Core content: the 20th century — IGCSE History (0977) questions by topic
Peace-making and Cold War tension anchor this content: Wilson's hopes at the Paris negotiations, the loss of Germany's colonies under Versailles, the 1935 Saar plebiscite and Jaruzelski's role in Poland in 1981 all draw on twentieth-century diplomatic history.
Explain, how-far, identify, state and describe lead the command words, worth 20 marks across 10 questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because identify and state questions ask for precise facts while explain and how-far ask for reasoning, practise pairing each answer type to its command word, then use instant marking to see whether a factual answer was mistakenly padded with unnecessary explanation or vice versa.
May–June 2025, Paper 12
The Treaty of Versailles displeased many people. What happened to Germany's colonies in the Treaty of Versailles?
Answer this question and get it marked →The 1930s saw several developments taking Europe closer to war. Describe German rearmament in the 1930s.
Answer this question and get it marked →In the decades after the Second World War, the Soviet Union struggled to maintain control of Eastern Europe. Describe the role played by Jaruzelski in Poland in 1981.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
The Treaty of Versailles had important consequences for Germany. What land did Germany lose in the Treaty of Versailles?
Answer this question and get it marked →German foreign policy led to war in Europe. What was the Saar plebiscite of 1935?
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
The League of Nations struggled to achieve all of its aims. What was the League of Nations' Slavery Commission?
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
What were Wilson's hopes as he arrived in France for the peace negotiations?
Answer this question and get it marked →What was meant by 'collective security'?
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
The Paris peace settlement did not please everyone. What was meant by 'self-determination'?
Answer this question and get it marked →The League of Nations enjoyed mixed fortunes. What were the agencies of the League of Nations?
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE History topics
- Depth study: The First World War, 1914–18 (17)
- Depth study: The USA, 1919–41 (15)
- Depth study: Germany, 1918–45 (14)
- Depth study: Russia, 1905–41 (14)
- Core content: the 19th century (13)
- Depth study: The Second World War (9)
- The Cold War (9)
- Depth study: China, c.1930–c.1990 (6)
- Depth study: South Africa, c.1940–c.1994 (6)
- Depth study: Israelis and Palestinians since 1945 (6)