0470 · Cambridge IGCSE
0470/61
Alternative to Practical
History · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
140
285 min
Weimar Germany and US Containment of Communism (Vietnam War)
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
285 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates.
Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation.
Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, but rewards candidates who can seamlessly link causes and consequences.
Paper 2 is highly engaging, particularly in Option B, where candidates are tasked with analyzing the complicated legacy of the Tet Offensive.
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
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge
Weight: 5100%ReAO2:
Weight: 480%Historical EAO3:
Weight: 360%Source
Weight: 240%Evaluation
Weight: 120%
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. 73% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 65% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 48% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 42% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 37% 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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “far” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 0
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
60 marks this session
How effectively did the United States contain the spread of communism?
40 marks this session
Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?
20 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
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
The Nazi regime (Germany, 1918–45)
What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? (Russia, 1905–41)
How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s? (The United States, 1919–41)
Why was there stalemate on the Western Front?
How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule?
How far did US society change in the 1920s?
What were the causes and consequences of the Wall Street Crash?
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (Structured Questions):
Paper 2 (Document Questions):
Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework):
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
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
60 marks this session
Practise in RevuiHow effectively did the United States contain the spread of communism?
40 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWas the Treaty of Versailles fair?
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates.
- 2Message
Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation.
- 3Message
Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, but rewards candidates who can seamlessly link causes and consequences.
- 4Message
Paper 2 is highly engaging, particularly in Option B, where candidates are tasked with analyzing the complicated legacy of the Tet Offensive.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
History
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates. Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation. Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, bu
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates.
Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation.
Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, but rewards candidates who can seamlessly link causes and consequences.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 285 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates. Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation. Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, but rewards candidates who can seamlessly link causes and consequences. Paper 2 is highly engaging, particularly in Option B, where candidates are tasked with analyzing the complicated legacy of the Tet Offensive. Paper 4 remains the ultimate test of depth and synthesis, asking students to construct coherent arguments with strong evidence.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (Structured Questions):
Paper 2 (Document Questions):
Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
71% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Source-Based Analysis
40·5·29%
Evaluative Essay
(Part c)
30·3·21%
Depth Study Discussion
(Part b)
25·1·18%
Structured Explanation
(Part b)
18·3·13%
Depth Study Narrative
(Part a)
15·1·11%
Short Answer
(Part a)
12·3·9%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Core Content
0.50 m/minPaper 1 Depth Study
80.20 m/minPaper 2 Source Inve…
0.67 m/minTotal marks
461
Total time
105 min
Avg pace
4.39
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
League of Nations in the 1930s (Abyssinian Crisis)
85%85%
Stalin's economic policies (Five-Year Plans)
80%80%
The New Deal's successes and failures
75%75%
May/June 2024 Exam Analysis
The May/June 2024 examination papers present a highly balanced yet analytically demanding assessment of history candidates. Across all components, the key theme is the shift from rote description to high-level evaluation. Paper 1 provides a very standard set of core questions, but rewards candidates who can seamlessly link causes and consequences. Paper 2 is highly engaging, particularly in Option B, where candidates are tasked with analyzing the complicated legacy of the Tet Offensive. Paper 4 remains the ultimate test of depth and synthesis, asking students to construct coherent arguments with strong evidence.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.