IB History — Study Hub

Your complete study hub for IB History. Free notes, flashcards, and exam-style practice for Paper 1 source analysis and the Paper 2 world-history topics — from the prescribed subjects to authoritarian states, the World Wars, and the Cold War.

What is IB History?

IB History is a Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) subject that studies the past through evidence — asking not only what happened, but how we know, whose account we trust, and why interpretations differ. It rewards students who argue with precise knowledge, engage with historians’ debates, and reach a clear, supported judgement rather than simply narrating events.

The course is built around two examined papers. Paper 1 is a source-based investigation on one prescribed subject: you comprehend written and visual sources, assess their value and limitations by origin, purpose and content (OPVL), compare and contrast two sources, and use the sources with your own knowledge to answer a mini-essay. Paper 2 is a comparative essay paper drawn from the world-history topics, where you answer two essays across different regions and periods.

Aimnova covers the most-taught routes through the syllabus: the Paper 1 prescribed subjects — military leaders (Genghis Khan and Richard I), conquest and its impact, the move to global war, rights and protest, and conflict and intervention — and the Paper 2 world-history topics, from society and economy (750–1400) and medieval warfare through industrialization, independence movements, democratic and authoritarian states, the 20th-century wars, and the Cold War.

Subject Group

Group 3

Available Levels

SL & HL

Teaching Hours

150 (SL) · 240 (HL)

Exam Papers

Paper 1 · Paper 2 · IA

IB History Assessment

Paper 1 — Source analysis

30% (SL) · 20% (HL)1h

A structured source-based paper on one prescribed subject. Four questions test comprehension of a source, an OPVL analysis of a source’s value and limitations (origin, purpose and content), a compare-and-contrast of two sources, and a mini-essay that combines the sources with your own knowledge to reach a judgement.

Paper 2 — World history

45% (SL) · 25% (HL)1h 30m

Two comparative essays chosen from the world-history topics — society and economy, medieval and 20th-century wars, industrialization, independence movements, democratic states, authoritarian states, and the Cold War. Each essay is marked on a focused argument, accurate and detailed support drawn from more than one region, and analytical judgement.

Internal Assessment — Historical investigation

25% (SL) · 20% (HL)

A 2,200-word historical investigation on a question of your choice, structured as an evaluation of sources, an investigation, and a reflection on the methods and limitations of the historian. The same task at SL and HL.

IB History Syllabus — Paper 1 & Paper 2 Topics

SLHL

Viewing Standard Level — switch to Higher Level for the full HL syllabus.

Unit 1: Paper 1 · Military leaders

1.1Genghis Khan (c1200–1227)3 sub-topics

1.1.1 Genghis Khan — Leadership 1.1.2 Genghis Khan — Campaigns 1.1.3 Genghis Khan — Impact

1.2Richard I of England (1173–1199)3 sub-topics

1.2.1 Richard I — Leadership 1.2.2 Richard I — Campaigns 1.2.3 Richard I — Impact

1.3Paper 1 source skills1 sub-topic

1.3.1 Paper 1 source skills (Military leaders)

Unit 12: Paper 2 · Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750–2005)

12.1Origins and causes of industrialization3 sub-topics

12.1.1 The causal framework: why industrialization began 12.1.2 Key innovations: textiles, steam and transport 12.1.3 Case study — Britain as the first industrial nation (c1750–1850)

12.2Development of industrialization3 sub-topics

12.2.1 The factory system, mechanisation and key industries 12.2.2 The transport revolution and urbanisation 12.2.3 Case study — Britain and a second-region industrialiser

12.3Impact of industrialization3 sub-topics

12.3.1 Social effects: work, class and the family 12.3.2 Political effects: protest, unions and reform 12.3.3 Case study — impact and responses in Britain and one other society

Unit 17: Paper 2 · The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)

17.1Rivalry, mistrust and accord3 sub-topics

17.1.1 Origins: ideology and the breakdown of the wartime alliance 17.1.2 Confrontation in Europe: containment, Berlin and the alliances 17.1.3 Arms race, détente and the end of the Cold War

17.2Leaders and nations3 sub-topics

17.2.1 US leaders and the policies of the United States 17.2.2 Soviet leaders and the policies of the USSR 17.2.3 Superpower relations and the two blocs

17.3Cold War crises3 sub-topics

17.3.1 The Berlin crises (1948-49 and 1958-61)17.3.2 The Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis 17.3.3 Crises in the Soviet bloc: Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968)

Unit 2: Paper 1 · Conquest and its impact

2.1Muslim rule in Spain and the fall of Granada (1492)3 sub-topics

2.1.1 The Reconquest of Muslim Spain: context and motives 2.1.2 The Reconquest and the fall of Granada (1492): key events and actors 2.1.3 The impact of the fall of Granada (1492)

2.2Conquest of Mexico and Peru (1519–1551)3 sub-topics

2.2.1 Context and motives of the Spanish conquest 2.2.2 Key events and actors of the conquest 2.2.3 Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs and Incas — Impact

2.3Paper 1 source skills (Conquest)1 sub-topic

2.3.1 Paper 1 source skills: OPVL and the four question types

Unit 3: Paper 1 · The move to global war

3.1Japanese expansion in East Asia (1931–1941)3 sub-topics

3.1.1 Causes of Japanese expansion 3.1.2 Japanese expansion: Manchuria to Pearl Harbor 3.1.3 Responses to Japanese expansion

