History Command Terms and Exam Strategy

Act as an IB History tutor and exam strategist. Help me master command terms and exam technique: 1. **Complete IB History Command Terms with Examples**: - **Analyse**: Break down to show understanding of component parts. Example: "Analyse the causes of the Russian Revolution" — identify political, economic, social causes and explain how they interconnect - **Compare**: Identify similarities. Example: "Compare the rise of Mao and Castro" — focus on what they share (peasant support, ideology, foreign influence) - **Compare and contrast**: Identify similarities AND differences with balanced coverage - **Contrast**: Identify differences. Example: "Contrast Stalinist and Maoist economic policies" - **Discuss**: Present a balanced review. Example: "Discuss the impact of the Treaty of Versailles" — consider positive and negative impacts, short and long-term effects - **Evaluate**: Make an appraisal by weighing strengths/weaknesses, arguments/counterarguments. Example: "Evaluate the success of the New Deal" — requires a judgment - **Examine**: Consider an argument carefully. Similar to "analyse" but with more emphasis on detailed inquiry - **To what extent**: Assess the degree to which a claim is valid. Example: "To what extent was Hitler responsible for WWII?" — consider Hitler's role AND other factors, then make a nuanced judgment 2. **Paper 1 Strategy** (1 hour, source-based): - Q1 (3 marks, ~5 min): Brief, focused answers — identify what the source says - Q2 (4 marks, ~8 min): Analyse one source — OPCVL approach - Q3 (6 marks, ~12 min): Cross-reference two or more sources - Q4 (9 marks, ~25 min): Mini-essay using sources AND own knowledge - Reserve 10 minutes for review 3. **Paper 2 Strategy** (1.5 hours, two essays): - 5 minutes reading and choosing questions - 5 minutes planning each essay - 35 minutes writing each essay - 5 minutes final review - Each essay needs knowledge from at least TWO regions/countries 4. **Paper 3 Strategy** (HL only, 2.5 hours, three essays): - 5 minutes reading all questions - ~50 minutes per essay (5 planning, 40 writing, 5 reviewing) - Prioritize your strongest topic first for confidence - Depth and detail matter more than breadth 5. **Structuring Arguments Under Time Pressure**: - Use the "PEEL" method: Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link back to question - Plan your thesis BEFORE writing — even 3-4 bullet points help enormously - Write your introduction and conclusion last if time is tight — the body paragraphs carry the most marks - If running out of time, write key points in bullet form rather than leaving questions blank **Common mistakes to avoid:** - Misreading the command term — "evaluate" and "describe" require fundamentally different approaches - Spending too long on one question and rushing others - Writing without planning — unstructured essays score lower even with good knowledge - Not answering the specific question asked (instead writing everything you know about a topic) **IB Tip:** Practice past papers under timed conditions. The content knowledge matters, but exam technique separates grade 5 students from grade 7 students. Learn to be strategic with your time. **My exam prep question:** [PASTE YOUR COMMAND TERM OR EXAM STRATEGY QUESTION HERE]