What makes IGCSE History challenging?

IGCSE History, like all IGCSEs, presents a core challenge to students in that it is often their first encounter with actual exam conditions. IGCSE History students are required to know and understand a large range of historical topics and perspectives, and somehow synthesise the information into exam responses that use appropriate keywords. This can be challenging for any student, even ones who have taken well to revision. IGCSEs are designed to be a challenge, and History is no exception. The exam format requires students to know how to write short, and long responses, and therefore needs a range of study skills that need to be mastered ahead of the exam.

Why is IGCSE History rewarding?

Despite the challenges of the course, it is a highly rewarding experience with useful and transferable skills that will see students through the rest of their secondary education and beyond. IGCSE History provides a great opportunity to delve into a wide range of historical events, and learn the major theories and perspectives on how they occurred. Students also learn how to analyse and interpret sources of information, which offer them transferable skills, regardless of the school syllabus they go on to study in the final two years of their secondary education. Being exposed to such a wide range of perspectives and skills is enormously valuable for any student, and makes it worth learning how to engage in effective revision before exams.

Revision tips for IGCSE History

Having helped countless students to top marks in IGCSE History over the years, BartyED tutors have collected some tips on how to improve and revise for the exams and assessments:

Use the sources effectively: Understanding how to glean useful information from sources is an essential part of mastering IGCSE History.
Practice essay planning: Practising your responses is always important, and never more so than when you are preparing to write essays for IGCSE History. A lot of marks are on the table for these essays, and effective planning can help you attain them.
Mastering command words: Learning the difference between a ‘To what extent’ question and a question that asks you to ‘Evaluate the significance’ is vital to scoring highly on any IGCSE History exam.
Check the rubric: Knowing how you are assessed and where you should try to signpost is very important for top marks.
Ask for help: Seeking the guidance of an experienced IGCSE History tutor helps students work on their areas of weakness and make the most of revision time.

How can IGCSE History tutoring help?

Regardless of how well-developed your revision techniques are, IGCSE History can be challenging for any budding History student. Nonetheless, its challenges and difficulties can be tamed with the right IGCSE History tutoring. BartyED’s IGCSE History tuition targets students' understanding and mastery of key aspects of their syllabus, whether in depth studies, the core components, or exam techniques. This enables a deeper understanding of all the demands and rigours of IGCSE History and gives students cross-disciplinary skills that will see them through their IGCSEs. Our tutors work on coaching essay structure, exam technique, and crucial practical skills that help students ace their assessments.

Our IGCSE History tutors are ready to teach in-person at our offices, or online. Our flexibility and experience means that our candidates can focus on learning and our tutors can focus on building the analytical skill set needed for the rigour of IGCSE History.

Find out more about our IGCSE History tutoring programmes here, or reach out today at (+852) 2882 1017 or enquiries@bartyed.com.