Students who understand how they are assessed from the start gain a major advantage. Those who do not often revise inefficiently and lose marks unnecessarily.
This article explains the IB History assessment structure under the new course, including Papers 1, 2, 3 (HL only) and the Internal Assessment, and what each component is really testing.
Quick Start Checklist
- All assessment components in IB History
- What each paper is designed to assess
- Differences between HL and SL assessment
- How marks are actually earned
- Why assessment understanding matters
Overview of IB History Assessment (FA 2028)
Under the first assessment 2028 specification, IB History assessment is built to test historical inquiry and thinking, not memorisation.
The course is assessed through:
- Paper 1 (SL & HL)
- Paper 2 (SL & HL)
- Paper 3 (HL only)
- Internal Assessment (IA) (SL & HL)
Each component tests different but overlapping skills.
Paper 1: Source-Based Analysis
Paper 1 focuses on working with historical sources.
Students are assessed on their ability to:
- Understand source content
- Analyse origin, purpose, and context
- Compare perspectives
- Use sources as evidence
- Evaluate reliability and limitations
