HISTORY · IB Diploma Programme
HISTORY/31
HL Depth Studies (one regional option)
History · June 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: International Baccalaureate Organization
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
30
90 min
Authoritarian states (20th century)
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
30
Duration
90 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May 2025 Paper 2 presents a balanced and standard set of comparative essay questions across all 12 World History topics, emphasizing the integration of regional examples, thematic synthesis, and structured historical arguments.
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
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.
Historical Knowledge
Weight: 7100%Synthesis & Physiological Explanation
Weight: 571%Compa
Weight: 457%Critical Evaluation
Weight: 343%Analysis
Weight: 229%Structuring &
Weight: 114%
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
IB subject report — grade distributions, IA weighting, and HL/SL distinctions
Level 7
Excellent — top band for competitive university offers
Level 6
Very good — strong HL performance
Level 5
Good — solid pass at higher level
Level 4
Satisfactory — minimum for many university credits
Level 3
Mediocre
Level 2
Poor
Level 1
Very poor
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
Match the expected response style for “extent” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Match the expected response style for “contrast” questions.
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
Authoritarian states (20th century) 2.
5 marks this session
The
Cold
War:
Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century) 2.
5 marks this session
Causes and effects of 20th-century wars 2.
5 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
Authoritarian states (20th century)
The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)
Causes and effects of 20th-century wars
Authoritarian states (20th century) 2.
Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century) 2.
Causes and effects of 20th-century wars 2.
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 2 (SL/HL): World History Topics:
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
Authoritarian states (20th century) 2.
5 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe
Practise in RevuiCold
Practise in RevuiWar:
Practise in RevuiSuperpower tensions and rivalries (20th century) 2.
5 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCauses and effects of 20th-century wars 2.
5 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 2025 Paper 2 presents a balanced and standard set of comparative essay questions across all 12 World History topics, emphasizing the integration of regional examples, thematic synthesis, and structured historical arguments.
- 2Message
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2025 2025
History
The May 2025 Paper 2 presents a balanced and standard set of comparative essay questions across all 12 World History topics, emphasizing the integration of regional examples, thematic synthesis, and structured historical arguments.
The May 2025 Paper 2 presents a balanced and standard set of comparative essay questions across all 12 World History topics, emphasizing the integration of regional examples, thematic synthesis, and structured historical arguments.
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
- Total marks
- 30
- Duration
- 90 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
The May 2025 Paper 2 presents a balanced and standard set of comparative essay questions across all 12 World History topics, emphasizing the integration of regional examples, thematic synthesis, and structured historical arguments.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 2 (SL/HL): World History Topics:
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.
73% 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.
Essay
30·24·100%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Authoritarian states: Impact of domestic policies on women and minorities
85%85%
The Cold War: Impact of Detente and the End of the Cold War
80%80%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Total marks
- 45
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.