Cambridge O Level History 2147 Past Papers 2026

Structured Questions

Duration: 2h

Document Questions

Duration: 1h 45m

Treaty of Sevres and its consequences

A small number of candidates had no knowledge of the Treaty of Sevres and often confused it with the treaties that Germany and Hungary received. Weaker responses could describe terms but lacked contextual knowledge to explain its importance.

Paper 1

Paris Peace Accords (1973) and Vietnam War diplomacy

Most responses lacked knowledge of the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. A common misconception was that it was between the USA and USSR regarding the reduction of nuclear weapons.

Paper 1

Threats to the Weimar Republic 1919-20 — distinguishing time periods

Some responses included details on the Munich Putsch, which was in 1923, so outside the time limits of this question. A small number confused the left and right-wing groups.

Paper 1

Collective security and the League of Nations

A common misconception was that collective security was a firm alliance in which an attack on one country would immediately trigger the military involvement of the other league members. Weaker responses lacked a proper understanding of the concept.

Paper 1

The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 — specific provisions vs general persecution

Some candidates were unfamiliar with the Nuremberg Laws of 1935. Whilst often realising they were antisemitic, they wrote at length about the different ways Jews were persecuted in general rather than the specific provisions of the Laws.

Paper 1

Berlin Blockade — distinguishing reasons from narrative

Many responses included lengthy sections on why Stalin blockaded West Berlin and the details of the airlift, which lacked relevance. The question asked why the Allies were determined to defeat the Blockade, not to describe it.

Paper 1

Source comparison technique — point-by-point method

The weakest answers either wrote about the two sources separately and failed to make any comparison or only compared surface details. A number made very good inferences from one or both sources but did not compare.

Paper 2

Purpose questions — distinguishing message from purpose

Weaker answers focused on the context or message of the cartoon but did not go on to explain that this was WHY the cartoon was published. Candidates must explain the intended impact on the audience.

Paper 2

Treaty of Versailles colonial terms — Germany's overseas colonies vs European territorial losses

The s25 P12 Q5(a) report notes: 'Some candidates misinterpreted the word colonies and wrote about Germany's territorial losses in Europe, including details such as Alsace Lorraine went to France and West Prussia went to Poland.' Colonies refers to Germany's OVERSEAS possessions in Africa and Asia — these became League of Nations mandates, mostly under British, French and Japanese control.

Paper 1

Aims of the Korean War — containment vs reunification

The s25 P12 Q7(c) report observes: 'The strongest responses were from candidates who explained that the original aim of the US was to implement its policy of containment and to remove the North Koreans from the South, but that it subsequently changed its aim to defeating the North. The former aim was achieved because North and South Korea remained separated at the 38th parallel but not the latter.' Candidates struggled to distinguish the two aims and their differing outcomes.

Paper 1

Cuban Missile Crisis importance — consequences vs narrative

The s25 P12 Q7(b) report flags that 'less successful responses contained much narrative and description of the crisis, rather than stressing its importance.' Key consequences to anchor an answer: damage to Khrushchev's reputation (removed from power 1964), enhancement of Kennedy's standing, introduction of the Washington-Moscow Hotline, the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, and the secret removal of US missiles from Turkey.

Paper 1

Cartoon interpretation — identifying figures and overall message vs sub-messages

The s25 P22 Q1(b) report flags that 'a number of candidates suggested an alternative reading of Source D' and that some 'often understood parts of the cartoons (sub-messages) but were unable to construct valid overall interpretations. This was sometimes due to not using the information provided. This led some candidates to not recognise Napoleon in Source C and Bismarck in Source D.' Always use the captions and background information first to identify each figure before interpreting the cartoonist's overall point.

Paper 2