O & N level ELective History is extremely popular in school as students realise that there are common areas between History and Social Studies and namely in the source-based questions.
Below the Elective History tutor gives an explanation of the format of the exam paper which will help students and parents have a clearer picture of the type of questions and marks allocated.
Topics Covered:
Part 1: The World in Crisis
Impact of World War I
- Treaty of Versailles
- Weakness of the League of Nation
Stalin’s Soviet Union*
- His rise
- His dictatorship
Hitler’s Germany*
- His Rise
- His Dictatorship
World War II in Europe
- Causes for outbreak
- Entry of USA
Defeat of Germany/End of World War II
- Causes
World War II in the Asia Pacific
- Japan’s rise
- Cause of WWII in Asia Pacific
Japan’s Defeat in World War II
- Causes
*Both are source-based case studies – i.e they are topic options for SBQ as well SEQ. The rest are only topic options for SEQs.
Part 2: Bipolarity & the Cold War
Cold War in Europe
- Reasons
The Korean War*
- Causes
- Development
- Outcome/Impact
The Cuban Missile Crisis*
- Causes
- Development
- Outcome/Impact
The End of Cold War
- Detente
Collapse of Communism in Soviet Union
End of Communism in Eastern Europe
* Both are source-based case studies – i.e they are topic options for SBQ as well SEQ. The rest are only topic options for SEQs.
Note that there are therefore only 4 topics that are options for Source-based Case Studies but they are also topic options for SEQs. The rest in part 1 and 2 are only options for SEQs.
Exam Format
Duration: 1 hr 40 mins
Section A: Source-base Case Study (30 marks)
- 5 SBQ
Section B: 2 Structured-Essay Questions (20 Marks)
- Two questions set. Each Question has two sub-parts.
- Choose one
