IGCSE History

Course Structure

Modular courses retain the same content as the existing linear specifications, but the content is divided into two separate units.

Instead of sitting exams covering all of the course content at the end of the two-year course (as with linear specifications), learners will sit them at the end of each unit.

The modular assessment structure offers learners the flexibility to sit examinations when they are ready and provides opportunities to resit individual unit assessments before receiving an overall qualification grade.

Unit 1: Depth Studies

Unit code: 4WHI1/01*

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Availability: June and November

60 marks

50% of the total

Content overview

Learners must study at least two depth studies from the following:

1 The French Revolution, c1780–99

2 Development of a nation: unification of Italy, 1848–70

3 Germany: development of dictatorship, 1918–45

4 Colonial rule and the nationalist challenge in India, 1919–47

5 Dictatorship and conflict in the USSR, 1924–53

6 A world divided: superpower relations, 1943–72

7 A divided union: civil rights in the USA, 1945–74

8 South Africa: from union to the end of apartheid, 1948–94.

Learners will:

• develop skills to explain, analyse and make judgements about historical events and periods studied, using second-order historical concepts.

• gain knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of historical periods

• develop skills to analyse and evaluate historical interpretations in the context of historical events studied

Unit 2: Investigation and Breadth Studies

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Availability: June and November

60 marks

50% of the total

Content overview

Learners must study one historical investigation from the following:

A1 The origins and course of the First World War, 1905–18

A2 Russia and the Soviet Union, 1905–24

A3 The USA, 1918–41

A4 The Vietnam Conflict, 1945–75

A5 East Germany, 1958–90.

Learners must study one breadth study in change from the following:

B1 America: from new nation to divided union, 1783–1877

B2 Changes in medicine, c1848–c1948

B3 Japan in transformation, 1853–1945

B4 China: conflict, crisis and change, 1900–89

B5 The changing role of international organisations: the league and the UN, 1919–c2011

B6 The changing nature of warfare and international conflict, 1919–2011

B7 The Middle East: conflict, crisis and change, 1917–2012

B8 Diversity, rights and equality in Britain, 1914–2010.

Learners will:

• develop skills to analyse and evaluate historical interpretations in the context of historical events studied.

• gain knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of historical periods

• develop skills to explain, analyse and make judgements about historical events and periods studied, using second-order historical concepts

• learn how to use a range of source material to comprehend, interpret and

cross-reference sources