Depth study: The Second World War — IGCSE History (0977) questions by topic
Pacific and European fronts both feature: Guadalcanal, Japanese-American relations before Pearl Harbor, the terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact and the extent of German control by the end of 1940 all appear as distinct question focuses within the same depth study.
Describe, explain, how-far, discuss and identify lead the command words, worth from 20 to 40 marks, across a smaller set of 9 questions from 2024 and 2025 papers. Because 'write an account of' style questions demand narrative precision rather than analysis, practise separating factual accounts from evaluative how-far answers, then use instant marking to see which register your response actually matched.
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 42
Write an account of Operation Sea Lion. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the Battle of Guadalcanal. [15]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
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 →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Hitler became convinced that he could achieve his aims in foreign policy. What were the terms of the Nazi–Soviet Pact?
Answer this question and get it marked →Germany had successes in the early part of the war. Describe Germany's invasion of France.
Answer this question and get it marked →Civilians across Europe faced many hardships during the war. Describe the Allied bombing of German cities in 1943–45.
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)
- Core content: the 20th century (10)
- 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)