1. National 5 History
Final Exam Outline

2. Outline of the Paper The paper lasts for 1 hour 30 mins.
There are 60 marks worth of questions.
The KU questions are worth 60% of the total mark – revision of the topics is essential.
For every mark you have one and a half minutes, for example:
5 mark question 7 ½ mins
6 mark question 9 mins
8 mark question 12 mins

3. How Should I Revise?
Prepare summary notes for each topic - - include keywords , key dates and key facts.
Do a self-check test – pick an area of the topic, revise the key facts then write down everything you can remember in 5 mins.
Practice timed answers – remember you will have roughly 1 ½ mins per mark.

4. How Should I Revise?
Use the School Website – all the key power points for each topic are on there.
Use the SQA website for the specimen paper.
Use the BBC Bitesize revision website

5. Types of Questions The final exam has SIX types of questions:
Type 1: the describe question
Type 2: the explain questions
Type 3: the to what extent question (8 mark)
These questions are all Knowledge and
Understanding questions – they test what
you know about the topic.

6. Types of Questions Type 4: the how useful question
Type 5: the compare questions
Type 6: the how fully question
These questions are all Enquiry Skills
questions – you will use sources to answer
this type of question.

7. Type 1: The ‘Describe’ Question (5 or 6 marks)
Describe what happened OR
Describe the effects of an event or development
Include five or six pieces of your own knowledge (recall).
Recall must be relevant and accurate.
Your answer must be written in sentences.

8. Type 2: The ‘Explain’ Question (5 or 6 marks)
Explain why something happened.
Include five or six pieces of your own knowledge (recall).
Recall must be relevant and accurate.
Your answer must be written in sentences.

9. Type 3: The ‘To What Extent’ Question (8 marks)
Write a balanced answer
Include at least five pieces of relevant information.
Give a short conclusion which sums up your answer to the question.
Give a reason to support your conclusion.

10. Type 4: The ‘How Useful’ Question (5 or 6 marks)
In this question you have to evaluate a source – this means you have to judge how good a source is as evidence for finding out about something.
A source will always be partly useful, but it will never be entirely useful and give you all the information you need.
Always start your answer ‘the source is useful to an extent….’

11. Points to Consider:
WHO produced the source? Is the authorship of the source relevant?
WHEN was the source produced and does that make it a primary or secondary source?
WHY was the source produced? Did the author have a particular purpose in mind?
WHAT information is in the source which is relevant to the question? (up to 2 marks)
WHAT’S NOT THERE? What important information is missing or omitted from the source? (up to 2 marks)

12. Type 5: The ‘Compare’ Question (4 marks)
Make clear connections between two sources.
Look for points the sources agree or disagree on – there could be a mixture.
Explain the point you are making by using your own words and then use the source to support your points.
Make two full comparisons in your answer.

13. Type 6: The ‘How Fully’ Question (5-6 marks)
Always start your answer ‘The source partly explains……………..’
Select information from the source which is relevant to the question – there will usually be three points of information for you to use.
Use recall that is accurate and relevant to make your answer more balanced.