History
History explores how the events of the past have led to the world created today.
The final NSC History examination consists of short-answer and longer-essay-type questions. This examination is designed to assess your understanding of the various topics and the extent to which you can apply the skills you have learnt throughout your Grade 12 academic year.
Grade 12 History Content:
- 1.1 Early Division of Europe & the Berlin Crisis
- 1.2 Angola as the last proxy war of the Cold War
- 1.3 Civil Rights Protests from the 1950s to the 1970s: The US Civil Rights Movement
- 1.4 Vietnam/American War
- 1.5 Social, Political & Economic Policies in the Congo/Zaire under Mobutu Seso Seko
- 1.6 Civil Rights Protests from the 1950s to the 1970s: The Black Power Movement
- 2.1 South Africa in the 1980s
- 2.2 Truth & Reconciliation Commission in South Africa
- 2.3 Globalisation
- 2.4 South Africa in the 1970s – Black Consciousness
- 2.5 South Africa, 1990-1994
- 2.6 Impact of the Collapse of the Soviet Union on South Africa
The Exam
History is assessed through two written examinations that are worth 150 marks each. You are given three hours to complete each paper and you should use an hour to answer each question.
- Paper 1 examines the following topics: the Cold War, Independent Africa, The Civil Rights Movement, Extension of the Cold War - Case Study: Vietnam, Independent Africa, and The Black Power Movement.
- Paper 2 examines the following topics: Civil Resistance, 1970s to 1980s: South Africa, The coming of democracy to South Africa and coming to terms with the past, and the end of the Cold War and a new order from 1989 to the present.
The question paper is divided into two sections:
-
Section A consists of three (3) source-based questions. You need to answer at least one source-based question.
-
Section B consists of three (3) essay questions. You need to answer at least one essay question.
Future Careers in History with a Matric Certificate
With your matric certificate, you can choose from these courses at a tertiary institution: History Teacher, Journalist, Researcher, Librarian, and Museum curator.
Download the NSC Examination Guidelines
Download the Grade 12 History Curriculum