3
Topics
IB Group 3 — Individuals and Societies
IB History 2026
IB History develops source-evaluation, essay writing, and critical analysis skills. Students study a Prescribed Subject (Paper 1), two World History Topics (Paper 2), and — at HL — an in-depth Regional Option (Paper 3, three sections).
HL · 240hSL · 150h
HL & SL
Levels
25%
IA Weight
240h
HL Hours
Syllabus Topics
Official topic breakdown with approximate teaching hours.
| Topic | SL Hours | HL Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Subject (Paper 1 — source analysis, one topic, e.g. Rights and Protest) | 30h | 30h |
| World History Topics × 2 (Paper 2 — e.g. Authoritarian States; Cold War) | 60h | 60h |
| HL Regional Option × 3 sections (Paper 3 — e.g. History of Europe or Americas)HL only | — | 90h |
| Total | 150h | 240h |
Assessment Structure
External Assessment
Paper 1 (source analysis, 1 hr, 30%). Paper 2 (two essays on World History Topics, 1.5 hrs, 45% SL / 25% HL). Paper 3 (HL only — three essays, 2.5 hrs, 35% HL). Internal Assessment: Historical Investigation (25% both levels).
Internal Assessment — Historical Investigation
HL: 25%SL: 25%
An independent investigation (2,200 words) on a historical topic, including a Section A (identification and evaluation of sources), Section B (investigation), and Section C (reflection on historical methods).
Exam Tips for IB History
1
Paper 1: use OPVL structure (Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation) for every source evaluation question
2
Plan all essays before writing — a structured argument beats a chronological narrative every time
3
Reference historiographical schools (revisionist, orthodox) in Paper 2/3 essays for top marks
4
HL Paper 3: practise writing three full essays in 2.5 hours — time management is the biggest challenge
5
IA: a focused, specific question (one event, one person, one decision) produces stronger investigations
Predict your IB History grade
Enter your component marks and see your predicted final grade based on grade boundaries.
Related IB Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are in IB History?
IB History covers Prescribed Subject (Paper 1 — source analysis, one topic, e.g. Rights and Protest), World History Topics × 2 (Paper 2 — e.g. Authoritarian States; Cold War), HL Regional Option × 3 sections (Paper 3 — e.g. History of Europe or Americas). HL students study additional depth and some HL-only extensions. Total teaching hours: HL 240, SL 150.
How is IB History assessed?
Paper 1 (source analysis, 1 hr, 30%). Paper 2 (two essays on World History Topics, 1.5 hrs, 45% SL / 25% HL). Paper 3 (HL only — three essays, 2.5 hrs, 35% HL). Internal Assessment: Historical Investigation (25% both levels). The Internal Assessment (Historical Investigation) counts for 25% of the final grade at SL and 25% at HL.
What is the IB History IA?
The IB History IA is the Historical Investigation. An independent investigation (2,200 words) on a historical topic, including a Section A (identification and evaluation of sources), Section B (investigation), and Section C (reflection on historical methods). It accounts for 25% of the final grade at SL and 25% at HL.
Should I take IB History HL or SL?
Take HL if History is relevant to your university course (Law, politics, international relations, and humanities university applications.), or if you are genuinely strong in the subject. HL adds 90 extra hours of content and deeper examination requirements. SL is suitable if you need the subject for the diploma but it is not your primary focus.