0448_s26_gt — 2026 May-June Pakistan Studies 0448 Grade Threshold · Cambridge CAIE IGCSE

Describing events instead of explaining their significance

“To answer the questions successfully, candidates should avoid lengthy narrative descriptions of event(s) and focus on explanation in relation to the historical concept being tested.”— Paper 1, May/June 2025

How to fix: After stating a fact, use linking words: 'hence', 'therefore', 'as a result', 'this meant that', 'the significance of this was'. Turn every description into an explanation by answering WHY it mattered or WHAT impact it had.

Including events outside the question's date range

“Often, events from dates outside the scope of the question were included: the Battle of Plassey, the Anglo–Sikh wars, the Doctrine of Lapse, Aurangzeb, and even the War of Independence.”— Paper 1, May/June 2023

How to fix: Before writing, circle the date range in the question. Only include events that happened WITHIN those dates. If a question says '1760–1840', the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the War of Independence (1857) are both outside the range and earn zero marks.

Only arguing one side in part (d) evaluation questions

“Two developed points (one for either side of the argument) are needed to achieve Level 3 on this question.”— Paper 2, May/June 2023

How to fix: Part (d) ALWAYS needs BOTH sides. Structure: Side A (developed point) → Side B (developed point) → Evaluative conclusion stating which side you agree with more and why. One-sided answers cannot reach Level 3.