History students put themselves in the past for Level 1 exam

How Rua Kenana would improve race relations in the 1920s, and what Dr Elizabeth Gunn felt were the defining women's health issues in the '60s formed part of this year's history exams.

All three NCEA history levels were sat by tens of thousands of secondary school students yesterday.

And far from the archaic notion of reciting dates and places, the 11,300 students sitting level 1 had to write first-person opinions of some of New Zealand history's leading figures. Those keen to avoid New Zealand history, however, had plenty of options.

Other questions were based on race relations in South Africa in the middle decades of last century, international relations leading up to World War II, and black civil rights in '50s and '60s United States.

Elsewhere, topics included New Zealand's reaction to nuclear testing in the South Pacific, the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior and sporting contact with South Africa.

Fresh from sitting four papers to finish the exam, Matt van der Salm, 16, said he found it "not too bad".

"I actually finished with an hour to go so it was not too stressful," said the Lynfield College student.

The exam was made up of several question-and-answer papers and one essay question. Matt said the essay was the hardest - Describe an historical development - for which he chose New Zealand's search for security.

But even trickier was negotiating the abundance of papers.

Level 1 questions included: What major issues caused tensions in New Zealand's relations with other countries between 1972 and 1985?

And: Why was World War II a test for Stalin's leadership?

Today's exams

Levels 1 & 3: Chemistry (am); Drama (pm)

Level 2: Drama (am); Chemistry (pm)