THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Your chosen historical topics, the documents-based study and your own research study all belong in the plan.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
This guide uses the syllabus for the 2027 examination. Curriculum Online also lists a replacement for a later cohort; do not switch to it simply because it appears first on the subject page.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is History assessed?
- Written examination, including the documents-based study.
- Research study report.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Choose either Early Modern (1492–1815) or Later Modern (1815–1993). Study the required Irish and European/wider-world topics within that field. The prescribed documents topic is cohort-specific; confirm the 2027 prescription with your teacher.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Irish history topics
The Irish topics selected for your field of study.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Why was a development significant for a particular group?
Build a timeline, then mark causes and consequences rather than learning dates alone.
Europe & the wider world
The selected non-Irish topics and their case studies.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which factors best explain a major change?
Group evidence by explanatory factor, not just by year.
Documents comprehension
Extracting and comparing what sources say.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Where do two documents agree and disagree?
Use evidence from both documents in the comparison.
Source criticism
Origin, purpose, usefulness and limitations.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Is a partisan source automatically useless?
Distinguish evidence of attitudes from reliable evidence of the event itself.
Historical argument
A focused response supported by accurate detail.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
To what extent did one factor explain an outcome?
Define the scope of the claim, weigh alternatives and return to the wording.
Research study
A manageable question and evaluated sources.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Does the evidence justify the conclusion of your study?
Keep source details while researching, not after you have written the report.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- List only the topics and case studies selected for your programme.
- Alternate a documents exercise with an essay plan.
- Review the research study’s evidence, source evaluation and argument separately.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: History (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- History: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Working with evidence, topics for study and assessment.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.