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IB History Paper 1: Source Value, Limitation and Comparison
Place the source first, then its value has grounds
History Paper 1 gives several sources and asks first for comprehension, then for value and limitation, then for synthesis. Each type has its own shape: paraphrase closely for comprehension, tie value to author and purpose, and in comparison state how two sources differ on the same question. Length is not accuracy.
How is IB History Paper 1 assessed, and what does each part carry?
Paper 1 (source-based): 4 questions, 24 marks (SL 30%／HL 20%); Paper 2 (essays): two essays (30 marks) from two different world history topics (SL 45%／HL 25%)
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (source-based) | 4 questions, 24 marks | SL 30%／HL 20% | 1 hour |
| Paper 2 (essays) | two essays (30 marks) from two different world history topics | SL 45%／HL 25% | 1 h 30 min |
IB History Paper 1 drilling technique: Q1/Q2 use the sources only – add no outside knowledge; every Q2 point must be tied to origin/purpose/content; Q3 needs both sides (similarities and differences) or it caps at 3; Q4 (9 marks) demands sources + own knowledge + a judgement – doing only source analysis is the most common way to lose marks.
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (source-based) | comprehension + OPCVL + comparison + mini-essay | Comprehension copies a whole paragraph instead of stating the point. |
| Paper 2 (essays) | argument + specific evidence | Value and limitation stay at possible bias, never tied to author or purpose. |
What is each IB History Paper 1 paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 1 (source-based): comprehension + OPCVL + comparison + mini-essay; Paper 2 (essays): argument + specific evidence
Drill order: by topic, then by year, then the mark scheme
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. By topic | Work through each topic, starting with the paper that allows least help (no calculator / closed book) | Exposes what is genuinely not understood |
| 2. By year | Whole papers to time, one or two a week | Trains pace, stamina and question selection |
| 3. Mark scheme | Go through the marking scheme question by question and log the scoring steps you missed | Most lost marks are written wrong, not thought wrong |
Should drilling go by topic first or by year?
By topic first, then whole papers by year, then the mark scheme. The first third of the time goes topic by topic (8-10 years of the same topic back to back), the middle switches to timed whole papers, and the last fortnight only redoes the recurring errors from your log.
A 12-week drilling timetable
| Week | Phase | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-3 | By topic: foundation | Topic by topic, starting with the easiest marks, building habits and recall |
| Weeks 4-6 | By topic: core | 8-10 years of the same topic back to back, errors classified by topic |
| Weeks 7-8 | By topic: advanced and electives | Elective and higher-order topics, now under time pressure |
| Weeks 9-10 | By year: timed papers | One full paper a week, timed, no reference materials |
| Week 11 | Mark scheme work | Question by question against the marking scheme; list the scoring steps you omitted |
| Week 12 | Plug holes and simulate | Only the recurring errors from your log, then one full exam simulation |
Subject-specific weighting for this timetable: Weeks 1-3: a source card per document with four lines, author and role, date and audience, main claim, one limitation. Weeks 4-6: comprehension rewritten in two sentences, one for the claim and one for where the evidence sits. Weeks 7-9: the same source valued twice, once as eyewitness and once as propaganda. Weeks 10-12: two timed papers a week, unseen source sets last, with three difference sentences in every comparison.
Use it properly: this is not a checklist to finish. Every week must keep time for redoing errors, or from week 9 you will be repeating the same batch.
Pacing
| Paper | Time | Suggested split |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (source-based) | 1 hour | about 10 min Q1, 10 min Q2, 12 min Q3, 20 min Q4 |
| Paper 2 (essays) | 1 h 30 min | about 40 min per essay |
How should the time be split inside each IB History Paper 1 paper?
Paper 1 (source-based): about 10 min Q1, 10 min Q2, 12 min Q3, 20 min Q4; Paper 2 (essays): about 40 min per essay
The drilling mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | What it looks like | What actually happens | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own knowledge in Q1/Q2 | Reciting the textbook | Sources only | sources only |
| Q2 as reliable/unreliable | No origin/purpose link | Tie every point to OPCVL | tie to origin/purpose/content |
| Q3 similarities only | Differences ignored | 3 marks each side | both sides |
| Q4 source analysis only | No own knowledge | Sources + own knowledge + judgement | use both |
The error log and the mark scheme
Three columns: the question and the sources used; the value or limitation sentence written; whether the loss was copying in comprehension, vague value, a comparison without difference or time. Value slips get author and purpose added and the sentence rewritten.
How many years should you drill?
The prescribed subject is stable across years, so five years teaches the question shapes, while sources and cases change, leaving old papers as sentence practice; check the current guide for the prescribed list and marking.
How many years of past papers is enough?
The prescribed subject is stable across years, so five years teaches the question shapes, while sources and cases change, leaving old papers as sentence practice; check the current guide for the prescribed list and marking.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IB History Paper 1 drilling guide: assessment structure, drill order, a 12-week timetable, pacing, common mark losses and the error-log method. For questions with answers, use the IB History Paper 1 mock papers linked under Related.
By topic or by year first?
By topic. Eight to ten years of the same topic back to back is what exposes repeating errors; going straight to whole papers just repeats the same batch under time pressure.
How should the error log be written?
Do not copy out questions. Per error record four things: question reference, which step failed (concept, wording, calculation), what the mark scheme requires, and the correct action next time.
How long should the comparison be?
One line of position per source, one line on why they differ, then a judgement on which is more persuasive. Four sentences suffice, and padding dilutes the judgement.
Can value rest on being written at the time?
Name the kind of value, eyewitness, official record or propaganda, and tie it to the question. A date alone gives the examiner nothing to credit.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| IB History subject page (IBO) | Confirm the Paper 1-3 marks and times |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-ib-psychology-paper-1-mock-2027/ | IB Psychology Paper 1 drilling mock |
Related: practice area · IB Economics drilling mock · IB Global Politics mock
Next step: find a tutor / register as a tutor
After drilling, the hard part is telling a conceptual error from a writing error. Tell us the year group, the school and your available times, and TutorZone will match you with a tutor who knows the HKEAA assessment requirements.
Demand for tutors in this subject is steady, and those who can explain the marking scheme and where marks are won are especially sought after. Register free; you pay only when a match succeeds.