History IB: Higher and Standard Level

In addition to enhancing your knowledge of late Nineteenth and Twentieth Century History, the course will strengthen your powers of analysis, encourage interesting discussion and debate, and improve the standard of your reading and writing. It is good preparation for a wide variety of courses in Higher Education and is valued by a range of professions.

The core of the Higher Level course is the study of Europe in the first half of the Twentieth Century, together with some study of the late Nineteenth Century. Emphasis is placed primarily on the political developments, but we also look at the social, economic and intellectual forces that have helped to shape the continent. There will be focus on aspects of the national histories of Germany, Russia, Spain and Italy, together with examination of major Twentieth Century historical themes including the causes, practices and effects of wars, the origins and development of single party régimes and challenges and responses within democratic states. There will be particular emphasis on international relations 1870-1939. There will be a degree of study of Twentieth Century World History, particularly through coverage of China 1900-1981.

The Standard Level course is based on the themes in Twentieth Century History mentioned above.

20% of your final mark at Higher Level, and 25% of your final mark at Standard Level will be internally assessed on the basis of an historical investigation (1500-2000 words). In the final Higher Level examination there will be three papers: a one hour document (source) paper (20%), a one and a half hour paper on the major historical themes (25%) and a two and a half hour paper on European History (35%). At Standard Level the final examination consists of a one hour document paper (30%) and a one and a half hour paper on major historical themes in Twentieth Century World History (45%).