ib history paper 1 sample essay

MacGregor Is History

IB Paper 1 2017-2021

These are the Paper One that has been used 2017-2021 : 1. Paper One 2016 Specimen Paper – Source Booklet 2. Paper One 2016 Specimen Paper – Questions 3. Paper One 2016 Specimen Paper – Markscheme 4. Paper One 2017 May – Source booklet 5. Paper One 2017 May – Questions 6. Paper One 2017 May – Markscheme 7. Paper One 2017 November – Source Booklet 8. Paper One 2017 November – Questions 9. Paper One 2017 November – Markscheme 10. Paper One 2018 May – Source Booklet 11. Paper One 2018 May – Questions 12. Paper One 2018 May – Markscheme 13. Paper One 2018 November – Source booklet 14. Paper One 2018 November – Questions 15. Paper One 2018 November – Markscheme 16. Paper One 2019 May – Source booklet 17. Paper One 2019 May – Questions 18. Paper One 2019 May – Markscheme 19. Paper One 2019 November – Source booklet 20. Paper One 2019 November – Questions 21. Paper One 2019 November – Markscheme 22. Paper One 2020 May – Source booklet – Cancelled due to Covid-19 23. Paper One 2020 May – Questions – Cancelled due to Covid-19 24. Paper One 2020 May – Markscheme – Cancelled due to Covid-19 25. Paper One 2020 November – Source booklet 26. Paper One 2020 November – Questions 27. Paper One 2020 November – Markscheme 28. Paper One 2021 May – Source booklet 29. Paper One 2021 May – Questions 30. Paper One 2021 May – Markscheme 31. Paper One 2021 November – Source booklet 32. Paper One 2021 November – Questions 33. Paper One 2021 November – Markscheme

Tips for IB History Paper 1

November exams are closing up, students who will take the May exam are waiting for those exams to be published in the IB resources and overall everyone is alarmed to make perfect (the eternal goal) on their exams. In this article I’ll guide you through what History papers are and how you can practice on these. 

(Disclaimer: History Paper 1 & 2 are the same for both HL and SL students but if you are a HL student you’ll have one more exam , Paper 3.)

Paper 1 is a one hour long exam where you’ll be doing 4 questions about 4 sources. By sources it is meant that either visual or text piece that gives historical knowledge, these are usually works done by historians or primary resources. 

Question 1 (5 marks)

1a – This part is a reading comprehension where you’ll be given a text source and required to answer the question ‘‘What is the message of this source?/What is this source trying to say?’’ This part is worth 3 points so try to formulate three different points. 

Phrases you can use: The first point the source is making/the first reason given by the source… The second is…  The third is…

Tip: Try to paraphrase the statements in the text. Turn names into verbs and verbs into names, don’t overdo it but also don’t lose time trying to summarize the text by yourself. What is required of you is just the message, not a summary or a background information paragraph.

1b – This time your historical understanding of an image or a cartoon would be tested. You again need to write about the message of the source. You need to write two separate points by showing image evidence. 

Tip: Sizes of the characters matter! For example there is an image of a sheriff holding a person, the sheriff might look like the person in charge but if the person he is holding is drawn bigger than him, maybe there is a catch there. Sizes, facial expressions, colours and shadows can have hidden messages behind it, try to see what is not shown apparently.

Question 2 (4 marks)

Second question needs you to analyze the source according to its O (Origin) , P (Purpose) , V (Value),  L (Limitations). 

Phrase: The origin of the present source is … (-> name the source type here) by…(-> author) from the year… . The content of the text source thematizes…The text source/excerpt is addressed to private persons / the public / posterity / rulers…. The intention of the source is… . This source is valuable because….. . This source is limited because….. . 

Tip: When writing about the value or limitation don’t generalize according to the text type. For example you have an interview as a source, don’t say that it may reflect an insight into contemporary opinions held, instead try to reflect on the context. Interpret what can be done better historical knowledge-wise. Are this person’s answers biased? That can be a limitation. Are this person’s answers giving specific information that isn’t known by the public? That can be a value. 

