Katherine Twite completed History: Revolutions in 2014, with a study score of 45 raw. If you have Revs questions, drop them here!
I completed Revs 3/4 when I was in Year 11, and I loved it.
Whilst the amount of content and skilled to be learnt was kinda insane, I can honestly look back on it as one of the most enjoyable and useful subjects I undertook during my VCE.
If you take Revs seriously, it sets you up with some pretty neat skills. It definitely improved my writing, as well as increasing my ability to analyse and research information (very useful for both Year 12 and uni). Below, I’ve summarised the things I did that helped me achieve my study score. I hope you find them useful!
Top 10 suggestions for smashing Revs from here:
1. Read widely
Your textbook is a great place to start. But often, it only covers events briefly and from one perspective (that of the author, plus a few other historians’ extracts).
It is very important to read a few different (but reliable) sources for information about key events. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow some books from my cousin, but your school or local library should have a few you can look at.
There are also some good websites, such as Alpha History, which are quite helpful and accessible. VCAA has a full of list of appropriate resources for each revolution, which I recommend highly.
2. Write a tonne of practice responses
This not only lets you improve your writing/evaluating skills; it also helps you memorise dates and quotes. This is because you’re required to write them out in context.
On top of this, practice responses also help you establish which quotes are useful for different points, so you know which are the most important to commit to memory.
3. Develop a system for organising notes
When I had a SAC coming up, I’d dot point all the key things I had to know (people, events etc.). Then, I would condense all my notes from class and other sources into one Word document. Below each point, I would type out quotes from historians regarding that particular event, idea or individual.
Finally, I printed off the notes, and highlighted dates, important figures, people’s names and quotes in different colours. For example, I highlighted all quotes in green so that they stood out. This worked really well for me, but it’s important you have a method that suits how you remember things.
Complete Course Notes – History: Revolutions – Click Here!
4. Be familiar with a few key historians’ views of key events
Don’t just rely on the quotes that have been used in your textbook.
Look at some of the historians’ books that you discuss frequently, and establish their view of the revolution’s events. Again, check out your library.
5. Do more than just memorise dates
Think about the how and the why – not just the when and the where.
Try and put yourself in the shoes of the different groups involved in and affected by the revolution you’re learning about.
6. Be your own historian
What is your view of the events you’ve learnt about?
This may seem a bit counter-intuitive, seeing as we are also going on about bias in history. But in this case, if you’ve carefully considered the information you have learnt, and a variety of viewpoints, forming an opinion demonstrates a deeper level of understanding.
NB: By this, I don’t mean you should write in your responses things like, “I think…” Please, never do this.
7. Discuss, debate and teach
One of the best ways to consolidate what you have learnt is talking about it with someone else.
The night before the exam, I made my family listen to my rundown of the Chinese Revolution (sorry guys). If it comes to it, you can always teach your dog/cat/goldfish about Mao or Rasputin.
8. Develop your vocabulary
I know that Revs is not English. But your SACs and exam require you to do lots of writing pieces.
I found it really helpful to create lists of synonyms for words and phrases like ‘led to’ and ‘exacerbated’ so I could express my points more effectively, and ensure my writing flowed.
9. Make timelines and flowcharts of key events
Making your own timelines (by hand) helps you solidly establish the chronology of events.
And flowcharts help you understand how multiple factors contributed to one key event.
10. Have fun with it (or, at least, try to)!
One benefit of doing Revs was that it meant I discovered some great meme pages.
I convinced myself that this was revision.
Just, please, don’t cite them as sources. Please.
11. Bonus exam tip!
(This was my strategy, but do what you are most comfortable with.)
During reading time, read through all the questions and rank them from easiest to hardest. Then, do them in that order.
This means you can ensure that you’ve answered all the questions you can get maximum marks from. It also prevents you spending too long on one question for which you probably won’t get full marks.
Also, if you come across a really difficult question that you have no idea how to tackle, just give it a shot and write down anything you can think of that relates to what the question seems to be asking. (You don’t know what the examiners might award marks for if that question was answered poorly by most people!)
Good luck for the rest of Revs 3/4!
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