One of the biggest shifts students must make in the new IB DP History course (first assessment 2028) is learning how to think like a historian, not just study history.
Many students work hard, revise extensively, and still underperform because they approach IB History as a subject of memorisation rather than historical inquiry. Under the new course, this mindset leads to descriptive answers, weak evaluation, and lost marks.
This article explains what it means to think like an IB historian, how this thinking is assessed, and how students can deliberately develop it.
Quick Start Checklist
- What “thinking like a historian” means
- How historical thinking differs from memorisation
- What IB examiners reward under FA 2028
- Common student thinking traps
- How to develop historian-style thinking
IB History Is About How You Think, Not What You Know
Under first assessment 2028, IB History explicitly prioritises historical thinking skills.
This means students are assessed on their ability to:
- Ask focused historical questions
- Analyse causes and consequences
- Evaluate evidence and perspectives
- Recognise complexity and nuance
- Make reasoned judgments
Knowledge matters — but only when it is used analytically.
What Historians Actually Do
Historians do not memorise timelines and reproduce them.
They:
- Investigate questions
- Interpret evidence
- Compare explanations
- Evaluate reliability
- Acknowledge uncertainty
IB History is designed to mirror this process in an accessible, assessable way.
Thinking in Questions, Not Topics
One key difference between average and strong IB History students is question focus.
Strong students constantly ask:
- What is this question really asking?
- Which concept is being tested?
- What evidence is relevant?
- What judgment is required?
Weak students often think in topics (“I revised authoritarian states”) rather than questions.
Using Evidence Like a Historian
Historians use evidence selectively.
In IB History, this means:
- Choosing evidence that directly supports an argument
- Explaining why the evidence matters
- Avoiding unnecessary detail
- Integrating evidence into analysis
Listing facts without explanation signals weak historical thinking.
Understanding and Evaluating Perspectives
Thinking like a historian means recognising that the past is interpreted differently.
IB students must:
- Identify differing viewpoints
- Explain why perspectives differ
- Understand historical context
- Avoid present-day judgment
Perspectives are not add-ons — they are central to analysis.
Embracing Complexity and Uncertainty
Historians are comfortable with complexity.
Strong IB History responses:
- Avoid oversimplification
- Acknowledge limitations
- Weigh multiple factors
- Avoid absolute claims
Nuanced answers consistently score higher under FA 2028.
Why Descriptive Thinking Is Penalised
Descriptive thinking focuses on:
- What happened
- In what order
- Who was involved
IB History requires analytical thinking, which focuses on:
- Why events happened
- How developments unfolded
- Why outcomes differed
- Why events mattered
Description alone rarely earns high marks.
How to Practise Thinking Like an IB Historian
Students can develop historical thinking by:
- Planning answers around concepts
- Asking “why” and “to what extent”
- Practising evaluation regularly
- Comparing cases deliberately
- Reviewing examiner feedback
Thinking skills improve through practice, not passive revision.
How Historical Thinking Improves All Assessments
Thinking like an IB historian improves:
- Paper 1 source analysis
- Paper 2 essays
- Paper 3 HL evaluation
- Internal Assessment investigations
It creates consistency across the entire course.
How RevisionDojo Develops Historical Thinking
RevisionDojo is built around how IB historians think.
RevisionDojo helps students:
- Shift from memorisation to inquiry
- Practise concept-driven analysis
- Develop evaluation naturally
- Build confidence with IB-style thinking
- Avoid common descriptive traps
This aligns directly with FA 2028 expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can historical thinking be learned, or is it natural ability?
It can absolutely be learned. Clear guidance and practice make a huge difference.
Does this apply to SL students too?
Yes. While HL requires greater depth, all IB History students are assessed on historical thinking.
Will this help outside IB History?
Yes. These skills transfer directly to other IB subjects and university-level study.
Final Thoughts
Under the new IB DP History course (first assessment 2028), success comes from thinking like a historian, not memorising like a student.
Students who embrace inquiry, analysis, evaluation, and nuance consistently outperform those who rely on content alone. With the right mindset and structured practice, historical thinking becomes a powerful advantage rather than an abstract idea.
That is exactly the approach RevisionDojo is designed to support.
