IB DP History

IB DP History

The DP history course is a world history program that takes a comparative, multi-perspective approach, focusing on key concepts like change, causation, and significance. It covers political, economic, social, and cultural history, encouraging students to develop historical thinking and skills. Available at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

Aims of the Course:

1. Foster an understanding of and interest in the past.
2. Encourage engagement with multiple perspectives and the complexity of historical issues.
3. Promote international-mindedness through the study of global history.
4. Develop an understanding of history as a discipline, including chronology, context, and different perspectives.
5. Build key historical skills, particularly in engaging with sources.
6. Enhance students’ understanding of themselves and contemporary society through reflection on the past.

For general information about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, visit this link.

Components of the curriculum

Syllabus componentSL
teaching hours
HL
teaching hours
Prescribed subjects (one to be studied):
1. Military leaders
2. Conquest and its impact
3. The move to global war
4. Rights and protest
5. Conflict and intervention
4040
World history topics (two to be studied):
1. Society and economy (750–1400)
2. Causes and effects of wars (750–1500)
3. Dynasties and rulers (750–1500)
4. Societies in transition (1400–1700)
5. Early Modern states (1450–1789)
6. Causes and effects of Early Modern wars (1500–1750)
7. Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750–2005)
8. Independence movements (1800–2000)
9. Emergence and development of democratic states (1848–2000)
10. Authoritarian states (20th century)
11. Causes and effects of 20th-century wars
12. The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)
9090
HL options: Depth studies (one to be studied):  
1. History of Africa and the Middle East
2. History of the Americas
3. History of Asia and Oceania
4. History of Europe
90
Internal assessment: Historical investigation2020
As recommended by the IB, the total number of instructional hours for HL subjects is 240 hours and for SL subjects is 150 hours

Assessment

There are four assessment objectives in the DP History course. By taking the course, students will be required to meet the following objectives:

1. Knowledge and Understanding:

– Demonstrate detailed, relevant, and accurate historical knowledge.
– Understand historical concepts and context.
– Understand historical sources.

2. Application and Analysis:

– Formulate clear and coherent arguments.
– Use relevant historical knowledge to support analysis.
– Analyze and interpret various sources.

3. Synthesis and Evaluation:

– Integrate evidence and analysis into a coherent response.
– Evaluate different perspectives on historical issues and events.
– Assess sources as historical evidence, recognizing their value and limitations.
– Synthesize information from relevant sources.

4. Use and Application of Appropriate Skills:

– Structure and develop focused essays that respond to questions.
– Reflect on the methods and challenges of historians.
– Formulate focused questions for historical inquiry.
– Demonstrate research skills, organization, and appropriate source selection.

Type of assessmentFormat of assessmentSL
(hours)
HL
(hours)
Weighting of
final grade
SL
Weighting of
final grade
HL
External assessment2.5575%80%
Paper 1Source-based paper based on the five prescribed subjects1130%20%
Paper 2Essay paper based on the 12 world history topics1.51.545%25%
Paper 3Essay paper based on one of the four regional options2.535%
Internal assessment202025%20%
Historical
investigation
A historical investigation into a topic of the student’s choice.202025%20%

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