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NSSCO History 6138

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Cheat sheet

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Key terms

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Study plan

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Common mistakes

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Case studies

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Exam-day guide

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About this exam

NSSCO History 6138 is the Ordinary Level History syllabus of Namibia's senior secondary curriculum, normally taken in the final two years of secondary schooling and examined by written papers that mix source-based, structured and extended-response questions. It suits school candidates completing the NSSCO, private candidates registering through the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, and anyone needing a recognised school-leaving history qualification for further study, teacher training or public-sector entry. The syllabus is regional and thematic rather than a single narrative: Namibian and southern African societies before colonial rule, the German and South African colonial periods and their resistance histories, the liberation struggle to independence in 1990, the wider Scramble for Africa and decolonisation, twentieth-century international conflicts including the World Wars and the Cold War, and the source-handling skills tested across all papers. Preparation should be active. Build a dated timeline of Namibian events that you can link to wider African and global developments, practise reading short sources for origin, purpose and reliability, and write timed paragraphs that make a clear argument backed by specific evidence. Essay technique and factual recall carry equal weight, so drill both. Always confirm the current syllabus, paper structure and examination dates with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture or your school, since these are set officially and may be revised.

What you'll study

Namibia and Southern Africa in the 19th century: pre-colonial societies, trade, migration and the onset of colonial rule20% Colonial rule, resistance and the making of modern Namibia, c.1884–194520% Namibia's liberation struggle, nationalism and independence, 1945–199020% Africa and the wider world: the Scramble for Africa, imperialism and decolonisation15% International relations and conflicts of the 20th century, including the two World Wars and the Cold War15% Historical skills: source analysis, interpretation, chronology, causation and historiography10%
Common questions

About NSSCO History 6138 preparation

What is the exam format like?

Expect written papers combining source-based questions, shorter structured questions and longer extended-response essays. Source questions usually supply short extracts or visual material in the paper itself and ask about message, reliability and usefulness. Confirm the exact paper combination and weighting in the current official syllabus, as structure can be revised.

How long is the examination and how many papers are there?

The official body sets the number of papers and their duration for each examination session, and these details are published in the current syllabus and timetable rather than fixed permanently. Check the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture website or your school's examinations office for the year you are sitting.

How hard is NSSCO History?

The content is accessible but the volume is large and the exam rewards precision. Candidates who memorise names without dates, causes or consequences lose marks on essays. The hardest part is usually linking Namibian events to wider African and global contexts, and judging sources rather than simply summarising them.

Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?

Retake arrangements depend on the examination authority's rules for the specific session, so treat any general claim with caution. Ask your school or the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture about re-registration windows, whether marks are carried over and any conditions attached to a second attempt.

How should I order my study?

Start with the nineteenth-century Namibian and southern African societies because later topics assume that background, then move through colonial rule and resistance to the liberation struggle. Study the Scramble for Africa and the World Wars alongside, so you can connect them. Finish with timed source and essay practice across all themes.

What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?

Three recur: describing events instead of explaining causes and consequences, ignoring the wording of the question so the essay answers a different one, and treating a source as simply true or false without discussing who wrote it and why. Weak chronology also hurts, since dates anchor arguments in this syllabus.

Do I need to memorise lots of dates?

You need enough dates to anchor an argument, not a full chronology. Learn turning points such as the Berlin Conference, the Herero and Nama genocide, the start of armed liberation struggle, and independence in 1990, plus a rough sequence of surrounding events. Approximate periods are acceptable where the question asks about trends.

How do I answer source-based questions well?

Identify the origin, purpose and context of the source, state its message in your own words, then judge how far it is reliable or useful by cross-referencing your own knowledge. Avoid quoting at length. Marks come from evaluating the source, not from copying it or declaring it biased without explanation.

Where can I confirm official details?

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture publishes the current syllabus, examination timetable and registration information. Your school's history teacher or examinations officer can confirm which topics are examinable that year. This page is independent study support and is not affiliated with the Ministry or the examination board.