hkcee 2009 history syllabus

HISTORY

INTRODUCTION
The assessment of this subject is based on the History Curriculum and Assessment Guide (Secondary 4-5) jointly prepared by the Curriculum Development Council and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. Candidates have to refer to the sections on ‘Curriculum Framework’ and ‘Expected Learning Outcomes’ in this Guide for the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes they are required to demonstrate in the assessment.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
A. For the Written Examination Component
The objectives of this component are to evaluate candidates’:
1. knowledge and understanding of major events and trends of the 20th-century world;
2. ability to recall, evaluate and select knowledge relevant to the context and to deploy it in a clear and coherent form;
3. ability to recognize and make use of the concepts of cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference;
4. ability to look at events and issues from the perspective of people in the past;
5. ability to interpret and evaluate historical evidence: to extract information from historical sources; to distinguish between fact, opinion and judgment; to detect bias; to draw conclusions based on a comparison of various types of historical sources.

B. For the School-based Assessment (SBA) Component
The objectives of this component are to evaluate candidates’:
1. ability to formulate and evaluate decisions in the process of collecting and analysing information, listing and ranking alternatives;
2. understanding that historical conclusions are liable to reassessment in the light of new and reinterpreted evidence;
3. appreciation of the characteristics and values of their own culture, and respect for and tolerance of different opinions expressed, recognition of the existence of divergent experiences, beliefs and behaviours among different peoples, and identification with their shared virtues and common aspirations;
4. spirit of impartiality and empathetic understanding in the study of History.

MODE OF ASSESSMENT
Public assessment of the curriculum will consist of two components: a written paper
and a school-based assessment (SBA) portfolio.
The written paper will carry 80% of the total subject marks, and will be of 2 hours’ duration. The paper will comprise Part A (50% of subject marks) and Part B (30% of subject marks). Candidates will be required to answer questions from both parts. The SBA portfolio will carry 20% of the total subject marks. It will consist of a standardised School Candidates Mark Sheet and a written course assignment. The following table outlines the two components of the assessment:

Written Paper (2 hours)
Part A: 50%
Part A will consist of data-based questions, which will fall within both Themes. All questions will have to be answered. Various types of historical sources will be used,
which may include extracts from written sources, statistics, and visual materials such
as maps, cartoons and photographs. Candidates are advised to spend
approximately 1¼ hours on this part.

Part B: 30%
Part B will consist of five essay-type questions, of which candidates may attempt any ONE. The five questions will fall within both Themes. Candidates are advised to spend approximately 45 minutes on this part.

Schoolbased Assessment (SBA) 20%
Candidates are to submit an SBA portfolio, consisting of:
(a) a standardised School Candidates Mark Sheet (provided by the HKEAA) on which
the subject teacher fills in the marks of the candidate in four areas: a written course
assignment, course performance in S4, course performance in S5, and internal
tests/exams results;
(b) a written course assignment, the marks of which have been recorded on the School
Candidates Mark Sheet; it could be in various formats (e.g. essays, debate speeches, field journals).