Year 12 History

Year 12 History – Level 2 NCEA Course Outline 2026

Step into the most turbulent and transformative moments of the 20th and early 21st centuries with Level Two History 2026. In Term One, students will either examine the political, economic, social, and cultural changes that occurred in Germany from 1918 to 1945 for AS91229 by analyzing the challenges facing the Weimar Republic, the factors that led to the rise of the Nazi state, and the impact of Hitler’s regime. Alternatively, they will investigate the global tensions of the Cold War (1945–1991). In Term Two, they will examine the Vietnam War (1945–1975) for AS91230, uncovering the political, military, and social dimensions of one of the most divisive conflicts of the modern era. In Term Three, students will examine the causes and consequences of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the USA and how it shaped international relations in the early 21st century.

The course also offers flexibility and choice: a further assessment opportunity for AS91229 is available using the terrorism topic, and students may choose any event from the year’s topics for the AS91233 essay standard. They will also have the chance to attempt the AS91231 Sources external, developing skills in interpreting evidence. This course is ideal for students who want to critically examine the forces that shaped the modern world, develop strong research and analytical skills, and explore multiple perspectives on key historical events.

History aims to stimulate an interest in and an enthusiasm for learning about the past. We want to ensure that students' knowledge of contemporary society is grounded in an understanding of the past. In History, students read a range of source material, learning to interpret information with discrimination and insight.

Students develop their communication skills, learning to express themselves effectively for different purposes. 

Key historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference, as well as investigation, analysis and evaluation of source material, are developed.

History provides a broad foundation of knowledge and skills for a wide range of university courses and careers. History students become skilled at:

1. Analysing large amounts of information, extracting the most relevant information, prioritising, assessing and constructing arguments. These skills are essential in careers such as law, administration, politics and government, TV research and journalism.
2. Enquiring and searching for information, knowing where to look and what questions to ask. These skills are essential in careers such as law and policing, investigative reporting, market research.
3. Communicating ideas in an organised, structured and logical fashion. History requires extended, logical, reasoned debate in writing. These skills are essential in careers that require writing reports, including academia, the civil service, law, and journalism.
4. Understanding individuals and groups - their feelings, attitudes, prejudices and motivations. These skills are essential in careers such as personnel, law, teaching, and social work.
5. Understanding historical skills such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, which are essential in any career that requires analysis and strategy, such as the armed forces, teaching, advertising, medicine, banking and accountancy.
6. Developing skills of problem solving and evaluating solutions. The study of History teaches information handling, communicating ideas, flexibility and tolerance - skills that are essential in problem solving in industry and in research and development teams in science and engineering.