IB History Paper One

IB History Paper One

How to Approach Writing Responses for the Exam

Marking the Good News!

There is a very clear tendency to award marks for what is there, rather than penalise students for what is NOT there.

Address the mark band directives and write for your reader. 

Content of Paper 1

• Variety of sources: political cartoon, quote, ...

• There will be four sources, three written, one visual.

• Students answer four questions.

• This component is mainly a skills based paper.

• ONE HOUR

Prescribed Subjects Comprise Paper One Topics

• Military Leaders

• Conquest and its impact

• The move to global war

• Rights and protest

• Conflict and intervention

Overview of P1

• Q1, part A: Tests for understanding 3 marks

• Q1, part B: Tests for understanding 2 marks

• Q2: Evaluation on one source (this is to reduce time) and CONTENT is to be used as part of OPVL

• Q3: Comp and contrast 6 marks

• Q4: Mini essay, using sources and knowledge. Could be a To What Extent type question. 9 marks

• Questions are designed to be worked through from 1 – 4, all based on Bloom's taxonomy.  There are specific rubrics for each question.

Question 1

Time – 6 - 8 minutes

• (a) Comprehension/understanding of a source - earns [1 mark] for each relevant point up to a three [3 marks]

• (b) Comprehension/understanding of a source - earns [1 mark] for each relevant point up to two [2 marks]

• Organization – 2 short paragraphs for each: full sentences and valid points 

Question 2

Time–6-8 min

• Q2: Evaluation on one source: CONTENT used as part of OPVL w/reference to the origin, purpose and content, assess/analyze the value and limitations of one source. [4 marks]

• C–Content–information given, tone, language, focus

• Paragraph One V-Value–usefulness for historians because…

• Paragraph Two L-Limitations–objective v. subjective, point of view, omissions, rationale, one-sided, etc....

• Organization–Two short paragraphs one Value on Limitation with reference to O/P/C

Question 3 Time – 10 - 14 min.

• Compare and contrast two sources. 6 points of Linkage (3+3, 4+2, 2+4) [6 marks]

• Organization – Two paragraphs (max. 5 - 7  sentences per)

• Paragraph One - compare (at least 2 - 4 similarities of sources - major or minor) Both sources mentioned and connected in each sentence (similarly, supports, like, in the same way)

  
  

• Paragraph Two - contrast (at least 2 - 4 differences between sources - major or minor) (however, opposed to, unlike, disagrees with,  goes further)

Question 4 Time – 25-30 min.

• Using these sources and your knowledge, answer a question related to the sources, events, ideas, and the time period in question. [9 marks]

  Organization – Short essay (2-3 paragraphs)                             

• Students are expected to use all the sources and their own knowledge to show an understanding of the relationship between the sources, knowledge and the question.

• The best answers will incorporate (rather than separate) the sources and knowledge into a cohesive answer that shows understanding. Often times the question will ask for information beyond the time period and place of the source material so the best answers will encompass and support all aspects of the question

Multiple Choice

How many sources are given? What types of sources are they?

• 3 sources - 3 visual

• 3 sources - 2 visual and 1 written

• 4 sources - 3 written 1 visual

• 4 sources - 2 written 2 visual

Multiple Choice

How many marks are each question worth? For a total of how many points?

• 5 (3/2); 5; 6; 9 25

• 5 (3/2); 4; 4; 9 - 22

• 4 (2/2); 4; 6; 9 - 23

• 5 (3/2); 4; 6; 9 - 24

Multiple Choice

How many minutes should be spent on each question?

• 10; 10, 20, 50

• 3-5; 3-5; 18-20; 25-30

• 6-8; 6-8; 10-14; 25-30

• 15-20; 5; 15; 20

Multiple Choice

Question one tests what skill?

• Understanding

• Knowledge

• Recall

• Analysis

Multiple Select

You should do the following to answer question two:

• write 2 paragraphs both use OPC

• 1 addressing evaluation

• 1 addressing limitations

• 1 addressing value

Fill in the Blank

What skill is used to answer question three?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are true for question three?

• 2 paragraphs

• 1 compare

• 1 contrast

• 6 points of linkage

Multiple Select

Question four expects four things of the response. What are they?

• events, ideas, analysis, change over time

• sources, events, historical theme, change over time

• time period, perspective, change over time,. sources

• sources, events, ideas, time period

Fill in the Blank

How many prescribed subjects are there?

Fill in the Blank

We examined case studies for which topic?

Multiple Choice

How long do you have to write the responses for paper one?

• 30 minutes

• 45 minutes

• 1 hour

• 1 hour 30 minutes

Open Ended

What do you anticipate will be the most challenging aspect of this paper?

Poll

What did you most like about topic one?

• Learning about Apartheid

• Learning about the US Civil Rights Movement

Open Ended

What question do you still have about the case studies covered in this topic?

Open Ended

What question do you still have about the paper one exam?