0470_s26_qp_21 2026 May-June History 0470 Question Paper 2 Variant 1 · Cambridge CAIE IGCSE

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0470_s26_qp_212026 May-June History 0470 Question Paper 2 Variant 1

This is the official Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) Question Paper 2 (Variant 1) from the 2026 May-June examination session. This question paper was sat by Cambridge students worldwide in 2026 and is published by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). Use it for timed practice under exam conditions to build familiarity with the question format, mark allocation, and time pressure.

Also referenced as: 0470_s26_qp_21 · 0470/21/m/j/26 qp · 0470/21 May/June 2026 qp

Paper 2: Source-based This is Paper 2: Source-based, worth 40 marks with a duration of 1h 45m. Source analysis questions. Must evaluate usefulness (not just reliability), compare sources, assess purpose, and judge how far sources support a statement.

To self-assess your performance, use this question paper alongside the corresponding mark scheme (0470_s26_ms_21). Attempt the entire paper under timed conditions before opening the mark scheme — this trains both your subject knowledge and exam technique. Mark each question and record whether marks were lost due to knowledge gaps, method errors, or careless mistakes.

The most effective way to use this History question paper is to simulate real exam conditions: set a timer for the full duration, work without notes, and write your answers on separate paper. After finishing, mark yourself using the official mark scheme — do not check answers during the paper. This builds exam stamina and reveals your genuine readiness. Repeat this process across 3–5 sessions to identify recurring weak topics in History (0470).

Studying History?

Every past paper on this site stays free. These are the worked answers and notes our specialists write on top of them.

Same paper, other years

History (0470) Question Paper 2 (Variant 1) from other exam sessions — practise the same paper across the years, then check each one against its mark scheme.

Examiner Insights — Paper 2: Source-based

Based on analysis of 3 official Cambridge documents (2023, 2025)

4

Using ellipses in quotations that destroy the original meaning

When quoting from a source, it should be written out in full, not abbreviated. When ellipses are used, the quotation often loses its meaning.Paper 2, March 2025

How to fix: Write out any quotation from a source in full. Do not use '...' to skip words — this often changes what the source actually says. If the relevant section is long, paraphrase the context and quote only the key phrase completely.

5

Confusing usefulness with reliability

An unreliable source can still be useful to a historian.Paper 2, March 2025

How to fix: Usefulness and reliability are different concepts. A source can be unreliable (biased, inaccurate) but still USEFUL — for example, a propaganda poster is unreliable as a factual account but useful for understanding what a government wanted people to believe. When asked about usefulness, consider: useful for what purpose? What can a historian learn from it?

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All History (0470) Papers — 2026 May-June

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History Exam Guide: How to Score Higher

Top mistakes, scoring patterns & answer frameworks from 3 official Cambridge documents