These questions might guide you while writing the analysis. 

Question 3  (6 marks)

After analyzing the source looking only at the facts such as author, aim etc. it is time to clash two sources together. We are going to compare and contrast two sources context-wise and determine a winner (that was a bad joke, we are not going to do that).

Start by writing summarizing 1-2 sentences about the context of the sources, then: 

1st Paragraph – Compare the similarities

• Both authors share the idea that …
• Source A states that ….  Source B also mentions that …. 
• Source A discusses …. Source B focuses on ….

2nd Paragraph – Contrast the differences 

• The author of source A emphasizes …, while the author of source B emphasizes ….
• Both sources differ with respect to …
• Thus, the author of source A points out that …, while the author of source B writes …

Tip: You should NOT address the sources separately. Don’t explain the first source in one paragraph and then the second one in another. You need to run the analysis simultaneously, if you are stating what source A explains, the next sentence should be about how source B has something similar or different to it. Your main aim is to show that you can understand what is being said in both sources and then have the capacity to evaluate them with respect to each other. 

Question 4 (9 marks)

In the fourth question you are asked to write a mini essay where you need to use your own historical knowledge and the given source. Usually it follows:

Introduction:

• Introduction to the topic and the question
• Clarification of the relevance of the topic
• Repetition of the question

In the following, using the four sources and my own knowledge and conclusions, I will describe and analyze (topic). If one looks more closely at the given sources, then one understands why (thesis). 

OR you can just start by explaining the historical context. 

Body Paragraphs: 

In body paragraphs at least two argumentations are needed. You are required to mention two sources, but you can cite the four sources given in the previous parts. But how can you do this ‘‘argumentation’’ every teacher goes crazy about? It has three basic elements:

• Thesis 
• Reference to the source  
• Explanation by the historical context 

For example

Thesis: The goal of the National Party was to separate the nation.

Explain your thesis with an example from the source: This is particularly evident from Source X, which describes the government’s rigorous legal measures…From X, it is also apparent that…Thus, [author name/origin of source] describes…

Mini Conclusion: Ultimately, the government actions highlighted above illustrate how the

entire public life was characterized by strict racial segregation.

Conclusion:

This is the part where we wrap up and finish the whole exam for good. I can hear you say ‘‘FINALLY!’’ and I couldn’t agree more. Writing a conclusion is relatively simple, summarize the results you come up with your analysis and mention how you come up with this result. Then come back to your initial question and answer this with the help of your body paragraphs. 

Consequently, it can be stated that … / Thus, in summary, it can be said that … / In conclusion, it can be said that …

To be continued with Paper 2…..

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This tutorial is wrong. There is no personal engagement such as “I will” in a history essay. Worth maybe an IB4

Hello Stan! Please keep in mind that this article was written in 2021, so there may have been changes to the curriculum.

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Every IB History Past Paper Available: Free and Official

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Taking a practice IB History exam before the actual exam will help you familiarize yourself with the length, style and format of the test. In this guide, we explain the IB History test format and link to the best past papers available . At the end, I'll explain how best to use these IB History past papers for your studying.

Disclaimer: these free exams should be used at your own risk. The exams are not authorized by the IBO and were most likely put up online without the IBO's consent.

2022 IB Exam Changes Due to COVID-19

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the IB has decided to extend the adaptations which were put in place for 2021 to 2022. May 2022 IB assessments will have two routes, exam and non-exam, depending on which your school chooses. Stay up to date with the latest information on what this means for IB diplomas, course credit for IB classes, and more with our our IB COVID-19 FAQ article .

IB History Exam Format

The IB History course was completely revamped in 2017. Now, there are five prescribed subjects:

• Military leaders
• Conquest and its impact
• The move to global war
• Rights and protest
• Conflict and intervention

Your teacher will choose one that you'll cover, and you'll be tested on this for paper 1 (one hour in length).

