External assessment details—HL
Paper 1 Duration: 1 hour Weighting: 20%
This examination paper assesses the following objectives.
Question Assessment objective
The first question will test understanding of a source in part (a) and part (b).
1. Knowledge and understanding
• Understand historical sources
The second question will test analysis of sources through the comparison and contrast of two sources.
2. Application and interpretation
• Compare and contrast historical sources as evidence
The third question will ask students to discuss two sources in relation to their origin, purpose, value and limitations
3. Synthesis and evaluation
• Evaluate historical sources as evidence
The fourth question will test evaluation of sources and contextual knowledge.
1. Knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate an understanding of historical context
3. Synthesis and evaluation
• Evaluate and synthesize evidence from both historical sources and background knowledge
The structured questions are set on subjects that are prescribed in advance. Students must study one prescribed subject in depth
from either route 1 or route 2.The prescribed subjects for the examination sessions 2010-16 are as follows.
Route 2: 20th century world history
• Prescribed subject 1: Peacemaking, peacekeeping—international relations 1918-36
• Prescribed subject 2: The Arab–Israeli conflict 1945-79
• Prescribed subject 3: Communism in crisis 1976-89
Sources will be primary or a mixture of primary and secondary; they may be written, pictorial or diagrammatic. Documentary sources in paper 1 cannot be handled with confidence unless students have a strong grasp of the historical context of the prescribed subject. It is therefore essential that students are directed towards authoritative secondary sources that will provide them with a strong foundation in the prescribed subject.
There will be five sources for each prescribed subject. Some questions will be answered using only evidence from one or more of the sources, as indicated. In other questions students will be asked to use their own knowledge as well as evidence contained in all the sources.
Students must answer all four questions from one prescribed subject. The maximum mark for this paper is 25. The paper is marked using a paper-specific analytic markscheme.
Paper 1 Duration: 1 hour Weighting: 20%
This examination paper assesses the following objectives.
Question Assessment objective
The first question will test understanding of a source in part (a) and part (b).
1. Knowledge and understanding
• Understand historical sources
The second question will test analysis of sources through the comparison and contrast of two sources.
2. Application and interpretation
• Compare and contrast historical sources as evidence
The third question will ask students to discuss two sources in relation to their origin, purpose, value and limitations
3. Synthesis and evaluation
• Evaluate historical sources as evidence
The fourth question will test evaluation of sources and contextual knowledge.
1. Knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate an understanding of historical context
3. Synthesis and evaluation
• Evaluate and synthesize evidence from both historical sources and background knowledge
The structured questions are set on subjects that are prescribed in advance. Students must study one prescribed subject in depth
from either route 1 or route 2.The prescribed subjects for the examination sessions 2010-16 are as follows.
Route 2: 20th century world history
• Prescribed subject 1: Peacemaking, peacekeeping—international relations 1918-36
• Prescribed subject 2: The Arab–Israeli conflict 1945-79
• Prescribed subject 3: Communism in crisis 1976-89
Sources will be primary or a mixture of primary and secondary; they may be written, pictorial or diagrammatic. Documentary sources in paper 1 cannot be handled with confidence unless students have a strong grasp of the historical context of the prescribed subject. It is therefore essential that students are directed towards authoritative secondary sources that will provide them with a strong foundation in the prescribed subject.
There will be five sources for each prescribed subject. Some questions will be answered using only evidence from one or more of the sources, as indicated. In other questions students will be asked to use their own knowledge as well as evidence contained in all the sources.
Students must answer all four questions from one prescribed subject. The maximum mark for this paper is 25. The paper is marked using a paper-specific analytic markscheme.