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[History] NCEA vs IB: the jump from level one to IB

Writer's picture: Alex ZhouAlex Zhou

Updated: Nov 21, 2021



Got questions regarding IB History? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Check out the answers to some of the FAQs surrounding this course and learn more about the jump between level one NCEA to IB history.


FAQS -

Please note that all the information provided is based on the current M22/N22 syllabus (that is adjusted due to covid) and may be subject to change in the coming years

1. Workload (homework + content )

The workload would vary for each school and teacher, but, in general, the workload for IB history (both homework and content-wise) is heavier than NCEA. The majority of the time, it is manageable. But like all subjects, there will be times where it seems impossible to finish yet other times where everything is chill. History is one of the more demanding subjects and if you don't have a genuine passion for it, you might find the journey a bit more difficult compared to other people.

If you want to pursue courses such as law at university, the history course is recommended.


Top tip to reduce your workload: Sort out, organise and memorise your historiography when you are learning the content. It is a long process and this would save a lot of stress the week/day before your exams.



2. How assessments work (eg. the weightings)

There are a total of 3 papers and one internal assessment (IA) for the Higher Level course. If you choose the standard level course, you will only be assessed on the first two papers and the IA. Each paper will focus on a different topic and will contribute a different weight to your final grade. These weightings are adjusted for the M22 and N22 exams:

Paper 1: 30% of your final grade for SL, 20% of your final grade for HL

Paper 2: 45% of your final grade for SL, 25% of your final grade for HL

Paper 3: 35% of your final grade for HL (HL ONLY paper)

IA: 25% of your final grade for SL, 20% of your final grade for HL


3. Exam type

Paper 1 (1hr) is similar to the 1.3 external where you are given some sources and questions to answer. However, instead of a booklet of 10 sources, you will only receive 4 (you will also receive four questions instead of 3). Each question is also worth a different amount of marks depending on their difficulty (eg Q1 is worth 5 marks and Q4 is worth 9)


Paper 2 (45 mins) is similar to the 1.5 external where you will be writing an essay. You get two broad essay questions and 45 mins per essay (due to covid, M22 and N22 students will only need to write one essay). One thing to note is that IB history essays are VERY different to NCEA, but they do have similar features eg the inclusion of historical concepts

Example paper 2 essay question: Compare and contrast the legal methods used by two authoritarian states to consolidate and maintain power


Paper 3 (1 hr 45 mins, HL ONLY) is similar to paper 2, as it is also an essay based paper. M22 and N22 students will be writing 2 essays in the time given. The questions are also much more specific compared to paper 2.

Example paper 3 essay question: Evaluate the contribution of Sun Yixian to the causes of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution


IA: a historical investigation that is 2,200 words in length (max). The internal assessment contains an evaluation of sources, the investigation itself as well as a reflection.


4. The teaching style of IB history

The teaching style would vary depending on each school and teacher :)


5. Memorising dates + evidence

Level one NCEA tends to focus on the event, specific evidence and an explanation of how it fits under the essay topic. IB history focuses on your analysis and how your chosen examples (event and historiography) link back to the essay question. The biggest difference between the two is that for IB, you are required to memorise and use historiography in your essays (you will not get a high grade if you do not include this). Dates and numbers are great, as you will lose points if your essay is not in a logical/chronological order. However, when you compare the two curriculums, IB doesn't focus too much on specific evidence (but you will need to be familiar with the content). For example, instead of knowing every single detail about the event, it is better to know what the examiners want with the essay question and pick out the relevant bits to include in your essay.


6. How strict is the marking scheme?

NCEA marks from the top-down, meaning that the markers look for evidence in the E mark band before moving down to an M and so on. However, IB marks from the bottom up, meaning that you have to achieve every single criterion in one mark band before moving up to the next. As you can probably tell, the marking for IB is a lot more strict. But don’t worry, remember IB is a two-year course which means that you get very familiar with the writing style/content and with practice, it won't take very long to perfect your writing skills!


7. Content - topics

This will also vary between schools/teachers as each school may choose to learn a different topic from the syllabus :)



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