You will need to learn the skills used by historians, analysing the causes and consequences of historical events and assessing the importance of different types of historical evidence. Whichever course you choose will allow you to develop these skills within the context of a particular historical period.

At Higher Level you can choose the European Regional Option or the West Asian (Middle East and Indian sub-continent) Option. Both of these survey the history of the chosen region over the last one hundred years. Some topics are common to both options, such as the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War. The European Option includes a more specialist study of Russia from Tsarism to the Soviet State, Fascism and Nazism, while the West Asian Option focuses on Palestine, the Arab-Israeli Conflict and the struggle for Indian Independence.

At Standard Level, the course gives particular emphasis to events since 1945. Aspects of the Cold War, Cuba under Castro, China under Mao and the wars in Indo-China are the major topics studied. Previous knowledge of the subject is not essential, but you will need to read widely and be ready to discuss your views in class.

For all History courses, essay writing and interpretation of documentary evidence plays an important part in the assessment of your work.