The Cold War — IGCSE History (0977) questions by topic

Cuba, Vietnam and the Gulf all surface in this content: identifying Fidel Castro, describing the Paris Peace Accords, explaining events in the Greek Civil War and outlining Iraq-US relations before the invasion of Kuwait span several decades of Cold War history.

Explain, how-far, identify, assess and describe lead the command words, worth 20 marks across 9 questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because this content runs from the 1940s through to 1990, practise anchoring each answer to the correct decade before writing, then use instant marking to check whether dates and figures named in your response actually match the period the question asked about.

May–June 2025, Paper 12

Question 7 · 20 marks

Attempts by the United States to stop communism spreading were sometimes successful. What happened in the Tet Offensive?

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May–June 2024, Paper 12

Question 7 · 20 marks

There was much tension in the early years of the Cold War. What happened in the Greek Civil War?

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Question 8 · 20 marks

Soviet power in Eastern Europe eventually collapsed. Who was Alexander Dubček?

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October–November 2024, Paper 11

Question 7 · 20 marks

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a serious threat to world peace. Who was Fidel Castro?

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Question 8 · 20 marks

The Soviet Union had a difficult task in maintaining control over Eastern Europe. Describe events in Gdansk in August 1980.

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May–June 2023, Paper 12

Question 7 · 20 marks

Describe how the Soviet Union consolidated its hold over Poland from 1945.

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Question 8 · 20 marks

What were the Paris Peace Accords of 1973?

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October–November 2023, Paper 11

Question 7 · 20 marks

In 1950 tensions in Korea escalated into war. What was Truman's attitude to the North's invasion of South Korea?

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Question 8 · 20 marks

The First Gulf War was damaging for Iraq. Describe the relationship between Iraq and the United States prior to the invasion of Kuwait.

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Other IGCSE History topics

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