Exam Series: June and November. Also available in the March series in India only.
Syllabus Version: 1 (Published February 2022)
Instructor Details (Example)
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Instructor Name: [Your Instructor's Name]
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Why Choose Cambridge IGCSE History?
Cambridge IGCSE History offers students the opportunity to study world history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It encourages learners to raise questions and to develop and deploy historical skills, knowledge and understanding in order to provide historical explanations. Learners explore history from a diversity of perspectives, including social, economical, cultural and political.
This course helps develop learners who are:
Confident: Exploring historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference.
Responsible: Appreciating historical evidence and how to use it.
Reflective: Gaining a greater understanding of international issues and inter-relationships.
Innovative: Learning how to present clear, logical arguments.
Engaged: Developing an interest in and enthusiasm for learning about and understanding the past.
Syllabus Aims
The aims are to enable students to develop:
An interest in and enthusiasm for learning about the past.
Knowledge and understanding of individuals, people and societies in the past.
Knowledge that is rooted in an understanding of the nature and use of historical evidence.
An understanding of key historical concepts: cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference.
An understanding of international issues in history.
Historical skills, including investigation, analysis, evaluation and communication skills.
A sound basis for further study and the pursuit of personal interest.
Key Dates & Countdown
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Important Deadlines (Example)
Your instructor will provide specific deadlines.
Coursework Proposal Due: [Date]
Mid-term Assessment: [Date]
Final Coursework Submission: [Date]
Exam Format and Structure
All candidates take three components: Paper 1, Paper 2, and either Component 3 (Coursework) or Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework). Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.
Paper 1: Structured Questions
Duration: 2 hours
Marks: 60 marks
Weighting: 40% of total
Content:
Candidates answer two questions from Section A (Core content: choose Option A or Option B topics).
Candidates answer one question from Section B (Depth studies).
All questions are in the form of structured essays, split into three parts: (a), (b), and (c).
Assessment: Externally assessed. Tests Assessment Objectives AO1 and AO2.
Paper 2: Document Questions
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Marks: 40 marks
Weighting: 30% of total
Content:
Candidates answer one question on one prescribed topic taken from Section A (Core content).
Candidates are presented with a range of source materials relating to each prescribed topic.
The question has five parts based on the source material provided.
The prescribed topics change in each exam series.
Assessment: Externally assessed. Tests Assessment Objectives AO1 and AO3.
Prescribed Topics for Paper 2 (Document Questions)
Select a year to see topics.
Component 3: Coursework (Optional)
Marks: 40 marks
Weighting: 30% of total
Content:
Candidates produce one piece of extended writing, up to 2000 words in length.
Based on content taken from any of the depth studies. Centres can devise a depth study of their own (conditions apply).
The coursework should be based on a single question and must be focused on the issue of significance.
Assessment: Internally assessed and externally moderated. Tests Assessment Objectives AO1 and AO2.
Paper 4: Alternative to Coursework (Optional)
Duration: 1 hour
Marks: 40 marks
Weighting: 30% of total
Content:
This paper contains two questions on each of the five depth studies. Candidates answer one question.
All questions are in the form of structured essays, split into two parts: (a) and (b).
Part (a) tests AO1. Part (b) tests AO2.
Assessment: Externally assessed.
Topics Covered
All candidates study Core content in either Option A or Option B. In addition, all candidates must also study at least one of the Depth studies.
Core Content
Depth Studies
Grading Criteria
Assessment Objectives (AOs)
The assessment objectives describe the knowledge, understanding and skills that students are expected to demonstrate.
AO1: Recall, select, organise and deploy knowledge of the syllabus content. (Weighting: 30%)
AO2: Construct historical explanations using an understanding of: (Weighting: 45%)
Cause and consequence, change and continuity, similarity and difference
The motives, emotions, intentions and beliefs of people in the past.
AO3: An ability to understand, interpret, evaluate and use a range of sources as evidence, in their historical context. (Weighting: 25%)
Weighting of AOs in Components (%)
Assessment Objective
Paper 1
Paper 2
Component 3 / Paper 4
AO1
33%
20%
38%
AO2
67%
0%
62%
AO3
0%
80%
0%
Total
100%
100%
100%
Coursework Generic Mark Scheme (Summary)
This is a summary. Refer to the full syllabus for detailed descriptors.
Level 3 (18-26 marks): Reasonable understanding, some relevant knowledge, structured descriptions and some explanations.
Level 2 (9-17 marks): Limited contextual knowledge, some relevant information deployed occasionally, descriptive narratives.
Level 1 (1-8 marks): Little relevant contextual knowledge, limited ability to select/organise information.
Grades
Grades A*, A, B, C, D, E, F or G indicate the standard a candidate achieved at Cambridge IGCSE. A* is the highest and G is the lowest. 'Ungraded' means performance did not meet Grade G standard.
Note: Grade descriptions for Cambridge IGCSE History will be published after the first assessment of the syllabus in 2024.
Study Resources and Materials
Official Syllabus Document: Always refer to the latest version on the Cambridge International website.
Command Words: Understand what is expected for words like:
Describe: State the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features.
Discuss: Write about issue(s) or topic(s) in depth in a structured way.
Explain: Set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence.
Other phrases: 'How far do you agree...?', 'Write an account...'
Endorsed Textbooks: Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2024 are suitable for use with this syllabus. Check the Cambridge International website for a list of endorsed resources.
Study Progress Tracker
Check off topics as you master them. Your progress is saved locally in your browser.