Defining Paper 2

IB History is a notably difficult subject. Not only must IB History students cover a considerable amount of content and complete a challenging piece of coursework—the IA, or Internal Assessment—they must also contend with a number of exam papers, each one tailored to test their skills as historians and writers.

As noted in a previous blog post, those studying IB History must contend with Paper 1, which focuses on examining the ways in which candidates deal with historical sources. For Paper 2, IB candidates are presented with a different type of written examination. The IB History Paper 2 exam is an essay paper based on the 12 world history topics, with each topic consisting of two questions. Students must answer two essay questions on two different topics. What differentiates this IB History Paper 2 from IB History Paper 3 (reserved for Higher Level only) is that the vast majority of questions are comparative.

The most common pitfall

As mentioned above, the IB History Paper 2 is, by and large, a comparative writing exercise. Students will have examined a topic, Authoritarian States, for example, and then must compare aspects of this topic, such as the ways in which two authoritarian leaders gained and held on to control in their respective countries. Typically, this act of writing comparatively is the greatest challenge facing those sitting the IB History Paper 2. IB History candidates can, very often, write well-structured essays that discuss one topic in significant detail, as this is how essay writing is often taught in school. What they lack, however, is the skill to write comparatively. Rather than examining two historical figures or events in tandem so as to illustrate their similarities and differences, IB History candidates will segregate the information. They will write everything they know about one figure or event, then everything they know about another, and, in the essay’s conclusion, will summarise to what extent these figures or events are the same or different. This is not the approach that an IB History student aiming for a 7 wants to take when tackling the Paper 2.

Paper 2 sample question

Below is an example of the approach that should be taken when completing the IB History Paper 2. This segment of the response is attempting to answer the question, “How was authoritarian control achieved in two 20th-century states?”

Both Mao Zedong and Adolf Hitler proved particularly adroit in their abilities to use propaganda as a means to establish and maintain control. After years of punishing war against the Japanese as well as Jiang Jieshi’s Nationalists, Mao constructed an image of himself as China’s great saviour. This was achieved through an unending propaganda campaign that incorporated traditional elements such as posters and films, while also making use, most notably, of loudspeaker installations and, what the political scientist Ann-marie Brady called, “rule by editorial”. The year before ascending to power, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the People’s Daily, a newspaper that was used as Party mouthpiece. Study groups were organised to analyse the articles as a means of political learning and the paper's ubiquity allowed for Mao to enter the homes of literate Chinese, as reading the newspaper was a political obligation. For the rural population, who were largely illiterate, the aforementioned loudspeakers, of which over 500 were installed around the county, proved most effective for indoctrination, blaring pro-Party slogans throughout the day and night. Hitler’s use of propaganda to portray himself as Germany's champion functioned similarly to Mao’s campaigns. Posters and pamphlets offered an image of Hitler as hero, and mass rallies were utilised to energise the populace, with Hitler’s oration proving to be particularly winning. It is here that the two leaders begin to diverge, as Mao shied away from speaking at rallies due to his marked Hunan accent. It is also worth noting that, unlike Mao, Hitler faced some opposition in the press, particularly from the Münchener Post in the years prior to his rise to Fuhrer. However, he circumvented any protestation in print by entering the German home through radio broadcasting and playing to his strengths as a speaker. Where both leaders converged once more regarding their propagandist practices was in the printing and distribution of their respective key texts, Mein Kampf and Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Millions of copies of these books, which outline both leader’s ideologies, proliferated among the public and were texts of close study at home and in learning institutions. It is plain to see, then, that both Mao and Hitler infected the public, private and educational spheres of their respective nations, indoctrinating millions into their ideologies and, in doing so, maintained an astonishing level of control over China and Germany.

What can be seen in this response is an in depth analysis of the ways in which both Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong utilised propaganda as a means of achieving control over their respective nations. Both leaders' uses of propaganda are compared and contrasted, and all contained within the single paragraph. Such a response would tick the relevant boxes expected for IB History students completing a Paper 2-style essay.

IB History support

The IB History curriculum is, indeed, an uphill battle. To achieve a 7 in the subject, considerable work must be done in terms of revision, and students must be adept at writing coherent and well-structured responses to a variety of question types. Often, all of this can be overwhelming for young learners, particularly as traditional schooling does not allow for the necessary individual support they need to succeed.

At BartyED, our experienced IB History tutors are on-hand to guide students through the IB History curriculum. BartyED IB History tutors have assisted countless young learners in revising for exams, refining essay-writing skills, and drafting coursework (both the IB History Internal Assessment and IB History Extended Essay). If you or your child could benefit from the expertise of one of our IB History tutors, reach out today by phone at +852 2882 1017 or email at enquiries@bartyed.com.