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IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2: Causation, Chronology and Judgement
History: cause, chronology, judgement
Long answers are marked on fit, not length: asked for causes, separate long-term from immediate; asked how far, set a criterion before weighing. Most candidates transplant a paragraph of narrative that reads full but never answers the verb in the question. Drilling means circling the command word first, then deciding how many layers to write.
How is IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2 assessed, and what does each part carry?
Paper 2 (Document Questions): Source-based, 40 marks (30%); Paper 1 (Structured Questions): Structured essays, 60 marks (40%)
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Document Questions) | Source-based, 40 marks | 30% | 1 h 45 min |
| Paper 1 (Structured Questions) | Structured essays, 60 marks | 40% | 2 hours |
IGCSE History Paper 2 drilling technique: cover both value and limitations; reliability needs author, purpose and context; comparisons set points (stance, tone, content). Use NOP (Nature, Origin, Purpose).
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Document Questions) | value + limitation + reliability | A block of textbook narrative is transplanted without answering the command word; asked how far, the answer argues one side only and never sets a criterion. |
| Paper 1 (Structured Questions) | causes + argument | Cause questions list factors without separating long-term background from immediate trigger, and never say which cause mattered most or why. |
What is each IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2 paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 2 (Document Questions): value + limitation + reliability; Paper 1 (Structured Questions): causes + argument
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: chronology and terms. One timeline per topic, carrying the event, the year and one line of consequence.\nWeeks 4-6: causation. Every answer runs three layers – long-term background, immediate trigger, deepest consequence.\nWeeks 7-9: judgement. State the criterion, argue both sides, and let the last paragraph answer only how far.\nWeeks 10-12: whole papers to time, paragraphs matched to marks; redo only the off-question and wrong-date errors.
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 2 (Document Questions) | 1 h 45 min | about 26 min per part |
| Paper 1 (Structured Questions) | 2 hours | about 30 min per question |
How should the time be split inside each IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2 paper?
Paper 2 (Document Questions): about 26 min per part; Paper 1 (Structured Questions): about 30 min per question
The drilling mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | What it looks like | What actually happens | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value only | Missing limitations | Cover both sides | both sides |
| Reliability without NOP | Just unreliable | Author, purpose, context | NOP |
| Comparison without points | Two paragraphs | Set comparison points first | stance + tone + content |
The error log and the mark scheme
Three columns: the question and its command word; the layers actually written; and whether the loss was off-question, a missing layer or a factual error. Off-question entries earn a copy of the command word, since the same verb asks the same thing in every topic.
How many years should you drill?
The 0470 format has been stable and the last five sessions cover the main topics; older papers remain good for chronology and causation, though some interpretations have moved on, so where a paper disagrees with the current textbook, follow the textbook and the syllabus.
How many years of past papers is enough?
The 0470 format has been stable and the last five sessions cover the main topics; older papers remain good for chronology and causation, though some interpretations have moved on, so where a paper disagrees with the current textbook, follow the textbook and the syllabus.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2 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 IGCSE History 0470 Paper 2 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 much should I write?
Read the marks, not the page count. One paragraph per factor, opening with the claim, then the evidence, then one line of consequence; high-mark questions reward layers, not adjectives.
What if I forget a date?
Sequence and rough period still score. A vague “early twentieth century” costs less than a confidently wrong year, so never invent precision.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 page | Confirm the paper marks and times |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-igcse-history-0470-paper-1-mock-2027/ | IGCSE History Paper 1 drilling mock |
Related: practice area · IGCSE History Paper 1 drilling 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.