Assessment and exam practice.

Try this with Ancient History

1. Check the task format, time limit and permitted materials with your school.
2. Start with one timed section or task and record where you spent the most time.
3. Review errors before attempting another section. Separate missing knowledge from timing problems.

View Ancient History resources on ATARMAXXING ↗

Practice paper focus areas

• Exam 1 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): the relative weight of archaeological and literary evidence — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): historical context and one core element — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): influence weighed against the nature of power — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 2 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): why interpretations have changed from antiquity to today — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): beliefs and values — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): product of society or shaper of society — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 3 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): gaps, omissions and emphasis in the evidence — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): continuity and change — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): motivation, context and evidence of success — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 4 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): whether a valid understanding is achievable — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): geography and environment — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): threats to leadership — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 5 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): origin, purpose and context of key primary sources — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): social hierarchy — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): methods used to achieve aims — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 6 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): the methods and assumptions of excavators — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): economic foundations — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): relationships with groups and individuals — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 7 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): popular representations against scholarly interpretations — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): political legitimacy — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): short-term and long-term impact — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 8 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): chronological and geographical context — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): expansion, invasion and contact — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): depictions in life and after death — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 9 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): the most persuasive interpretation — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): material remains as a mirror of priorities — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): circumstance and greatness — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 10 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): new scientific and technological methods — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): elite and non-elite experience — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): rise to prominence — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 11 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): propaganda and the 'victor's' record — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): religion and authority — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): nature and scope of power — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 12 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): preservation, reconstruction and display — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): war and conflict — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): revolutionary or conservative — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 13 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): an ancient interpretation against a modern one — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): relative influence of two core elements — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): death, succession and legacy — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 14 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): why historians still disagree — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): women and non-citizens — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): degree of significance — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 15 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): usefulness versus reliability — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): reconstructing structures from evidence — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): internal and external threats to government — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 16 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): the purpose behind representations — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): innovation and its drivers — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): values and beliefs of society — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 17 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): significance of the topic to its civilisation — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): power written in stone — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): reputation and achievement — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 18 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): causation, change and continuity — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): the start and end of the period — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): success by ancient expectations — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 19 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): absence of evidence — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): interdependence of political and economic structures — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): religion and ideology in authority — full prescribed list of individuals printed
• Exam 20 — Section A Q1 (Criteria 3, 4, 5): dependence on a single dominant source — applied to any of the seven Section A topics; Section B Q2 (Criteria 3, 4, 6): significance within context — core elements and key features table printed; Section C Q3 (Criteria 3, 4, 7): contested motivations — full prescribed list of individuals printed