History Past Papers 2026
Browse all available History sessions from 2001-2026. This archive currently includes 1,049 official papers and 7 donated papers.
52
Sessions
1,056
Papers
1,049
Official
2001-2026
Years
May 2026
Latest Session
52
Sessions
2001–2026
513
Question Papers
365
Markschemes
71% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Source-Based Study (Prescribed Subjects) | 24 | 1h (plus 5 min reading time) | 0.37 | Steady |
| Paper 2 | World History Topics (Essay) | 30 | 1h 30m | 0.33 | Steady |
| Paper 3 | Regional Depth Study (HL only) | 45 | 2h 30m | 0.30 | Steady |
Components: 3 papers, up to 3 variants each. Component data extracted from 1 official IB subject reports (2024).
May 2026
Latest Session
52
Sessions
2001–2026
235
Question Papers
187
Markschemes
80% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Source-Based Study (Prescribed Subjects) | 24 | 1h (plus 5 min reading time) | 0.37 | Steady |
| Paper 2 | World History Topics (Essay) | 30 | 1h 30m | 0.33 | Steady |
Components: 2 papers, up to 3 variants each. Component data extracted from 1 official IB subject reports (2024).
Yearly Exam Sessions
What IB examiners say about History
Verbatim quotes from 1 official IB subject reports (2024). Every quote is attributable to a specific paper and session — these are the things IB markers flag year after year.
Writing narrative descriptions instead of analytical…
Many examiners commented on the narrative/descriptive approach applied to many responses with students, in general, paying little attention to the demands of the question.
Ignoring command terms
There was a lack of awareness of how different command terms ask for a different response.
Paper 1 Q2
A notable number of students continue to spend too much time on a detailed description of the origin and purpose of the source, which is not required, rather than articulating its value and limitations.
About IB History
IB History is a Group 3 subject taught from a range of perspectives across different regions and time periods. It is assessed through written papers examining prescribed subjects, world history topics, HL regional options, and historical investigation. The course develops critical thinking, source analysis, and essay skills with a focus on multiple historical interpretations.
IB History is available at SL and HL. SL students study two world history topics and one prescribed subject. HL students additionally study a regional option in depth. Our archive includes past papers for the key topic areas most commonly taught in schools, with mark schemes and examiner notes.
Exam Format
Paper 1 (1 hr)
Source-based questions on one prescribed subject. Four sources with questions: comprehension, comparison, value/limitations (OPVL), and a synthesis essay.
Paper 2 (1 hr 30 min)
Two essay questions from different world history topics. Requires analytical argument with historical examples.
Paper 3 (HL only: 2 hr 30 min)
Three essays from the regional option (e.g., History of the Americas, European History, History of Africa). Choose one region.
SL vs HL
SL students sit Papers 1 and 2 (plus IA). HL students sit all three papers. Paper 3 requires deep knowledge of a specific region's history over a broad time period.
Study Tips for IB History
- ✓For Paper 1, use the OPCVL framework: Origin, Purpose, Content, Value, Limitation for source analysis.
- ✓Paper 2 essays need a clear thesis, supporting arguments, counter-arguments, and a conclusion.
- ✓Build a list of specific examples (dates, names, events) for each world history topic — vague answers score poorly.
- ✓For Paper 3, practise writing three quality essays in 2.5 hours — pacing is the biggest challenge.
- ✓Read past mark schemes to understand what examiners reward in historical analysis.
- ✓Use linking phrases to show historical causation: 'This led to...', 'As a consequence...', 'A key factor was...'
Questions, answered.
Frequently tested topics include: The Move to Global War (1933–1941), Authoritarian States (Hitler, Stalin, Mao), Cold War, Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars. Prescribed subjects include Military Leaders and Rights and Protest.
OPVL stands for Origin, Purpose, Value, and Limitation — a framework for evaluating historical sources in Paper 1. Students assess what makes a source valuable and what limits its usefulness for historical investigation.
Paper 1 has one source essay; Paper 2 requires two analytical essays; HL Paper 3 requires three regional essays. The IA is a 2,200-word historical investigation.
History of the Americas and 20th Century World History are the most widely taught regional options globally, followed by European History.