Nature of the Subject

Through the History course at IGCSE learners develop an understanding of the world around them and how it has been shaped. History is the analysis and interpretation of the human past enabling us to study continuity and changes that are taking place over time. It is an act of both investigation and imagination that seeks to explain how people have changed over time. Historians use all forms of evidence to examine, interpret, revisit, and reinterpret the past. These include not just written documents, but also oral communication and objects such as buildings, artifacts, photographs, and paintings.

Historians are trained in the methods of discovering and evaluating these sources and the challenging task of making historical sense out of them. 

History is a means to understand the past and present. The different interpretations of the past allow us to see the present differently and therefore imagine—and work towards—different futures.

Syllabus & Content

The topics covered are focused on Modern History from the inter war and post war period. 

We look at the Treaties after World War One, the League of Nations, Hitler's Foreign Policy, the Cold War (including case studies on Korea, Cuba and Vietnam) and up to the Gulf War. 

We then delve into a Depth Study of Nazi Germany looking at the rise of the Nazis and the inter war period in Germany.

Assessment

Paper 1 - 2 hours- Section A- students choose 2 questions from a choice of 8 on a series of topics from their Core Content Section B- students choose 1 question from a choice of 2 on their Depth Study. It is 40% of the final grade.      

Paper 2 - 2 hours - students answer 6 source questions on one prescribed topic (which they will know in advance) on one of the core content topics. It is 33% of the final grade .     

Paper 4 - 1 hour - student answer one question from a choice of 2 on their Depth Study (this is an alternative to coursework) it is 27% of the final grade.

Teacher Introduction

This course is all about learning how the past has shaped us and the world we live in. It focuses on Modern History and analyses the mistakes that were made and how action causes reaction. 

Students develop an understanding of the connection between events and learn to interpret evidence about the past and question what they know to justify their own opinion and reach judgements on events and the causes and consequences of events. 

The subject focuses on ideas like change and continuity in the world we live in and students develop an adaptable skill set which assist them in a number of other subjects.