History SL/HL

History SL/HL

The DP history course is a world history course based on a comparative and multi-perspective approach to history. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, and provides a balance of structure and flexibility.

The course emphasizes the importance of encouraging students to think historically and to develop historical skills as well as gaining factual knowledge. It puts a premium on developing the skills of critical thinking, and on developing an understanding of multiple interpretations of history. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past. Teachers explicitly teach thinking and research skills such as comprehension, text analysis, transfer, and use of primary sources.

There are six key concepts that have particular prominence throughout the DP history course: change, continuity, causation, consequence, significance and perspectives.

The IB DP History standard level (SL) course contains one prescribed subject topic out of five prescribed subject topics (Duration 40 Hours), two world history topics out of twelve (Duration 90 Hours) and one historical investigation (Duration 20 Hours).

The assessment model of History SL consists of two papers. Paper 1 is a one hour sourced based exam based on the five prescribed subject topics, weighing 30% of the final grade. Paper 2 is a 1.5 hours essay paper based on the twelve world history topics, weighing 45% of the final grade. The internal assessment is a historical investigation into a topic of the student’s choice, weighing 25% of the final grade.

The IB DP History higher level (HL) course contains one prescribed subject topic out of five prescribed subject topics (Duration 40 Hours), two world history topics out of twelve (Duration 90 Hours), one HL optional topic (Duration 90 Hours) and one historical investigation (Duration 20 Hours).

The assessment model of History HL consists of three papers. Paper 1 is a one hour sourced based exam based on the five prescribed subject topics, weighing 20% of the final grade. Paper 2 is a 1.5 hours essay paper based on the twelve world history topics, weighing 25% of the final grade. Paper 3 is a 2.5 hours essay paper based on one of the four regional options, weighing 35% of the final grade. The internal assessment is a historical investigation into a topic of the student’s choice, weighing 20% of the final grade.