Group Three: Individuals and Societies offers the 20th century world history subject. Students will study one prescribed subject such as peacemaking between 1918-1936 or the Arab-Israeli conflict 1945-1979. They will also study two topics such as the causes and effects of war, the development of authoritarian states, or nationalist movements. Higher level students additionally study the history of a region. All students complete a historical investigation by independently analyzing source materials. Exams include short answer and extended response questions on prescribed subjects and topics. The internal assessment is a 1,500-2,000 word investigation of a historical topic.

1. Group Three: Individuals and Societies
The Group 3 subject that we offer is 20th century world History. History is the process of recording,
reconstructing and interpreting the past through the investigation of both primary historical sources and the
work of historians. Students learn to select, interpret and critically evaluate data, coming to understand that
although it poses questions, it doesn’t provide definitive answers.
(Library of Congress, 1595)
Prescribed subjects: Students will study one of the following: Peace-making, peacekeeping—
international relations 1918–36;The Arab–Israeli conflict 1945–79; Communism in crisis 1976–89.
Topics: Two of the following: Causes, practices and effects of wars, Democratic states—challenges and
responses; Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states; Nationalist and independence
movements in Africa and Asia and post-1945 Central and Eastern European states; or The Cold War.
Options: HL students will, in addition, study aspects of the history of ONE of the following regions: Africa,
the Americas, Asia and Oceania; or Europe and the Middle East.
Historical Investigation: All students carry out a historical investigation, Students use their own initiative
to select and analyse a range of source materials.
External Assessment
Component
Overall weighting
Format and syllabus coverage
SL HL
Paper 1 30% 20% Four short-answer/structured questions on the prescribed subjects.
Paper 2 45% 25% Two extended-response questions on the 5 topics
Paper 3 35%
Taken by higher level students only. Three extended-response
questions on one of the options.
Internal assessment
Component
Weighting
Format and syllabus coverage
SL HL
Historical
investigation 25% 20%
An investigation of 1,500- to 2,000 on a historical topic of
interest (not necessarily related to the syllabus).