AS & A Level History 9489 · History · 1.42

Paper 1 Paper 2: past paper questions

7 real questionsasked in 3 of the last 10 exam series2022–2025usually: Explain, Evaluate, Use

Real questions on paper 1 paper 2

The newest 7 of 7 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

9489/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[10]
Explain why new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were often exploited.
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9489/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[20]
‘Prohibition was introduced because the government was no longer reliant on liquor tax.’ How far do you agree?
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9489/23 · October/November 2025 · Q7a[10]
Explain why the USA became involved in Panama from 1902 onwards.
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9489/23 · October/November 2025 · Q7b[20]
To what extent was internal reform responsible for the emergence of Japan as a world power?
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9489/41 · May/June 2025 · Q8[30]
Evaluate how far relations between China and the United States improved in the years 1963 to 1979. Section C: International history, 1945–92
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9489/32 · February/March 2025 · Q1[40]
Read the extract and then answer the question. Some writers have claimed that the war was brought about by background factors such as militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism. These all played a part in creating the conditions in which war broke out, but none of them individually or in combination can be said...
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9489/23 · October/November 2022 · Q9b[20]
‘The main reason for the eventual failure of the League was its members’ unwillingness to take decisive actions against Japanese aggression.’ How far do you agree with this claim?
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What examiners said

‘The main reason for the eventual failure of the League was its members’ unwillingness to take decisive action against Japanese aggression.’ How far do you agree with this claim? Stronger responses had a good understanding of the work of the Lytton Commission and were able to use this in a wider analysis of failure to act. Looking at alternative reasons usually produced more balanced results, wit...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 9489/23 Q9(b) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

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In the syllabus

1.42 Paper 1 Paper 2

The Industrial Revolution in Britain, 1750–1850 • France, 1774–1814.
Liberalism and nationalism in Germany, 1815–71.
The Russian Revolution, 1894–1921 American option: The History of the USA, American option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941 1820–1941.
The Great Crash, the Great Depression and the • The origins of the Civil War, 1820–61 New Deal policies, 1920–41 • Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–77.
The Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1870s to 1920 International option: International history, International option: International history, 1870–1945 1870–1945.
The League of Nations and international relations • Empire and the emergence of world powers, in the 1920s 1870–1919.
The League of Nations and international relations in the 1930s.
China and Japan, 1912–45 Topics assessed in 2025.

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