Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91003 about?

Accepted Answer

You'll choose a significant historical event that matters to New Zealand — it could be something that happened here or an international event that affected New Zealanders — and then work with historical sources (like documents, photos, speeches, or maps) to explain what they tell you about the event. You need to show that you understand what the sources mean and can use history skills like spotting bias, checking reliability, or recognising different perspectives.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91003?

Accepted Answer

1. Select a historical event of real significance to New Zealanders (either a specific event in time, a historical movement, or a person's role in a major event) 2. Find and work with multiple sources related to your chosen event (documents, pictures, graphs, maps, speeches, cartoons, articles) 3. Use historical skills to interpret the sources — such as identifying ideas, facts, different perspectives, bias, reliability, or limitations in the evidence 4. Show understanding of what the sources reveal about the event and why they matter 5. Explain how the sources connect to the significance of the event and its impact on New Zealand or New Zealanders

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91003?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You interpret sources of a historical event using one or more historical skills to show you understand what they tell you about the event. Merit: You interpret the sources in depth, showing thorough understanding by carefully using historical skills to explain what the sources reveal and why it matters to your event. Excellence: You comprehensively interpret sources with perceptive understanding, showing sophisticated use of historical skills to draw out deeper meanings and connections that fully illuminate the event's significance to New Zealanders.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91003?

Accepted Answer

1. Selecting an event that is not actually significant to New Zealand or only briefly mentioning its significance without explaining why it mattered 2. Using sources without really interpreting them — describing what a source says rather than explaining what it shows, reveals, or suggests about the event 3. Not applying historical skills deliberately (for example, mentioning bias exists without explaining whose bias it is or why it's there, or not questioning reliability)

Source interpretation

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