Task 4 – Semester 1 Examination: Unit 3 Content — Year 12 - Modern History (ATAR)

Task

Semester 1 examination (Task 4). A 3-hour examination using the examination design brief from the ATAR Year 12 syllabus. Only content from Unit 3 (Russia and the Soviet Union 1914–45) is assessed. Official SCSA weighting: 15% of the Year 12 course (Examination type weighting 40%).

Rubric criteria (weights as a percentage of this assessment)

Criterion	Weight	Descriptor
Essay	45%	Section Three: plans and composes an extended essay response that sustains a coherent, evidence-based argument addressing the question, integrating historical perspectives and interpretations.
Short answer	30%	Section One: responds to short-answer questions, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of Unit 3 content with accurate use of historical terms and concepts.
Source analysis	25%	Section Two: analyses and evaluates a range of source material — identifying message, origin, purpose and context, and assessing reliability and usefulness.