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Are you thinking about choosing IB History as your Group 3 subject for the IB program but unsure if it's right for you? If you’re considering different options and wondering about the challenges IB History might pose, this guide will provide you with some information so that you can make a well-informed decision.
How Hard is IB History?
Difficulty
Official IB statistics show that IB History is one of the most challenging Group 3 subjects, with only 2.9% of HL and 3.7% of SL students achieving grade 7 according to data from the May 2024 exam session. It is important to keep in mind that subjects such as IB History are often assessed through essays rather than through calculations or facts. As such, there is often no right or wrong answer in IB History and grading is subjective based on whether the examiner thinks you effectively addressed the grading criteria. This could explain the relatively low percentage of students who achieve a 7.
Most students admit that IB History is a highly challenging IB subject. It requires a significant amount of memorization regarding historical events and assessment of the theory is subjective rather than there being a correct answer. IB History can be considered similar in difficulty to IB Economics which is also very essay-heavy and requires memorization of the theory. That being said, comparison between subjects is subjective and depends heavily on an individual student's strengths.
What are some of the challenges of IB History?
The course covers a wide range of historical events, figures, and concepts, requiring students to memorize large amounts of detailed information.
Students must memorise various concepts and be able to then apply them in unfamiliar contexts on exams and assessments. The theory is extensive so students should be prepared to do a lot of memorization.
Students need to carefully analyze historical documents such as speeches, letters, treaties, etc. This requires a careful interpretation of factors such as context, authorship, and reliability.
Arguments need to be clearly presented in an essay format. This requires accurate use of terminology, integration of historical events/facts, and clear reasoning. History essays require a clear thesis, and a strong argument that is effectively presented to the reader.
Students need to manage overlapping historical timelines and ensure they are aware of the exact dates of historical events. This can be confusing especially when events historically happened close in time to each other.
Who should consider doing IB History?
Students who wish to pursue History, Archaeology, Political Science, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, or other related fields would benefit from taking IB History as it provides a solid foundation for studying these programs at college, in addition to potentially being a requirement for many courses in these programs.
Students wishing to pursue majors similar to those listed above should consider taking IB History at the Higher Level (HL) as they will be able to gain a more in-depth study of history to prepare them for higher education in related fields. Students who are interested in history but do not wish to pursue majors such as those listed above are advised to take IB History at the Standard Level (SL) instead.
Tips for Succeeding in IB History
Complete past papers – IB history places a strong emphasis on the application of historical concepts. There are many events and details that students need to be familiar with. Doing past paper questions will allow you to practice and apply these learned concepts, as well as develop your essay-writing skills.
Use flashcards – Create flashcards for key terms and important concepts. Quiz yourself to reinforce your memory and improve recall. This will help you retain the information better.
Practice essay questions – Practice writing essay-style questions as these are a big part of the examination. You should time how long you take to complete one essay as well as the entire paper. This is because essay writing can often be time-consuming as you need to plan your thoughts and write them cohesively using a good flow within a set timeframe. It is important to practice this skill beforehand to ensure you do not run out of time during the actual exam.
Stay on track – In IB History, many concepts build upon previous topics. Make sure you tackle any doubts early to ensure they do not confuse you later on in the course.
Carefully plan your IA – Select a topic that you are truly interested in. Ensure your IA is well-organized, clear, and detailed as the IA is worth 20% of your overall grade. Be sure to explore our History IA exemplars for guidance.
We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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