Step into a world of clear, concise answers with The Cunning History Teacher’s IB History FAQs. Designed to support busy educators and curious students alike, this section unpacks the most frequently asked questions across all major IBDP History components, helping you teach and learn with confidence.
From demystifying the Internal Assessment (IA) to mastering each exam paper, these pages provide practical guidance grounded in the latest curriculum requirements. Each section is carefully structured to provide immediate clarity on expectations, structure, and assessment criteria while saving you hours of planning and helping your students avoid common pitfalls.
Explore individual FAQ pages for:
The Internal Assessment (IA) – including structure, word count, and source selection
Paper 1 – with guidance on source analysis, OPCVL, and exam technique
Paper 2 – tackling thematic questions and comparative essay writing
Paper 3 – in-depth focus on regional history topics (HL only)
The Extended Essay – advice on topic selection, research, structure, and referencing
Whether you are mapping out a year-long plan or checking a detail mid-lesson, this is your go-to space for accurate, accessible answers that saves teachers time while elevating excellence in the IB History classroom.
What is the History Extended Essay?It’s a 4,000-word academic research paper on a historical topic of the student’s choice. The […]
How many topics do I need to teach for Paper 2?You must teach at least two topics. Teaching a third […]
How many sections should I cover when preparing students for Paper 3?The IB recommends teaching three different sections. This gives […]
Question 1: Part ACan students use bullet points to list their three responses?While the markscheme does not specifically forbid bullet […]
Overall Structure How strict is the 2,200-word limit for the Internal Assessment?The word limit of 2,200 words is strictly enforced. […]