History.
Analyse the past, understand the present. Our Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) course develops source analysis, essay writing and evaluative thinking for the Cambridge examination.
What to expect.
Students study the Core Content on twentieth-century international relations since 1919 — the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, the road to the Second World War and the Cold War — alongside a chosen Depth Study such as Germany 1918–45 or Russia 1905–41. Lessons focus on analysing primary and secondary sources, constructing evidence-based arguments and writing structured essays under exam conditions. The course is politically neutral and encourages students to weigh multiple perspectives.
Topics covered.
Core Content: international relations since 1919
Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? The League of Nations, Hitler's foreign policy and the outbreak of war in 1939.
The Cold War
Who was to blame for the Cold War, US containment of communism (Korea, Cuba, Vietnam) and Soviet control of Eastern Europe to 1989.
Depth Study
A detailed study of one period — for example Germany 1918–45, Russia 1905–41, the USA 1919–41 or the First World War 1914–18.
Source skills
Analysing the utility, reliability and purpose of sources, cross-referencing evidence and reaching supported judgements.
Essay writing
Structured essays with clear argument, evidence and evaluation, practised under timed exam conditions.
Causation & consequence
Understanding why events happened and what followed, and weighing the relative importance of different factors.
Beyond the syllabus.
- Source analysis and evaluation
- Structured essay writing under exam conditions
- Understanding causation, consequence and significance
- Balanced argument and multiple perspectives
- Historical vocabulary and precise communication
How progress is measured.
Cambridge IGCSE History (0470). Paper 1 is a 2-hour structured-question paper covering Core Content and the Depth Study (40%); Paper 2 is a 1-hour-45-minute source-based Document Questions paper (30%); and students complete either Coursework or the 1-hour Alternative to Coursework paper on a depth study (30%). At BOS we mark essays and source answers to the Cambridge criteria and run regular mock papers in the exam format, with termly reports tracking predicted grades and target areas.
Where it leads.
Cambridge IGCSE History is recognised by universities worldwide and provides a strong foundation for A-Level History, Politics, Law and the wider humanities.
How history lessons work.
Live & interactive.
Every lesson is delivered live by a qualified teacher. Students participate through voice, chat, whiteboards and breakout rooms.
Small classes.
Maximum fifteen students per class. Every child gets individual attention, feedback and support throughout the lesson.
Recorded for review.
Every lesson is recorded and available on the student portal. Students can re-watch, revise and catch up at any time.
A fifteen-minute conversation could change your child's education.
Speak with our team. No pressure, no jargon, just honest answers about whether BOS is the right fit for your family.
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