Tips for success: How to research your IB History IA

In the penultimate post in this series, Andrew looks at how the provenance of the source (including its author, and the time and place in which it was produced) can be used to examine a source’s reliability.

AuthorOwl TutorsRead9 minutes

In the third post in this series, we will look at how to show A Level examiners that you can assess the accuracy of sources. People in the past did not always give an impression consistent with the facts available to us. Good historians will compare the information presented by any source to what they already know of the period.

AuthorOwl TutorsRead6 minutes

This is the second post in a series that shows you how to approach source questions in History A Level, and hopefully also how exciting analysing primary source material can be. In this blog, Andrew sets out how to raise the quality of your answer to A* level by showing understanding of the source in context, and focusing on the question.

AuthorOwl TutorsRead5 minutes

Source questions are often the aspect of A-Level History that students find most difficult, but can also be one of the most exciting aspects of the course. Every source provides a window into the ideas, emotions, and thought processes of past human beings. Andrew covers the basics of writing about the information drawn from the source.

AuthorOwl TutorsRead5 minutes

The History Aptitude Test (HAT) is a critical component of the University of Oxford's undergraduate History courses' application process. If you are looking to start your preparation for the HAT or are interested in finding out more about it, this guide will take you through the format of the exam and what to look out for. Read on to find out more about the HAT.

AuthorHollyRead3 minutes

IGCSEs and GCSEs are largely similar, but there are some key differences. IGCSEs, usually taken by students studying abroad, have slightly different content and are designed for those who do not have the cultural and contextual references of GCSE students living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here we explore the examinations and explain what differences students might see during their courses.

AuthorHollyRead3 minutes

The International Baccalaureate (IB) has a complex and wide-ranging curriculum, challenging students to do their best in multiple subjects. But among the different topic areas, which subject stands out as the most difficult? This article explores the of challenges of different IB courses, providing insight into which might be the hardest for individual students to reach their potential.

AuthorHollyRead4 minutes