There is also a list of twelve world history topics. For paper 2 (1.5 hours), you'll cover two of these:

• Society and economy (750-1400)
• Causes and effects of medieval wars (750-1500)
• Dynasties and rulers (750-1500)
• Societies in transition (1400-1700)
• Early Modern states (1450-1789)
• Causes and effects of Early Modern wars (1500-1750)
• Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750-2005)
• Independence movements (1800-2000)
• Evolution and development of democratic states (1848-2000)
• Authoritarian states (20 th century)
• Causes and effects of 20 th -century wars
• The Cold War: superpower tensions and rivalries (20 th century)

For students taking IB History HL, they'll have a final paper (paper 3) that is 2.5 hours and will cover one of the four Depth Studies:

• History of Africa and the Middle East
• History of the Americas
• History of Asia and Oceania
• History of Europe

Current IB History Papers

The best source for up-to-date IB History past papers is the IBO store . To find them, search "history exam paper." Each paper and each mark scheme cost about $3 for older tests or $4 for more recent tests. That means a full test's worth will cost you about $12-$16 for SL or $18-$24 for HL. (While the IBO site has a sample SL/HL paper 2 available for free , it's from November 2005, predating the most recent syllabus updates.)

Currently, the IB store has papers from 2011 through 2018, but we recommend only purchasing papers from May 2017 tests or later, as those are the exams that match the new syllabus. Be sure to check not just the test date but also the depth-study area for each exam paper and mark scheme you purchase to make sure they match up—you wouldn't want to purchase a History of Asia and Oceania exam paper but a History of Europe mark scheme!

How to Use IB History Past Papers

Each full IB History practice exam will take you 2.5 hours for SL or 5 hours for HL, so you need to get the most out of each test. Below are some pointers for your practice.

Tip 1: Take Papers 1 and 2 Consecutively (If Possible)

For both IB History SL and HL, papers 1 and 2 are administered one after the other, requiring you to maintain your concentration and testing stamina for 2.5 hours. Part of practicing for the test means building up your testing endurance so that you're not making careless errors or losing focus towards the end of the tests.

IB History HL includes a third, 2.5-hour paper administered on a second day of testing, which you should also try to match in your practice schedule. Having a test spread out over multiple days means that you can't just cram and then immediately forget everything after you've finished papers 1 and 2; you'll need to practice retaining information even after the 2.5-hour slog of the first day's papers 1 and 2.

If you don't have time in your schedule for a full 2.5-hour session (or for two 2.5-hour sessions two days in a row for HL), then splitting papers 1 and 2 up over multiple days is OK. Just make sure that in your studying you follow this next tip:

Tip 2: Time Yourself on Each Paper

You must get used to the timing pressures of this exam. The time allowed per paper is:

IB History SL

• Paper 1—1 hour
• Paper 2—1 hour 30 minutes

IB History HL

• Paper 3—2 hour 30 minutes

Don't give yourself extra time. If you do, you will not figure out your pacing for the real exam and will likely score higher than you actually will the day of the test. I want these practice exams to give you an accurate picture of your actual test score.

Stephan Baum/ Wikimedia

Tip 3: Review Your Mistakes!

When you complete your exam (end of Paper 2 for SL or end of Paper 3 for HL), check every mistake. If you skip this step, you will not learn from your errors, and you'll keep making them.

You need to take at least an hour reviewing your exam. I know this may seem like a lot of time, but you want quality practice. If you only end up taking two practice tests with detailed review, you will be better prepared than if you took six tests with no review.

What's Next?

Taking IB History right now? Round out your studying with our complete IB History notes and study guide .

Ready to jump into some US History topics? Learn about the Platt Amendment and Ida Lewis . If you're more interested in political history, be sure to also check out our articles on checks and balances in the US government and how the executive branch can check the judicial branch .

Or perhaps you're interested in learning something that might not come up in history class? Find out more about David Ghantt and the Loomis Fargo heist , the complete history of hip hop , and the competing claims for invention of the 3-hole punch .

Learn more about the IB course offerings:

• The Complete List of IB Courses and Classes
• Which IB Courses Can I Take Online? Can I Get an Online IB Diploma?

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IB History EE examples

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