IB History

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Description and Aims

History is a dynamic, contested, evidence-based discipline that involves an exciting engagement with the past. It is a rigorous intellectual discipline, focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation and significance.

History is an exploratory subject that fosters a sense of inquiry. It is also an interpretive discipline, allowing opportunity for engagement with multiple perspectives and a plurality of opinions. Studying History develops an understanding of the past, which leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of humans and of the world today.

The IB History course is a world history course based on a comparative and multi-perspective approach to history. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, and provides a balance of structure and flexibility. The course emphasises the importance of encouraging students to think historically and to develop historical skills as well as gaining factual knowledge. It puts a premium on developing the skills of critical thinking, and on developing an understanding of multiple interpretations of history. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past.

The aims of the History course at Standard and Higher Levels are to:

• develop an understanding of, and continuing interest in, the past;
• encourage students to engage with multiple perspectives and to appreciate the complex nature of historical concepts, issues, events and developments;
• promote international-mindedness through the study of history from more than one region of the world;
• develop an understanding of history as a discipline and to develop historical consciousness including a sense of chronology and context, and an understanding of different historical perspectives;
• develop key historical skills, including engaging effectively with sources;
• increase students’ understanding of themselves and of contemporary society by encouraging reflection on the past.

 

Component	Standard Level	Higher Level
Conflict and Displacement. Two case studies are prescribed from different regions of the world and both of these case studies must be studied.	✓	✓
World History  Authoritarian States (20th Century).	✓	✓
European History (Higher Level option)  The Russian Revolution (1855-1924) European totalitarianism (1918-1941)		✓
Historical Investigation	✓	✓

Assessment at a Glance — Standard Level

Type of Assessment	Format of Assessment	Time (hours)	Weighting Final Grade (%)
External			70
Paper 1	Conflict and Displacement	1.25	30
Paper 2	Authoritarian Rule (from 1750 CE onwards)	1.75	40
Internal			30
Historical Investigation	Students are required to complete a historical investigation into a topic of their choice.​		30

Assessment at a Glance — Higher Level

Type of Assessment	Format of Assessment	Time (hours)	Weighting Final Grade (%)
External		5	80
Paper 1	Conflict and Displacement	1.25	20
Paper 2	Authoritarian Rule (from 1750 CE onwards)	1.75	25
Paper 3	European History The Russian Revolution (1855-1924) European totalitarianism (1918-1941	2.0	35
Internal			20
Historical Investigation	Students are required to complete a historical investigation into a topic of their choice.		20