HL History Paper 3 – what to do after the reading time is done

May 17, 2015
You have 2 ½ hours to write three essays, which equates to 50 minutes per essay. Even though you may be in a hurry to write as much as possible, that is not necessarily the best strategy. There are certain key ways in which slowing down can be very helpful: Choose...

Paper 1 is done – Paper 2 in a few

May 14, 2015
With the exceptions of those in the westernmost parts of the United States, Paper 1 is complete.  We will have to wait for 24 hours until we can see the exam, but the important thing is that you can move on to Paper 2. Last minute revisions aside, I know that most of...

Less than 24 hours to go – what to do?

May 13, 2015
Tomorrow morning IB History Paper 1 is scheduled for all students taking history, whether at HL or SL. All schools are taking exams on one of three subjects: Peacemaking/peacekeeping Arab-Israeli Crisis Communism in Crisis Most of our students are currently in Math...

Material for Detailed Study – how much is enough?

April 30, 2015
As the IB draws ever nearer our students are full of questions about how to study and what to study. When they are preparing for Paper 2 one of the most common questions is how many case studies are needed for Topics 1 through 4.  Topic 5 is slightly different and...

Writing an essay – review

April 8, 2015
In History, Papers 1 and 2 are identical at HL and SL.  The curricular difference between the two is that HL students do an additional area of content – the Regional Option.  The assessment difference is that HL students do another essay test – Paper 3. ...