IGCSE History,
for serious
writers.
Cambridge 0470 / 0977 — 20th-century depth studies, source analysis and essay structure. We coach students through the exam technique that converts strong historical knowledge into an A* essay answer.
Cambridge IGCSE History. 20th-century depth studies, source work and essay technique — coached to A*/A standard.
History is argument with evidence.
IGCSE History (Cambridge 0470) is a serious writer's subject. The paper structure tests source analysis, chronological understanding and structured argument through several long essay responses. The content is manageable but the writing technique is demanding — which is exactly why most students plateau at grade 6 without focused coaching.
What A* actually demands
The top grade bands reward essays built around a clear thesis, supported by specific dates, events and named historical actors, and balanced by a meaningful counter-argument. Students who try to tell the story of the Cold War chronologically without a thesis will never exceed B.
How we teach it
Every Times Edu History student learns an "argument-first" essay framework in week 1 and spends the next 10 weeks drilling it against past-paper prompts. By the mocks, every student can write a grade A response to any question in 35 minutes.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu History mentor maps lessons directly to the official syllabus objectives below — so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
International Relations 1919–39
Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, rise of dictators.
Cold War 1945–75
Origins, Berlin, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and détente.
Russia 1905–41
Tsarism, revolution, Stalin's dictatorship.
Germany 1918–45
Weimar Republic, rise of Hitler and the Nazi state.
USA 1919–41
The Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression and the New Deal.
China 1945–2000
Mao, Cultural Revolution, reform under Deng.
Source Analysis
NOP — Nature, Origin, Purpose — and cross-referencing technique.
Essay Writing
Thesis, evidence, counter-argument and conclusion structure.
The papers your child will actually sit.
Knowing exactly what each paper demands — and how it is marked — is half the battle. Here is the full breakdown.
Structured Essays
Two 40-minute essays chosen from multiple options across core content.
Source Analysis
Analytical questions on a set of 6–8 contemporary historical sources.
Depth Study
One extended essay on the chosen depth study topic.
Historical Investigation
Optional component for some centres.
Why even strong students lose grades here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new IGCSE History students — and they are all fixable.
Narrative not argument
The biggest failure mode. Essays that tell the story without taking a position cap at B. We fix this with thesis drills from week 1.
Vague dates
"In the 1930s" scores lower than "in 1933". Specific dates signal historical expertise to the examiner. We drill the core date set weekly.
Weak source analysis
Paper 2 requires NOP analysis — Nature, Origin, Purpose. Students who only describe what a source says lose half the marks. We teach the NOP framework in week 2.
From diagnostic to final grade.
I started History at a 4 and finished at an A*. My Times Edu mentor taught me that History is not memorising dates — it is building arguments with them. Everything changed.
The questions we always get about History.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our specialist will answer every one.
My child loves reading history but freezes on the essay. Can you help?
This is the most common History student profile we see. The knowledge is there — what is missing is a writing framework. We teach a four-step essay structure (thesis → evidence → counter → conclusion) that works for any question and usually unlocks 2 grade bands in 6–8 weeks.
Which depth studies do you cover?
We cover all four Cambridge depth studies currently on the syllabus — Russia 1905–41, Germany 1918–45, USA 1919–41 and China 1945–2000. Your child's mentor is matched to the exact depth study their school is teaching.
Is History still worth taking for STEM students?
Yes. A strong grade in IGCSE History signals critical thinking and writing ability to any university — including STEM. Medical and engineering admissions committees increasingly value humanities IGCSEs as evidence of breadth.
How is source analysis marked?
Paper 2 source questions are marked against specific criteria: identifying the source message, evaluating reliability based on Nature-Origin-Purpose, and cross-referencing with other sources. We drill each of these skills as a separate module.
Ready to turn IGCSE History into an A*?
Your child's free 60-minute History diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction and a personalised roadmap to final exams. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.