3.2German and Italian expansion (1933–1940)5 sub-topics

3.2.1 Causes of German and Italian expansion 3.2.2 German challenges to the postwar settlement (1933–1938)3.2.3 Italian expansion (1935–1940)3.2.4 German expansion and the outbreak of war (1938–1939)3.2.5 Collective security and appeasement (1933–1940)

Unit 4: Paper 1 · Rights and protest

4.1US civil rights movement (1954–1965)3 sub-topics

4.1.1 The nature of discrimination in the US, 1954–1965 4.1.2 Protests and direct action 4.1.3 Key actors and groups

4.2Apartheid South Africa (1948–1964)3 sub-topics

4.2.1 The nature of apartheid discrimination 4.2.2 Protests and action against apartheid, 1948–1964 4.2.3 Apartheid South Africa — Key Actors and Groups (1948–1964)

4.3Paper 1 source skills (Rights and protest)1 sub-topic

4.3.1 Paper 1 source skills: OPVL and the four question types

Unit 5: Paper 1 · Conflict and intervention

5.1Rwanda (1990–1998)3 sub-topics

5.1.1 Causes of the Rwandan genocide 5.1.2 Course and interventions in Rwanda 5.1.3 The impact of the Rwandan genocide

5.2Kosovo (1989–2002)3 sub-topics

5.2.1 Causes of the war in Kosovo 5.2.2 The war in Kosovo: course and interventions, 1989–2002 5.2.3 The War in Kosovo, 1989–2002 — Impact

5.3Paper 1 source skills (Conflict and intervention)1 sub-topic

5.3.1 Paper 1 source skills (Rights and protest)

Unit 6: Paper 2 · Society and economy (750–1400)

6.1Social structures and governance3 sub-topics

6.1.1 The organisation of medieval society 6.1.2 Religious institutions, women and minorities 6.1.3 Case studies: Western Europe and the Abbasid Caliphate

6.2The medieval economy3 sub-topics

6.2.1 Agriculture, trade and commerce 6.2.2 Towns, guilds, technology and money 6.2.3 Case studies: economic life compared

6.3Crisis and change (c1300–1400)3 sub-topics

6.3.1 Demographic pressure, famine and plague 6.3.2 Social and economic impact and revolts 6.3.3 Long-term change and case studies

Unit 7: Paper 2 · Causes and effects of medieval wars (750–1500)

7.1Causes of medieval wars3 sub-topics

7.1.1 A framework for the causes of medieval wars 7.1.2 Causes case study 1 — the Crusades (Middle East)7.1.3 Causes case study 2 — the Hundred Years' War (Europe)

7.2The nature and practice of medieval warfare3 sub-topics

7.2.1 How medieval wars were fought 7.2.2 Warfare in practice — the Crusades 7.2.3 Warfare in practice — the Hundred Years' War

7.3Effects of medieval wars3 sub-topics

7.3.1 A framework for the effects of medieval wars 7.3.2 Effects case study 1 — the Crusades 7.3.3 Effects case study 2 — the Hundred Years' War

Free IB History Study Resources

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Study Notes

Topic-by-topic notes for Paper 1 and Paper 2

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Flashcards

Spaced-repetition dates, terms and case studies

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Question Bank

Source questions and essay practice by topic

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Exam Skills

OPVL, compare-contrast and essay mark schemes

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Revision Guide

Topic breakdown and a revision timeline

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Command Terms

IB command term definitions

Frequently Asked Questions about IB History

How is IB History assessed?

IB History has two examined papers plus coursework. Paper 1 is a source-based analysis on one prescribed subject (30% at SL, 20% at HL). Paper 2 is two world-history comparative essays (45% at SL, 25% at HL). The internal assessment is a 2,200-word historical investigation (25% at SL, 20% at HL). HL students also sit an additional Paper 3 regional depth study.

What is the difference between IB History SL and HL?

SL and HL sit the same Paper 1 and Paper 2 and complete the same historical investigation. HL adds a third exam, Paper 3, a regional depth study in which HL students answer three essays on their chosen region, and studies more content across the year (240 teaching hours versus 150). Aimnova currently covers the shared SL Paper 1 and Paper 2 content.

What is OPVL and why does it matter?

OPVL — origin, purpose, value and limitations — is the framework for the Paper 1 third question, where you evaluate a source’s value and limitations to a historian. Strong answers explain how a source’s origin and purpose make it useful for some things and limited for others, rather than simply labelling it "biased". It is the single most reliable place to gain or lose Paper 1 marks.

How many case studies do I need for Paper 2?

Paper 2 essays reward specific, contrasting examples from more than one region. For each world-history topic you should hold two or three detailed case studies — for example, two authoritarian leaders, two 20th-century wars, or two independence movements — so you can build a comparative argument whatever the question asks.

How do I get a 7 in IB History?

Master the command terms — especially "evaluate", "examine", "compare and contrast" and "to what extent" — and finish every essay with a justified judgement, not a summary. Learn precise dates, names and figures for each case study, practise the four Paper 1 question types until OPVL and compare-contrast are automatic, and weave historians’ interpretations into your Paper 2 essays.

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Notes, flashcards, and AI-powered practice for Paper 1 source analysis and every Paper 2 world-history topic, all aligned to the IB History syllabus.

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