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Paper 2 is the second examination you'll face in IB History. In this post, we’ll provide a thorough breakdown of IB History Paper 2, ensuring you are familiarised with the structure of the exam and know what type of questions to expect.
IB History Paper 2
- At SL, Paper 2 contributes 45% to the overall subject grade while at HL it amounts to 25%.
- Paper 2 is an essay-based paper.
- Both SL and HL students must answer 2 essay questions, each from a different topic.
- Students may score up to 30 marks (15 marks per question).
- Students have 1 hour 30 minutes for the paper.
Paper 2 may look the following way:
Topic 10: Authoritarian states (20th century)
(a) ‘’The use of force was the most important method used to maintain power in authoritarian states.’’ Discuss with reference to two authoritarian states.
(b) Compare and contrast the impact on women of the policies of t authoritarian states, each chosen from a different region.
Topic 12: The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)
(a) Examine the impact of the US policy of containment on superpower relations between 1947 and 1964.
(b) Evaluate the impact on the course of the Cold War of two crises, each chosen from a different region.
How to succeed in History Paper 2?
When answering an essay question, students should use a clear and well-organized structure to stay focused and effectively address the topic. The introduction should begin by introducing the topic and presenting a thesis statement that outlines the main argument of the essay. For example, if a student chose to answer question (a) from Topic 10 they may state that the use of force was an important factor in maintaining power in authoritarian states however other factors such as legal measures and propaganda were even more significant.
The main body of the essay should then develop these points, with each paragraph focusing on one key factor. For instance, a paragraph could explore the use of force, referring to events like the Night of the Long Knives in Germany or the murder of Matteotti in Italy. The next paragraph could discuss legal measures, such as the banning of political parties, while a third could analyze the role of propaganda, mentioning examples like the use of youth groups or asserting control over the media. It’s important to include references to two authoritarian states, such as Germany and Italy, to provide examples and strengthen the argument.
In the conclusion, students should summarize the main points made in the essay and restate the thesis, making sure to tie everything together clearly.
When writing essays, it’s vital to directly address the question and avoid going off-topic. Students should also pay attention to specific command terms, which indicate what the question is asking for. Make sure to check out our IB History Command Terms post to ensure you are well-familiarised with the requirements of each command term. Also, since students have only 45 minutes per essay, it’s important to frequently practice with past paper questions as this will allow to get used to writing clear and well-structured essays within the time limit.
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.
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