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Exam Tips

The IB History exam requires a strong grasp of historical content, critical analysis, and well-structured essay writing. Here are some key strategies to excel in Paper 1 (Move to Global War) and Paper 2 (Authoritarian States):

Paper 1: Move to Global War (Source-Based Paper)

Understand the Paper Structure

  • Four questions based on provided sources.

  • Covers Japanese and German/Italian expansion in the 1930s.

Question-Specific Strategies

  • Q1 (Comprehension) – Identify explicit content from the source (no own knowledge needed).

  • Q2 (Source Comparison) – Compare the message, purpose, and perspective of two sources.

  • Q3 (Source Utility & Limitations) – Evaluate the value and limitations of a source by considering origin, purpose, content, and context (use own knowledge here).

  • Q4 (Mini-Essay) – Use sources and own knowledge to form a well-structured argument. Plan your thesis and topic sentences before writing.

Key Content to Revise

  • Japanese Expansion: Manchurian Crisis (1931), Second Sino-Japanese War (1937), responses from the League of Nations & the U.S.

  • Italian Expansion: Abyssinian Crisis (1935), involvement in Spain (1936), and Rome-Berlin Axis.

  • German Expansion: Remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936), Anschluss (1938), Sudetenland Crisis & Munich Agreement (1938), Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939).

  • Historiography: Use historian views where relevant, e.g., traditional vs. revisionist interpretations of appeasement.

Paper 2: Authoritarian States (Essay Paper)

Essay Structure (Ensure a Clear Line of Argument)

  • Introduction: Define key terms, state your argument, and outline main points.

  • Body Paragraphs: Use PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) structure.

  • Conclusion: Summarize your argument and reinforce the thesis.

Key Content to Revise

  • Rise to Power: Economic, social, and political conditions that allowed leaders to rise (e.g., Treaty of Versailles for Hitler, Russian Civil War for Stalin, weakness of the Qing dynasty for Mao).

  • Methods Used to Maintain Power: Propaganda, repression, ideology, use of violence (Gestapo under Hitler, purges under Stalin, Cultural Revolution under Mao).

  • Policies and Their Impact: Economic (e.g., Five-Year Plans, Nazi economic recovery), Social (impact on women, youth, minorities), and Foreign Policy (expansionism, war involvement).

Comparative Thinking

  • Be ready to compare leaders (e.g., Hitler vs. Stalin, Mao vs. Mussolini) and identify similarities/differences in ideology, policies, and methods.

Historiography

  • Mention different perspectives: Intentionalist vs. Structuralist views on Hitler, Totalitarian vs. Revisionist interpretations of Stalin, etc.

General IB History Exam Tips

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✅ Memorize Key Dates & Events – Make flashcards for significant events.


✅ Practice Past Papers – Timed practice helps with structuring responses.


✅ Use Specific Examples – Support arguments with precise historical evidence.


✅ Plan Before Writing – Take 5 minutes to outline essays before writing.


✅ Stay Analytical – Avoid just narrating events; always analyze significance and impact.


✅ Time Management – Don’t spend too long on one section; allocate time effectively.

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