Stage 1 | Subject outline | Version control

Modern History Stage 1
Subject outline

Version 4.0 - For teaching in 2024.
Accredited in August 2017 for teaching at Stage 1 from 2018.

Stage 1 | Subject outline | Performance standards

Performance standards

Stage 1 performance standards for Modern History can be viewed below. You can also download in Word format [DOC 47KB].

To learn more about what performance standards are, how they are used, and other general information, see performance standards and grades

  Understanding and Exploration Application and Evaluation Analysis
A

In-depth understanding and exploration of historical concepts.

Comprehensive understanding and insightful exploration of the role of ideas, people, and events in history.

Perceptive application of the skills of historical inquiry to critically examine and evaluate sources and interpretations.

Discerning use of relevant evidence to support arguments and draw insightful and relevant conclusions.

Communication of well-reasoned, coherent, and insightful historical arguments, with appropriate acknowledgment of sources.
Critical analysis of short-term and long-term impacts of developments and/or movements in the modern world.

Insightful and critical analysis of ways in which societies in the modern world have been shaped by both internal and external forces and challenges.
B

Some depth in understanding and exploration of historical concepts.

Some depth of understanding and thoughtful exploration of the role of ideas, people, and events in history.

Thoughtful application of the skills of historical inquiry to examine and evaluate sources and interpretations.

Well-considered use of mostly relevant evidence to support arguments, and draw mostly relevant conclusions.

Communication of reasoned and coherent historical arguments, with some insights, and with appropriate acknowledgment of sources.

Some depth in analysis of short term and long-term impacts of developments and/or movements in the modern world.

Well-considered analysis of ways in which societies in the modern world have been shaped by both internal and external forces and challenges.

C

Understanding and exploration of historical concepts.
 
Understanding and considered exploration of the role of ideas, people, and events in history.

Application of the skills of historical inquiry to examine sources and interpretations, with some evaluation.

Use of generally relevant evidence to support arguments, and draw some relevant conclusions.

Communication of generally reasoned and coherent historical arguments, with acknowledgment of sources.

Description, with some analysis, of short-term and long-term impacts of developments and/or movements in the modern world.

Description, with some analysis, of ways in which societies in the modern world have been shaped by both internal and external forces and challenges.

D

Some recognition of historical concepts.
 
Recognition and basic understanding of the role of ideas, people, and events in history.

Basic application of some skills of historical inquiry to select and use sources.

Use of some information with partial relevance to support an argument, and draw basic conclusions.

Partial communication of a historical argument, with attempted acknowledgment of sources.

Description of basic short-term and/or long-term impacts of a development and/or movement in the modern world.

Superficial description of one or more ways in which societies in the modern world have been shaped by an internal or external force or challenge.

E

Attempted engagement with one or more historical concepts.

Awareness of one or more ideas, people, or events in history.

Attempted application of the skills of historical inquiry to select and use one or more sources.

Attempted use of information of limited relevance.

Attempted description of a historical event, with limited or no acknowledgment of sources.

Attempted description of a 
short-term or long-term impact of a development or movement in the modern world.

Attempted description of one way in which a society in the modern world has been shaped by an internal or external force.