Welcome to IB History and well done on making one of the best decisions that you will ever make!
History is a dynamic, contested, evidence-based discipline that involves an exciting engagement with the past.
History is an exploratory subject that fosters a sense of inquiry. It is also an interpretive discipline, allowing opportunity for engagement with multiple perspectives and opinions. Studying history develops an understanding of the past, which leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of humans and of the world today.
The Diploma Programme (DP) history course is a world history course based on a comparative, multi-perspective approach to history and focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation and significance. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, encouraging students to think historically and to develop historical skills. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past.
The DP history course requires students to study and compare examples from different regions of the world, helping to foster international mindedness. Teachers have a great deal of freedom to choose relevant examples to explore with their students, helping to ensure that the course meets their students’ needs and interests regardless of their location or context.
History is an exploratory subject that fosters a sense of inquiry. It is also an interpretive discipline, allowing opportunity for engagement with multiple perspectives and opinions. Studying history develops an understanding of the past, which leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of humans and of the world today.
The Diploma Programme (DP) history course is a world history course based on a comparative, multi-perspective approach to history and focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation and significance. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, encouraging students to think historically and to develop historical skills. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past.
The DP history course requires students to study and compare examples from different regions of the world, helping to foster international mindedness. Teachers have a great deal of freedom to choose relevant examples to explore with their students, helping to ensure that the course meets their students’ needs and interests regardless of their location or context.
The aims of the course
Assessment objective 1: Knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate detailed, relevant and accurate historical knowledge.
- Demonstrate understanding of historical concepts and context.
- Demonstrate understanding of historical sources. (Internal assessment and paper 1)
Assessment objective 2: Application and analysis
- Formulate clear and coherent arguments.
- Use relevant historical knowledge to effectively support analysis.
- Analyse and interpret a variety of sources. (Internal assessment and paper 1)
Assessment objective 3: Synthesis and evaluation
- Integrate evidence and analysis to produce a coherent response.
- Evaluate different perspectives on historical issues and events, and integrate this evaluation effectively into a response.
- Evaluate sources as historical evidence, recognizing their value and limitations. (Internal assessment and paper 1)
- Synthesize information from a selection of relevant sources. (Internal assessment and paper 1)
Assessment objective 4: Use and application of appropriate skills
- Structure and develop focused essays that respond effectively to the demands of a question.
- Reflect on the methods used by, and challenges facing, the historian. (Internal assessment)
- Formulate an appropriate, focused question to guide a historical inquiry. (Internal assessment)
- Demonstrate evidence of research skills, organization, referencing and selection of appropriate sources. (Internal assessment)
| ib_history_specification_-_official.pdf |
What will you study this year?
How will you be assessed?
Assessment component
SL - Standard Level
External assessment (2 hours 30 minutes) 75%
Paper 1 (1 hour) 30%
Source-based paper based on the five prescribed subjects. Choose one prescribed subject from a choice of five. Answer four structured questions. (24 marks)
Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes) 45%
Essay paper based on the 12 world history topics. Answer two essay questions on two different topics. (30 marks)
Internal assessment (20 hours) 25%
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.
Historical investigation
Students are required to complete a historical investigation into a topic of their choice. (25 marks)
HL - Higher Level
External assessment (5 hours) Paper 1 (1 hour)
Source-based paper based on the five prescribed subjects. Choose one prescribed subject from a choice of five. Answer four structured questions. (24 marks)
Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes)
Essay paper based on the 12 world history topics. Answer two essay questions on two different topics. (30 marks)
Paper 3 (2 hours 30 minutes)
Separate papers for each of the four regional options. For the selected region, answer three essay questions. (45 marks)
80% 20%
25% 35%
Internal assessment (20 hours)
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.
Historical investigation
Students are required to complete a historical investigation into a topic of their choice. (25 marks)
20%