gaps more. Try an exam question.

She got 100% in last mock so it works for her.....

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

anatasia · 09/05/2023 11:23

My revision notes are good if you can find the Aqa version. The books offer sample answers so you can get an idea of what the examiners are looking for. Get her to construct a timeline to put key events in order. Practice answering questions under timed conditions. Tell her to start with the question which carries the highest marks. Get her to work out timings so she knows how long she's got. Reassure her that it's not too late - she can do this. Every student feels overwhelmed. It's a difficult yet brill subject. Hope this helps

worktired · 09/05/2023 14:00

Have you looked at the Seneca app/website? They have revision tests and summaries for a lot of subjects and exam boards. You can access it without needing to log in, so worth a look.

savoycabbage · 09/05/2023 20:28

At least medicine is the first paper, so she's got a bit more time.

My dd has the CPG books on each topic and finds them useful.

Here is the Cold War one but they do all of the topics.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grade-History-Edexcel-Topic-Guide-ebook/dp/B08776FK76/ref=sr11_1?crid=2C6AHAHNO2AY7&keywords=cgp+gcse+history+cold+war&qid=1683660432&sprefix=CPG+gcse+hi%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1

Devonmummy80 · 13/05/2023 07:21

Medicine is my ds least known subject. He says they did it ages ago, haven't even covered it recently. So we've got to recap it all in the next few days.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 13/05/2023 07:39

Devonmummy80 · 13/05/2023 07:21

Medicine is my ds least known subject. He says they did it ages ago, haven't even covered it recently. So we've got to recap it all in the next few days.

I think the issue is that there is so much content that whereas other subjects finished a while ago and have moved to revision, history has been teaching up to the wire along with some of the sciences.

Devonmummy80 · 13/05/2023 07:41

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 13/05/2023 07:39

I think the issue is that there is so much content that whereas other subjects finished a while ago and have moved to revision, history has been teaching up to the wire along with some of the sciences.

Yes, my dc has revision in half term for it too. He had a teacher that wasn't particularly good for first part of gcse course and now the current teacher is frantically trying to catch them up.

diningiswest · 13/05/2023 07:44

Was coming here to say Seneca too. It’s customisable by exam board and my DD finds it really useful

wildfirewonder · 13/05/2023 07:47

I would focus on the fact it doesn't really matter at this stage. Practice exam technique and write flash cards for the topics, use BBC revision pages and then focus on other subjects.

If your DD does badly in History nothing terrible will happen. Make sure they don't let this one exam derail the whole set.

sakura06 · 13/05/2023 07:54

@savoycabbage If it is AQA, Medicine is not the first paper! (Edexcel Paper 1 is though so it's confusing). It should be their Conflict & Tension topic (so Cold War) and Russia!

OP I would just make sure your daughter knows which Cold War course she is doing as there is 1945-1972 and one on the Cold War in Asia.

I agree with others that Seneca is great. BBC Bitesize should also have everything apart from the Restoration topic (Charles II) which is on Paper 2.

AQA have decent revision guides and My Revision Notes is good and covers all topics apart from the Restoration. amzn.eu/d/huZOb6b

It's hard to advise on what your child should focus on without knowing them. But doing some past questions under timed conditions will always be helpful (available on the AQA website). Mind maps (recall as much as you can before looking things up) and flash cards are two of the best techniques.

savoycabbage · 13/05/2023 08:22

Oh shit @sakura06 you are right, I was mixing her up with my niece as they were revising together and niece was stressing about how close her medicine paper was.

Sorry about the confusion OP.

Devonmummy80 · 13/05/2023 11:21

Can I confirm I have this right.
My son is doing Edexel.
Paper 1 medicine and the modern world?

Many thanks

sakura06 · 13/05/2023 11:41

@Devonmummy80 Yes, that's correct. Edexcel has their breadth study first (Medicine OR War OR Migration OR Crime). There's an environment study as part of it which for Medicine is Medicine during the First World War.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page