IB History: Prescribed Subjects, World History Topics, Internal Assessment

TL;DR

IB History is structured into three main components: two Prescribed Subjects (specific case studies), two World History Topics (broader themes), and an Internal Assessment (a historical investigation). You'll need to master content for all three, but the skills for historical analysis and argumentation are transferable across them. Understanding how these pieces fit together is crucial for effective study and maximizing your grade.

1. The Mental Model

Think of IB History like a three-course meal: a specific appetizer (Prescribed Subject), a broader main dish (World History Topics), and a personalized dessert (Internal Assessment). Each has different ingredients and preparation, but they all contribute to your overall historical understanding.

2. The Core Material

IB History isn't just about memorizing facts; it's about understanding historical inquiry, different perspectives, and how to construct arguments. The course is broken down into three main assessment components, each contributing a different percentage to your final grade.

Prescribed Subjects (Paper 1)

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This component focuses on specific, pre-determined historical case studies. You'll analyze a collection of primary and secondary sources related to a particular historical event or development. The exam involves source-based analysis, requiring you to extract information, evaluate reliability and utility, and synthesize arguments based on the provided documents.

• Weighting: 20% (HL & SL)
• Focus: Source analysis, understanding different perspectives within a specific context.
• Example Topics: "The Move to Global War" (covers Japanese expansionism, German/Italian expansionism), "Rights and Protest" (covers the Civil Rights Movement, apartheid in South Africa). You'll study one of these in depth.

World History Topics (Paper 2)

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This section covers broader historical themes across different regions and time periods. You'll study two distinct topics chosen by your school. The exam requires you to write two essays, each responding to a question from a different topic. These essays demand in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and the ability to construct well-supported arguments.

• Weighting: 25% (HL & SL)
• Focus: Broad thematic understanding, comparative analysis, constructing essays with evidence.
• Example Topics: "Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars," "Authoritarian States," "The Cold War," "Nationalist and Independence Movements."

Internal Assessment (IA)

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The IA is a historical investigation where you choose a historical question, research it using primary and secondary sources, and write a detailed essay presenting your findings and analysis. This is your chance to delve into a topic that genuinely interests you, applying all the historical skills you've learned.

• Weighting: 20% (HL & SL)
• Focus: Independent research, historical inquiry, source evaluation, extended argumentation.
• Structure:
  1. Identification and Evaluation of Sources: Critically evaluate two important sources for your investigation.
  2. Investigation: Present your research, analysis, and arguments.
  3. Conclusion: Summarize your findings and answer your question.
  4. Bibliography: List all sources used.
• Word Count: 2,200 words maximum.

Here's a diagram illustrating how these components fit together:

graph TD
    A["IB History Course"] --> B["Assessment Components"]
    B --> C["Paper 1 (Prescribed Subject)"]
    B --> D["Paper 2 (World History Topics)"]
    B --> E["Internal Assessment (IA)"]

    C --> C1["Source-Based Analysis"]
    C --> C2["Specific Case Study (e.g., Global War)"]

    D --> D1["Essay Writing"]
    D --> D2["Two Broad Themes (e.g., Authoritarian States, Cold War)"]

    E --> E1["Independent Historical Investigation"]
    E --> E2["2200-word Essay"]
    E --> E3["Research & Source Evaluation"]

3. Worked Example

Let's say your school chose "The Move to Global War" for Paper 1, "Authoritarian States" and "The Cold War" for Paper 2, and you're interested in the causes of the Rwandan Genocide for your IA.

• Paper 1 Prep: You'd meticulously study the rise of militarism in Japan and Germany in the 1930s, practicing how to analyze political cartoons, speeches, and diplomatic cables from that period. You'd focus on identifying author's purpose, limitations, and corroboration between sources.
• Paper 2 Prep: For "Authoritarian States," you might study Hitler's Germany and Mao's China, comparing their methods of consolidating power and maintaining control. For "The Cold War," you'd trace the ideological origins, key crises like the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. You'd practice writing timed essays comparing and contrasting these phenomena.
• IA Prep: For your IA on the Rwandan Genocide, you'd narrow down a specific research question, perhaps "To what extent was ethnic hatred the primary cause of the Rwandan Genocide (1994)?" You'd then find academic articles, UN reports, and survivor testimonies, critically evaluating their perspectives and reliability to construct your argument.

4. Key Takeaways

• IB History requires you to engage with history through specific case studies, broad themes, and independent research.
• Paper 1 tests your ability to analyze and synthesize information from provided sources within a specific context.
• Paper 2 requires in-depth knowledge and essay-writing skills across two distinct historical topics.
• The Internal Assessment is your opportunity to conduct original historical research on a topic of your choice.
• Strong historical thinking skills (causation, consequence, change/continuity, significance, perspective) are vital across all components.
• Each component demands different study approaches, but analytical skills are transferable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Memorizing facts without understanding context or significance: You need to apply knowledge, not just recall it.
- Neglecting source evaluation in Paper 1 and IA: Don't just use sources; analyze their strengths and limitations.
- Treating Paper 2 essays as purely descriptive: Always aim for a clear argument supported by evidence.
- Starting the IA too late or choosing an unmanageable topic: Plan ahead and refine your research question early.

5. Now Try It

Spend 15 minutes outlining how you would prepare for the three IB History components if your school covered "Rights and Protest" for Paper 1, "Authoritarian States" and "The Cold War" for Paper 2, and you wanted to do your IA on "The Role of Propaganda in the Rise of Nazi Germany." For each component, list two specific content areas you'd need to study and one specific skill you'd practice.

Success looks like: A clear, concise plan for each component, demonstrating an understanding of its unique demands.