HL and SL sit the same Paper 2. This mini-lesson gives you the whole menu — the twelve world history topics — plus the comparative essay technique that earns marks.
You choose two topics and write two essays in 1 hour 30 minutes, each marked out of 15. Master the format here, then apply it to your chosen topics. Collect ⭐ stars, then press Start.
Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. You answer two essay questions, each from a different world history topic, each marked out of 15 (total 30). It is the same paper for SL and HL.
You study two of these twelve:
Each topic is thematic and comparative: questions ask you to analyse an idea (causes, methods, effects) across examples from different regions. A response resting on a single country rarely reaches the top bands.
Wherever a question allows, use examples from at least two regions — for instance comparing authoritarian rule in Germany and China, or 20th-century wars in Europe and Asia. This demonstrates genuine world-historical range.
Sort each world history topic into its broad period.
Open with a clear thesis that answers the exact question. Structure thematically, not chronologically, so each paragraph develops an analytical point supported by specific, dated evidence, and build toward a reasoned judgement.
Tap an item on the left, then its match on the right.
Strong answers show awareness of historiography — how different historians have interpreted the past — and weigh those interpretations rather than merely quoting them. Even a brief, accurate reference to a school of thought lifts an essay.
Watch the command term: "Evaluate", "To what extent", "Compare and contrast", "Examine". Each demands analysis and a judgement — never just description. Underline it and answer it directly.
Tap the events in sequence, earliest first.
Split your time evenly: roughly 40-45 minutes per essay, with a quick plan first. A short plan that fixes your thesis and three thematic points prevents drift and keeps both essays balanced.
Format: 1h30, two 15-mark essays from two of twelve topics (SL and HL alike)
Topics: twelve thematic topics from 750 CE to the 20th century
Key skill: compare across regions, not within one country
Argument: thesis, thematic structure, dated evidence, judgement
Extra marks: engage historiography and answer the command term directly
You now know the Paper 2 menu and the comparative technique it rewards. Press Finish to see your score.
You’ve worked through World History Topics (Paper 2) for IB Diploma History HL. 🎉
Your stars: 0 / 0
Next: test yourself in the Evaluate stage, then lock it in with Verify.