IB

IB History SL
Essay Question Practice

Learning how to tackle an essay question prompt on the IB History exam can be one of the most challenging elements of the course. The Essay Question Practice (EQP) feature was built to help you deconstruct a complex essay question prompt, breaking it down into more manageable parts. Below, you’ll find Essay Question Practice modules that cover various Paper 1 and Paper 2 topics. Keep an eye out for more Essay Question Practice coming soon!

Paper 1

Practice focused on Paper 1's Prescribed Subjects.

Paper 2

Practice focused on Paper 2's World History Topics.

Paper 1

Practice focused on Paper 1's Prescribed Subjects.

Prescribed Subject 3 - The Move to Global War

medium

45 mins

Japanese Invasion of Manchuria (1931)

Considers Manchuria's strategic importance to Japan expansion prior to the Second World War.

RV Gold

medium

75 mins

International Responses to Japanese Aggression

Addresses the international responses to Japanese aggression in the lead up to the Second World War.

RV Free

hard

75 mins

Impacts of Appeasement on German Expansion

Evaluates the impacts of appeasement on German expansion before the Second World War.

RV Gold

medium

40 mins

Italy's Invasion of Albania (1939)

Explores the reasons for Italy's invasion of Albania in 1939.

RV Gold

Prescribed Subject 4 - Rights and Protest

medium

75 mins

Freedom Summer (1964)

Explores the events and impacts of the Freedom Summer of 1964 on the course of the US Civil Rights Movement.

medium

75 mins

The Turn to Violence in Apartheid South Africa

Examines the transition from non-violent to violent resistance in apartheid South Africa.

RV Gold

easy

45 mins

Origins of Apartheid

Considers the impact of apartheid policies in controlling South African society.

RV Gold

easy

50 mins

Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam

Investigates Malcolm X's legacy in shaping of the US Civil Rights Movement.

RV Gold

Thank you Revision Village Members

#1 IB Math Resource

Revision Village is ranked the #1 IB Math Resources by IB Students & Teachers.

34% Grade Increase

Revision Village students scored 34% greater than the IB Global Average in their exams (2021).

80% of IB Students

More and more IB students are using Revision Village to prepare for their IB Math Exams.

More IB History SL Resources

Questionbank

All the questions you could need! Sorted by topic and arranged by difficulty, with mark schemes and video solutions for every question.

Essay Question Practice

Source analysis and writing skills for all IB History essay questions.

Practice Exams

Choose your revision tool! Contains topic quizzes for focused study, Revision Village mock exams covering the whole syllabus, and the revision ladder to precisely target your learning.

Past Papers

Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors.

Flashcards

Develop your understanding in IB History SL using custom-built flashcards, perfect for quick study sessions on desktop or mobile app.

Beta

Frequently Asked Questions

Standard level IB History requires three essays across two external assessments plus a long-form essay on the historical investgation for the internal assessment. As a result, its absolutely critical that you know how to develop an effective argument that incorporates multiple perspectives and integrates effective evidence as support. The Essay Question Practice feature is specifically designed to support this skill development. Each practice activity centers on a Guiding Question that reflects the format of essay prompts found in Paper 1 or Paper 2 and includes a collection of sources and scaffolded questions to help students craft a compelling final essay.
The usefulness of Essay Question Practice depends on your current stage in the IB History course and your specific goals. It can support both the acquisition of new knowledge across a range of IB History topics and revision in preparation for school assessments or exams. The scaffolded questions are designed to help you identify key pieces of relevant knowledge and explore different approaches and perspectives as you construct your argument. Additionally, if you need to strengthen your understanding of certain events or individuals related to the question, the included sources can serve as a helpful starting point. New topics will be regularly added to the Essay Question Practice feature, so keep an eye out for updates!
It depends on the question. Some will require you to use a specific source, much like the format of Paper 1 questions (even if the topic relates more closely to Paper 2). Others may ask you to rely entirely on your own knowledge. In some cases, similar to the extended response questions on Paper 1, you’ll need to do both. Although Paper 2 doesn’t provide sources for the HL exam essay questions, you can still use the provided sources to build your understanding of the topic. If you’re looking to push yourself, try writing your final response to the Guiding Question without referring to the sources especially when you’re practicing for Paper 2. Just keep in mind that the essay prompts on Paper 1 differ significantly in style from those on Paper 2, so tailor your practice accordingly.