How IGCSE History (0470) is really marked
History 0470 is unusual among IGCSE subjects for how little of it is points-marked. Across the syllabus, only 312 marks are pure points-marked, against 746 pure-levels marks and 334 points-with-levels marks — meaning most of the marks available are awarded by the examiner reading the whole answer and placing it in a quality band, not by ticking off a checklist of facts.
Paper 1 (11/12/13) mixes all three styles — some structured recall parts are points-marked, but its longer parts, including the extended 'How far' essay questions, are levels-marked or a hybrid. Papers 2 (21/22/23), the source-based papers, are entirely pure-levels: source evaluation and hypothesis-testing questions are judged on the quality of analysis, not a list of correct observations. Papers 4 (41/42/43), the depth-study papers, are almost entirely levels-marked too, with Paper 41 as the sole exception carrying points-with-levels marks throughout.
This has a direct consequence for technique: in a levels-marked answer, more facts or more source references do not automatically mean a higher mark. The examiner is reading for argument — a clear line of reasoning, use of evidence to support a judgement, and (on source questions) genuine evaluation of reliability and context rather than just describing what a source says.
Where candidates actually lose marks
- Misreading what a source actually shows — for example, taking a cartoon that is critical or mocking as if it genuinely depicted a straightforward victory, or reading it as favourable to a government's cause when it isn't. (try the question)
- Grouping several sources together and making a single claim about them as a set, when that claim doesn't actually hold true for every source in the group — each source needs individual evaluation. (try the question)
- Deciding whether two accounts can be trusted just by checking whether they agree or disagree with each other, rather than evaluating each source's own reliability — missing that both authors may have had reasons (written after the fact, with an interest in clearing their own name) to shade the truth regardless of whether they agree. (try the question)
Command words in IGCSE History
| Command word | Times in our bank | What it demands |
|---|---|---|
| Explain | 451 | Give the reasons behind an event or decision, showing how causes led to consequences — this needs a developed line of reasoning, not just a list of factors. |
| How far | 297 | Weigh evidence on more than one side of a judgement and reach a supported conclusion about the extent to which a statement is true — this is levels-marked, so the quality of argument decides the band, not the number of points listed. |
| Describe | 294 | Give an accurate, relevant account of events, in the right amount of detail for the marks available. |
| Assess | 110 | Weigh up the significance or reliability of evidence or an interpretation and reach a reasoned judgement, marked by overall quality of the argument. |
| Discuss | 99 | Consider more than one perspective on an issue and develop a reasoned response, judged on depth of analysis rather than breadth of points. |
| State | 63 | Give a fact briefly and directly, with no further explanation required. |
| Outline | 40 | Give a brief but accurate summary of the key features of an event or development. |
| Identify | 15 | Name a specific fact, feature or source detail the question is asking for. |
How to revise with past papers
Since most of this syllabus is levels-marked, past-paper practice should focus on argument quality, not fact quantity. When you write an essay-style answer, check whether you've actually reached and supported a judgement — a well-organised answer with fewer but well-explained points typically does better in a levels mark scheme than a longer list of loosely connected facts.
For the source papers, practise evaluating sources individually rather than in groups, and get comfortable weighing reliability by asking who wrote it, when, and why — not just by comparing whether sources agree with each other. This kind of habit is what separates a mid-band from a top-band source answer in this subject.
This is general exam technique, but it matters more here than in points-marked subjects: plan your essay's argument before you start writing, so the whole answer builds towards a stated conclusion, rather than drifting into narrative description partway through — levels marking rewards a sustained argument over a strong opening paragraph that loses direction.
Practise real 0470 questions with AI marking →FAQs
Is IGCSE History 0470 mostly essay-based or fact-based?
Mostly essay-based in terms of marks. 746 marks are pure-levels and 334 are points-with-levels, against just 312 pure points-marked marks across the whole syllabus.
What does 'How far' actually ask for?
It asks you to weigh evidence on more than one side of a statement and reach a supported judgement about the extent to which it's true — this is levels-marked, so a developed argument matters more than a long list of points.
Why doesn't listing more facts raise my mark on essay questions?
Because these questions are levels-marked: the examiner reads the whole answer and places it in a band based on the quality of the argument, not a checklist count of facts included.
Are the source papers (21/22/23) marked the same way as the essay papers?
They're entirely pure-levels too, but the skill being judged is different — genuine evaluation of each source's reliability and content, not just description of what a source says.