Cambridge IGCSE · Analysis & Prediction

2026 Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) Past Paper: Analysis & Answers

The May/June 2026 series for IGCSE History (0470) features standard three-part structured questions in Paper 1, source-evaluation tasks in Paper 2 focusing on Post-Civil War Reconstruction (Freedmen's Bureau) or the Treaty of Versailles, and extensive essay evaluations in Paper 4. Scoring depends heavily on balanced arguments in (c) sub-questions and systematic provenance/purpose evaluation in Paper 2.

Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Analysis Sample paper

Difficulty 3.4/5

Total marks

140

Duration

285 mins

Most tested

Treaty of Versailles and Interwar Peace Settlement

Paper breakdown

Paper 1 Structured Questions (0470/12): 60 marks · 120 minsPaper 2 Document Questions (0470/22): 40 marks · 105 minsPaper 4 Alternative to Coursework (0470/42): 40 marks · 60 mins

Top chapters

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? · 40 marksWhy was there a civil war in the United States and what were its results? · 40 marksWhy was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934? · 20 marks

Overall Verdict & Exam Profile

The May/June 2026 series presents a balanced and standard Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) examination across Paper 1 (Structured Questions), Paper 2 (Document Questions), and Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework). The exam tests both breadth of factual knowledge (AO1) and explanatory depth, causal analysis, and source evaluation (AO2/AO3).

Where the Marks Are Won

Across the papers, high marks are strictly governed by structure and balance:

Paper 1: Part (a) questions (4 marks) demand four crisp, factual points. Part (b) questions (6 marks) require two distinct, fully explained causal factors. Part (c) essay-style questions (10 marks) cannot reach Level 4 (7–9 marks) or Level 5 (10 marks) without explaining both sides of the proposition and furnishing a substantiated conclusion.
Paper 2: The document paper demands rigorous engagement with author purpose, context, and cross-referencing rather than superficial content comparison. In the 9-mark synthesis question 1(e)/2(e), candidates must provide balanced evidence referencing specific sources by letter.
Paper 4: Part (a) narrative accounts (15 marks) require accurate chronological detail, while Part (b) discussions (25 marks) necessitate multi-faceted evaluation with strong thematic links.

Key Examiner Pitfalls

Examiners routinely penalize common structural oversights:

Writing one-sided responses on 10-mark and 25-mark evaluative questions, capping answers at Level 3.
Treating source provenance as generic bias statements (e.g., 'Source B is biased because it was written by a Democrat') rather than analysing the specific motive and intended impact on contemporary audiences.
Failing to provide specific historical evidence (names, dates, policy acts) in narrative questions, relying instead on vague summaries.

Revision & Strategy

Prioritise core recurring themes such as the League of Nations crises (Manchuria/Abyssinia), Hitler's foreign policy manoeuvres, and Cold War origins. When practicing Paper 2, always ask: Why was this source produced at this exact moment, and what specific reaction did the author intend to provoke?

Ready to test yourself?

Turn these notes into exam-style practice. Get unlimited AI questions on this topic with instant marking and explanations.

Practice This Topic

Charts

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

These topic marks add up to 200, but the analysed paper is worth 840. Some questions may be counted twice or missed, so use the numbers as a rough guide.

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

Recall & Short Description (4 marks / P1 part a)72 marks · 18 questions
Causal Explanation (6 marks / P1 part b)108 marks · 18 questions
Structured Evaluation & Judgement (10 marks / P1 part c)180 marks · 18 questions
Document Source Analysis (7-9 marks / P2)80 marks · 10 questions
Extended Depth Study Essay (15+25 marks / P4)400 marks · 10 questions

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

71%within easy or medium reach

easy: 36 marksmedium: 64 markshard: 40 marks

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Study ROI

Higher bubbles carry more marks; bubbles further left are easier. Start with the topics that sit high and to the left.

Treaty of Versailles Terms and Impact

40 marks · Difficulty 3.3

Hitler's Foreign Policy & 1930s Aggression

20 marks · Difficulty 2.6

League of Nations Successes and Failures

20 marks · Difficulty 2.7

Origins of the Cold War (1945-1949)

20 marks · Difficulty 3.1

Nazi Consolidation of Power (1933-1934)

20 marks · Difficulty 3

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

marksmins

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, and why. These are informed guesses from past papers, not a forecast.

How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?

Cold War Eastern European control (Hungarian Uprising, Prague Spring, Solidarity) was lightly tested in recent core cycles and is due for a prominent Section A appearance.

What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies?

Collectivisation and the Five-Year Plans appear frequently in rotational cycles and remain a high-probability topic for Paper 1 Depth Study C.

How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s?

Core themes around mass production, consumerism, and Republican economic policies consistently rotate across Paper 1 and Paper 4 depth options.

Topic-year heatmap

Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

Jun 2023 (V2)

Jun 2023 (V3)

Nov 2023 (V1)

Nov 2023 (V2)

Nov 2023 (V3)

Jun 2024 (V1)

Nov 2024 (V1)

Nov 2024 (V3)

Jun 2025 (V2)

Jun 2025 (V3)

Nov 2025 (V1)

Nov 2025 (V2)

Nov 2025 (V3)

Jun 2026 (V1)

Jun 2026 (V2)

The Nazi regime

To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939?

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?

How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?

Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?

Who was to blame for the Cold War?

Why was there stalemate on the Western Front?

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

Examiner insights

Official report

Common pitfalls

Writing a one-sided response to part (c) questions in Paper 1 or part (b) in Paper 4, preventing access to Level 4 and Level 5 marks.
Describing events rather than explaining reasons in part (b) causal questions (e.g. telling the narrative of the Munich Putsch instead of explaining why its consequences damaged the Nazi Party).
Making generic provenance comments in Paper 2 (e.g. 'Source B is from a newspaper so it is biased') instead of evaluating author motive and contemporary purpose.
In the final Paper 2 question, grouping sources without quoting or explaining specific content to demonstrate support or refutation.

Misconceptions

Believing that writing more information automatically earns higher marks, whereas Cambridge mark schemes are strictly level-of-response based.
Confusing the 1947 Truman Doctrine context with the Domino Theory (which was formulated later under Eisenhower).
Assuming part (a) in Paper 1 requires extensive explanation, when 4 distinct, concise factual statements earn full marks.

Where marks are lost

Failing to explain two distinct reasons in Paper 1 part (b) questions, capping the mark at Level 3 (maximum 5/6).
Omitting a substantiated conclusion on part (c) evaluative questions, missing the Level 5 10/10 award.
Failing to directly address the issue of surprise in Paper 2 'Does Source X make Source Y surprising?' questions, restricting candidates to Level 2.

Estimated grade boundary

Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Source: Cambridge International grade thresholds (official)

Grade	Mark	Percentage
A*	98/150	65%
A	83/150	55%
B	68/150	45%
C	53/150	35%
D	47/150	31%
E	41/150	27%

The source quotes these grade boundaries out of 150 marks, while this page uses the paper total of 140. Compare the percentages, not the raw marks.

Official grade boundaries published by Cambridge International grade thresholds (official).

Know what the examiners want. Now go get those marks

thinka is an AI practice app used by 100,000+ students to drill questions and get instant feedback on every answer. You already know the high-frequency topics and where marks are lost. Now practice those specifically on thinka and turn this analysis into actual marks.

Start Practicing Free See pricing

Know what's tested? Drill those topics on thinka. AI questions, instant marking.

Start Practicing Free