Hey there friend! Today we are discussing how to make an A+ on a History Exam. As a former student and Graduate Teaching Assistant I have got a few tips and tricks to help you out! Make sure that you read all the way to the end! 

First, I am going to tell you what I did as a student to prepare for exams. Second, I will tell you some of the things that I was required to grade for as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. I hope that having both of these perspectives will help you to make a great grade on your next test! 

Tips from my time as a student

• Always take notes in class.
  • Underline the headings so that things are easier to read. 
• Take notes during discussion groups too! 
  • The readings and points talked about in discussion groups can and will appear on exams. 
• Take notes when you do the readings for class. 
  • This makes it easier for you to remember what each one was about! 
• Utilize the glossary in the back of the book for definitions! 
  • Who?
  • What? 
  • When?
  • Where?
  • Why it was significant? (Historical Significance)
• Always read the directions on the exam. Make sure that you answer all parts of the question. 

Tips from my time as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 

• ALWAYS! ALWAYS! ALWAYS! Answer these 5 questions. 
  • Who?
  • What? 
  • When?
  • Where?
  • Why it was significant? (Historical Significance. This one is the most important and often worth the most points.)
• Go to your GTA’s office hours to ask questions about your study guide and materials. I loved it when students brought their study guides in early and asked questions. It gave me a chance to clarify things and they often earned better grades because they fixed their study materials and filled in that gaps they were missing! 
• Go to study sessions hosted by the GTA or other sources on campus. My first semester as a GTA we held review sessions before the exams and gave students an opportunity to ask us questions. 
• Read the exam questions carefully and make sure that you answer all parts of the question.
• If you don’t know the answer give it your best educated guess. Most professors/GTAs will give you at least a point or two for trying. If you leave it blank then you get zero points. The couple of points you get for guessing can sometimes make the difference between letter grades! 

Concluding Thoughts

There you have it! My best tips for passing history test. I hope this helps you with regular exams, midterm exams, and your final exam for history class.

Happy studying! I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