International Baccalaureate · IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme World History
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme History. What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official syllabus, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- DP History
- Qualification
- IB Diploma Programme
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Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official International Baccalaureate document for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme History, with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for IB Diploma Programme World History only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
Searches topic names and resource titles for this course only.
No IB Diploma Programme World History resources match “”.
- Try one shorter word, or check the spelling.
- Try the wording the syllabus uses for the topic, as listed below once you clear the search.
- Some topics have no Marlbridge resource yet; they are still listed.
- Topic 1
Prescribed subjects
Covers Military leaders, Conquest and its impact, The move to global war, Rights and protest, Conflict and intervention
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 2
World history topics
Covers Society and economy (750-1400), Causes and effects of wars (750-1500), Dynasties and rulers (750-1500), Societies in transition (1400-1700), Early Modern states (1450-1789), Causes and effects of Early Modern wars (1500-1750), Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750-2005), Independence movements (1800-2000), Emergence and development of democratic states (1848-2000), Authoritarian states (20th century), Causes and effects of 20th-century wars, The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 3
HL options: Depth studies
Covers History of Africa and the Middle East, History of the Americas, History of Asia and Oceania, History of Europe
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 4
Internal assessment: Historical investigation
Practice questions
Covering more than one topic
Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.
Source: International Baccalaureate Organization, Diploma Programme Subject Brief – Individuals and societies: History, higher level, first assessments 2017 (republished 2020); cross-verified against the "Syllabus outline" table on the official ibo.org "History in the DP" curriculum page (last updated 19 February 2026) and the full History guide, first examinations 2017 (International Baccalaureate Organization, published January 2015) — First assessment 2017. Verified 2026-09-08. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- IB Diploma Programme World History
- Spec code
- DP History
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Azam Siddique
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 10 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official syllabus
- International Baccalaureate syllabus
- Topic checklist
- Printable DP History checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-09-04, official International Baccalaureate specification
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official International Baccalaureate specification on 2026-09-04.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme History
Marlbridge's summary of the course
IB DP History is a world history course based on a comparative and multi-perspective approach, covering prescribed subjects, world history topics and (at Higher Level) a regional depth study, at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).
The board's own description is on the official International Baccalaureate syllabus page.
First assessments 2017. Sourced from the freely public official subject briefs (Higher Level and Standard Level, published as two separate PDFs) plus the freely public official specimen exam papers, all read on 2026-09-04 – no licensed subject guide was needed. See the matching assessment record for the sourced paper-by-paper breakdown, modeled at both tiers.
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the International Baccalaureate syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Component-based qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Paper 1 – Source-Based Paper on the Prescribed Subjects (SL) | 1h | 24 | 30% | Written exam |
| Paper 2: Paper 2 – Essay Paper on the World History Topics (SL) | 1h 30m | 30 | 45% | Written exam |
| Internal Assessment: Internal Assessment – Historical Investigation (SL) | — | 25 | 25% | Coursework |
| Paper 1: Paper 1 – Source-Based Paper on the Prescribed Subjects (HL) | 1h | 24 | 20% | Written exam |
| Paper 2: Paper 2 – Essay Paper on the World History Topics (HL) | 1h 30m | 30 | 25% | Written exam |
| Paper 3: Paper 3 – Essay Paper on One Regional Option (HL Only) (HL) | 2h 30m | 45 | 35% | Written exam |
| Internal Assessment: Internal Assessment – Historical Investigation (HL) | — | 25 | 20% | Coursework |
Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04. Both tiers modeled in full. Weighting and duration are read directly from the official public subject briefs (first assessments 2017; the Higher Level and Standard Level briefs are published as two separate PDFs, both read on 2026-09-04). Paper 1 (24 marks, both tiers), Paper 2 (30 marks, both tiers) and Paper 3 (45 marks, Higher Level only) mark totals are read directly from the official freely public specimen papers, also read on 2026-09-04. The Internal Assessment (a historical investigation into a topic of the student's own choice, 2,200-word limit, marked against three criteria – Identification and Evaluation of Sources (6 marks), Investigation (15 marks), Reflection (4 marks), 25 marks total, identical task and criteria at both tiers) was independently corroborated against a current, actively maintained third-party IB revision resource rather than found in either specimen-paper document, since the Internal Assessment is not part of the externally set specimen papers. Higher Level sits an additional Paper 3 essay paper on one of four regional depth-study options (History of Africa and the Middle East, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, or Europe); the 45-mark, 2-hour-30-minute structure is confirmed directly from the official Africa-and-the-Middle-East specimen paper and is stated uniformly across all four regions by the official subject brief's own assessment table, which does not differentiate marks or duration by region.
Questions about this course
How is International Baccalaureate World History (DP History) assessed?
International Baccalaureate World History (DP History) is assessed through: SL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Source-Based Paper on the Prescribed Subjects) — 1h, 24 marks, 30% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Paper 2 – Essay Paper on the World History Topics) — 1h 30m, 30 marks, 45% of the qualification; Internal Assessment (Internal Assessment – Historical Investigation) — no fixed duration, 25 marks, 25% of the qualification. HL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Source-Based Paper on the Prescribed Subjects) — 1h, 24 marks, 20% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Paper 2 – Essay Paper on the World History Topics) — 1h 30m, 30 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 3 (Paper 3 – Essay Paper on One Regional Option (HL Only)) — 2h 30m, 45 marks, 35% of the qualification; Internal Assessment (Internal Assessment – Historical Investigation) — no fixed duration, 25 marks, 20% of the qualification. It is a component based qualification. Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04.
What topics does IB Diploma Programme World History cover?
4 topics in the current syllabus: Prescribed subjects; World history topics; HL options: Depth studies; Internal assessment: Historical investigation. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for IB Diploma Programme World History?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches IB Diploma Programme World History live online, one-to-one only, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free IB Diploma Programme World History revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 10 free resources for this course (exam preparation guides, study guides, practice questions, revision notes, a subject guide), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
World History teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
World History at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
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