O Level History Format

20th Century World History, 1910s–1991

This paper will comprise the following two sections:

Section A: Source-based Question
Section B: Structured-essay Questions

Candidates are required to answer one compulsory source-based question from Section A and one structured-essay question from Section B. The source-based question in Section A will be set on one of the topics indicated by the symbol (*) in the syllabus outline. Structured-essay questions will be set on all topics in the syllabus including the subject matter covered by a sourcebased topic. All questions carry equal weighting (25% each).

Structure of Paper
Section A: 1 compulsory source-based question worth a total of 25 marks.
Section B: candidates must choose 1 out of 3 structured-essay questions. This section is worth a total of 25 marks.

Source-based Questions
Source-based questions will be based on sources. Candidates are expected to have a sound knowledge of the prescribed topics and an acquaintance with the kinds of sources available and their uses. Candidates are also expected to have an understanding of the ways in which sources may be evaluated.
Various types of sources such as textual, statistical/numerical, and graphical/pictorial, may be used. Candidates are expected to use their knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding developed during the course to help them use the given sources to answer the questions.

Question construction
No more than six sources may be set for the source-based question. One or more differing accounts of the same situation might be set, showing different views as time progresses or in communicating to different audiences, or one or more accounts on the same topic.
No individual source will exceed 150 words. Sources may be simplified where necessary.
Obscure terms (other than those which should be known to those who have studied the syllabus) will be annotated.
Each source-based question will have four sub-questions testing Objectives 1 and 3.
The weighting for each sub-question will be indicated in brackets. Sub-questions will involve higher-order thinking skills as defined in the Assessment Objectives. Answers to the subquestions will be graded according to the coherence and consistency of the argument. Credit will be given to points offered by candidates that are not on the suggested marking schemes as long as the points are logical and sufficiently substantiated. A ‘Levels of Response Mark scheme (LORMs)’ will be used to assess candidates’ answers.

Structured-essay Questions
A structured-essay question is an essay question which consists of two clearly separate subquestions.
The weighting for each sub-question will be indicated within brackets, as an indication of the length of the answer expected.

Question construction
Three structured-essay questions will be set. Candidates have to answer one structured-essay question which tests Objectives 1 and 2. Each structured-essay question comprises two subquestions.
The two sub-questions will test candidates’ ability to explain, analyse and make
judgements on events and/or issues. Both sub-questions will be marked using the ‘Levels of Response Mark scheme (LORMs)’. Structured-essay questions will be set on all topics in the syllabus outline including the subject matter covered by the source-based topic.