Depth study: The Second World War — IGCSE History (0470) questions by topic
Coverage moves between theatres: an account of the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Allied bombing campaign against Germany, relations between Japan and the United States before Pearl Harbor, and resistance methods used against Japanese forces in Malaya all appear as distinct focuses.
Describe, discuss, explain, outline and how-far lead the command words, worth from 20 to 40 marks, across 23 questions from 2024 and 2025 papers. Because outline and describe questions ask for a clear factual sequence while how-far asks for evaluation, practise writing tight narrative accounts first, then use instant marking to check whether your account contained enough specific, ordered detail to satisfy the mark scheme.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Describe what happened at Dunkirk in 1940.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the methods used against the Japanese by the resistance movement in Malaya.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
By the end of 1941, Germany had suffered few setbacks in the war. Describe the extent of German control over Europe by the end of 1940.
Answer this question and get it marked →From 1943, events in the war began to go against the Axis powers. Describe the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
Describe the damage inflicted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe how the Allies controlled Germany in 1945 after its surrender.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
Write an account of the Battle of Stalingrad.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of Japanese military operations in Malaya and Singapore in 1941-42.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Write an account of Operation Sea Lion.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Write an account of the establishment of the Vichy Government in France. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Allied bombing of Germany campaign. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2024, Paper 42
Write an account of the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Nazi occupation of Poland.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
German foreign policy led to war in Europe. What was the Saar plebiscite of 1935?
Answer this question and get it marked →Britain, Japan and the United States all had interests in the Asia-Pacific. Describe relations between Japan and the United States in the period before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Answer this question and get it marked →By the end of 1945 the Second World War was over. What was 'island hopping'?
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
Write an account of Operation Barbarossa.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Write an account of the attempts made by the United States to restrain Japanese aggression up to the outbreak of war in 1941.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the methods used by Japan to control civilian populations in occupied territories.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Write an account of the German conquests in Western Europe in 1940. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Allied occupation of Germany. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →