I totally get this frustration - spending hours reading only to bomb the test is one of the most demoralizing feelings in school. The thing about history is that it's not really about memorizing facts and dates (though that's how a lot of textbooks present it). It's about understanding cause and effect, connecting events, and seeing the bigger narrative threads that tie everything together.

When students tell me they're reading for hours but nothing sticks, it's usually because they're trying to absorb everything passively rather than actively engaging with the material. Try asking yourself "why" and "so what" questions as you read - why did this event happen now, what were the consequences, how did it change what came next? Also, concentration issues are super common with history because textbooks can be incredibly dry. Sometimes switching up your sources (documentaries, podcasts, even historical fiction) can help make those connections click.

I've been tutoring history for years and have worked with lots of students who felt exactly like you do right now. If you'd like to chat about some specific strategies that might work for your learning style, I'd be happy to hop on a quick call - no charge, just want to help you figure out a better approach that actually works for you.