QCE Modern History Syllabus Guide (Humanities and Social Sciences)

QCE Modern History is built from studies you and your school choose within the QCAA framework of units and topics. This guide lists the syllabus structure, with Units 3 and 4 counting towards your ATAR.

The external exam is worth 25% of your final result, with three internal assessments making up the rest - so source and essay technique across the whole course matters.

Unit 1: Ideas in the Modern World

Topic 1: Contextual study

Contextual study

  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; ideas, beliefs and perspectives; significant historical features that existed within a society or across societies; the thoughts and feelings of people or groups to empathise with them and/or identify their perspectives.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources by focusing on, for example; the nature and range of sources available and evidence for the period; issues related to historiography or discussions about the nature of history more generally.

Topic 2: Depth study

Depth study

  • devise historical questions and conduct research.
  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; a chronology of events; ideological, cultural, political or any other influences that existed within a society or across societies; individuals, groups, ideas and events and the relationships between them.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; short-, medium- and long-term causes of events and developments; the role and significance of ideas, people, groups and other influences; the nature of developments, actions and events; effects and/or consequences of ideas and events, including continuities and changes; perspectives and points of contestability raised by historians or others.
  • evaluate the usefulness and reliability of evidence from historical sources.
  • synthesise evidence from historical sources to develop a historical argument and make decisions.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Topic 3: Concluding study

Concluding study

  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; the relationship between past events and the current world; debates or discussions about the significance of past events for the current world; any enduring legacies associated with past events; relevant and related ideas, actions, movements or other events.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Unit 2: Movements in the Modern World

Topic 1: Contextual study

Contextual study

  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; ideas, beliefs and perspectives; significant historical features that existed within a society or across societies; the thoughts and feelings of people or groups to empathise with them and/or identify their perspectives.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources by focusing on, for example; the nature and range of sources available and evidence for the period; issues related to historiography or discussions about the nature of history more generally.

Topic 2: Depth study

Depth study

  • devise historical questions and conduct research.
  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; a chronology of events; ideological, cultural, political or any other influences that existed within a society or across societies; individuals, groups, ideas and events and the relationships between them.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; short-, medium- and long-term causes of events and developments; the role and significance of ideas, people, groups and other influences; the nature of developments, actions and events; effects and/or consequences of ideas and events, including continuities and changes; perspectives and points of contestability raised by historians or others.
  • evaluate the usefulness and reliability of evidence from historical sources.
  • synthesise evidence from historical sources to develop a historical argument and make decisions.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Topic 3: Concluding study

Concluding study

  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; the relationship between past events and the current world; debates or discussions about the significance of past events for the current world; any enduring legacies associated with past events; relevant and related ideas, actions, movements or other events.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Unit 3: National experiences in the Modern World

Topic 1: Contextual study

Contextual study

  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; ideas, beliefs and perspectives; significant historical features that existed within a society or across societies; the thoughts and feelings of people or groups to empathise with them and/or identify their perspectives.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources by focusing on, for example; the nature and range of sources available and evidence for the period; issues related to historiography or discussions about the nature of history more generally.

Topic 2: Depth study

Depth study

  • devise historical questions and conduct research.
  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; a chronology of events; ideological, cultural, political or any other influences that existed within a society or across societies; individuals, groups, ideas and events and the relationships between them.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; short-, medium- and long-term causes of events and developments; the role and significance of ideas, people, groups and other influences; the nature of developments, actions and events; effects and/or consequences of ideas and events, including continuities and changes; perspectives and points of contestability raised by historians or others.
  • evaluate the usefulness and reliability of evidence from historical sources.
  • synthesise evidence from historical sources to develop a historical argument and make decisions.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Topic 3: Concluding study

Concluding study

  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; the relationship between past events and the current world; debates or discussions about the significance of past events for the current world; any enduring legacies associated with past events; relevant and related ideas, actions, movements or other events.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Unit 4: International experiences in the Modern World

Topic 1: Contextual study

Contextual study

  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; ideas, beliefs and perspectives; significant historical features that existed within a society or across societies; the thoughts and feelings of people or groups to empathise with them and/or identify their perspectives.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources by focusing on, for example; the nature and range of sources available and evidence for the period; issues related to historiography or discussions about the nature of history more generally.

Topic 2: Depth study

Depth study

  • devise historical questions and conduct research.
  • comprehend terms, concepts and issues by focusing on, for example; a chronology of events; ideological, cultural, political or any other influences that existed within a society or across societies; individuals, groups, ideas and events and the relationships between them.
  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; short-, medium- and long-term causes of events and developments; the role and significance of ideas, people, groups and other influences; the nature of developments, actions and events; effects and/or consequences of ideas and events, including continuities and changes; perspectives and points of contestability raised by historians or others.
  • evaluate the usefulness and reliability of evidence from historical sources.
  • synthesise evidence from historical sources to develop a historical argument and make decisions.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Topic 3: Concluding study

Concluding study

  • analyse evidence from historical sources that are focused on, for example; the relationship between past events and the current world; debates or discussions about the significance of past events for the current world; any enduring legacies associated with past events; relevant and related ideas, actions, movements or other events.
  • create responses that communicate to suit purpose.

Practise the Modern History syllabus

The external exam is worth 25% of your QCE Modern History result. Sit the real QCAA past papers under timed conditions, then generate fresh questions on any topic above with Polarbear's exam-cram - grounded in this syllabus, free to try.

Practise QCE Modern History Official QCAA syllabus

QCE Modern History FAQ

Syllabus structure from the QCAA Modern History 2025senior syllabus, © State of Queensland (Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority), licensed under CC BY 4.0. For the authoritative version see the official QCAA syllabus. Polarbear is not affiliated with or endorsed by the QCAA. Snapshot generated 2026-07-20.

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