Verdict on the May/June 2025 Papers
The May/June 2025 examination series for Cambridge International AS History (9489) offered a standard but rigorous assessment of historical analysis. Paper 1 presented rich, multi-layered source materials, notably focusing on the Franco-Prussian War (Section A), the Wilmot Proviso (Section B), and the Axis involvement in the Spanish Civil War (Section C). Paper 2 tested classic, core syllabus topics such as the French Revolution, the Gilded Age, and the early years of the Chinese Republic. Overall, the papers successfully distinguished candidates with strong conceptual understanding from those who relied on narrative recall.
Where the Marks are Won or Lost
In Paper 1, the difference between a high-grade response and a mediocre one rested heavily on source evaluation (provenance). For instance, in Section C, strong candidates recognized that Ribbentrop’s 1946 trial memoirs were highly self-serving, aimed at deflecting war guilt, whereas Ciano’s 1940 discussions with a US diplomat represented rare, unguarded insights. In Paper 2, candidates who structured their Part (b) answers with a clear thesis, balanced argument, and a sustained judgment achieved top-tier marks. Those who merely listed factors without debating their relative significance struggled to move past Level 3.
Common Examiner Pitfalls
Examiners consistently reported that students lose marks by treating sources as simple factual summaries. In Paper 1 (a), comparing content without explaining why differences in perspective exist (due to the authors' backgrounds or political aims) severely limits the score. In Paper 2, a common pitfall is 'narrative drift'—particularly visible in questions about the Industrial Revolution or the New Deal, where students wrote extensively about historical developments rather than addressing the specific analytical prompt, such as the exact reasons why the conservative right viewed the New Deal as anti-capitalist.
Strategy & Upcoming Predictions
To maximize success in future series, candidates must practice active source interrogation, linking source content immediately to its specific historical context. For Paper 2 essays, a dual-factor essay plan must be prepared for every syllabus bullet point. Based on current trends, we predict next series will heavily feature the causes of the French Revolution (social inequality) and the implementation details of the New Deal, as this series leaned heavily into the Gilded Age and the initial financial causes of the Great Depression.