Back to subject papers

0470 · Cambridge IGCSE

0470/41

Extended Theory

History · June 2023 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Standard · 3.2/5

Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.2 / 5

Total marks

150

Duration

300 min

Most tested topic

Nazi Control and Weimar Recovery / Appeasement Evaluation

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

150

Duration

300 min

Session difficulty

3.2 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

2

While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differentiator.

3

Candidates who relied on face-value reading of sources struggled to reach the highest marking levels, whereas those who successfully evaluated the purpose and context of historical actors excelled.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

No data available in official reports

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

Report type

Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards

Level A*

Approx. 76% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 65% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 53% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 43% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 36% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 30% of maximum mark

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

No data available in official reports

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

No data available in official reports

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

The Nazi regime (Germany, 1918–45)

120 marks this session

What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? (Russia, 1905–41)

120 marks this session

How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s? (The United States, 1919–41)

120 marks this session

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?

60
60
120

The Nazi regime (Germany, 1918–45)

120
120

What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? (Russia, 1905–41)

120
120

How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s? (The United States, 1919–41)

120
120

Why was there stalemate on the Western Front?

60
60

How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule?

60
60

How far did US society change in the 1920s?

60
60

What were the causes and consequences of the Wall Street Crash?

60
60

Difficulty trend

How session difficulty has shifted across recent years

202320242025
2023 June 2023 · 3.2/52024 June 2024 · 3.5/52025 June 2025 · 3.8/5

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 11 (Core & Depth):

60 marks120 min

Paper 21 (Source Document Paper):

50 marks120 min

Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework):

40 marks60 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

  • 2Message

    While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differentiator.

  • 3Message

    Candidates who relied on face-value reading of sources struggled to reach the highest marking levels, whereas those who successfully evaluated the purpose and context of historical actors excelled.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2023 2023

History

The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars. While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differen

  • The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

  • While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differentiator.

  • Candidates who relied on face-value reading of sources struggled to reach the highest marking levels, whereas those who successfully evaluated the purpose and context of historical actors excelled.

Total marks
150
Duration
300 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5

Session analysis

The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars. While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differentiator. Candidates who relied on face-value reading of sources struggled to reach the highest marking levels, whereas those who successfully evaluated the purpose and context of historical actors excelled.

Updated Jun 13, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 11 (Core & Depth):

60 marks120 min

Paper 21 (Source Document Paper):

50 marks120 min

Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework):

40 marks60 min

Top chapters

The Nazi regime (Germany, 1918–45)120 marks
What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? (Russia, 1905–41)120 marks
How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s? (The United States, 1919–41)120 marks

Executive Difficulty Verdict

The May/June 2023 series presents a balanced challenge, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars. While Paper 11 (Core Content) and Paper 41 (Alternative to Coursework) offered highly accessible questions with standard formats, Paper 21 (Source Investigation) remains the primary differentiator. Candidates who relied on face-value reading of sources struggled to reach the highest marking levels, whereas those who successfully evaluated the purpose and context of historical actors excelled.

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

0470/41 — Cambridge IGCSE History (June 2023) | Revui