IGCSE History 0470 · Topic 4

Core content: Option B: past paper questions

269 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2026usually: Explain, Describe, Use, Study

Real questions on core content: option b

The newest 20 of 269 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[6]
Why was there a crisis over Manchuria in the early 1930s?
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q5c[10]
‘The League was more effective in its humanitarian work than in dealing with international disputes.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[4]
Describe the events leading up to Anschluss in 1938.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[6]
Why did Germany become involved in the Spanish Civil War?
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q6c[10]
Which was more important: the remilitarisation of the Rhineland or the Munich Agreement? Explain your answer.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q7a[4]
Describe events in Greece between 1945 and 1950.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q7b[6]
Why was the Soviet Union suspicious of the Marshall Plan?
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q7c[10]
How close did the Soviet Union and the West come to war during the Berlin Crisis of 1948–49? Explain your answer.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[6]
Why did the League fail to prevent the Italian invasion of Abyssinia?
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q5c[10]
‘By the end of the 1920s the League had satisfied the high expectations of its supporters.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[4]
What was the Munich Agreement of 1938?
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[6]
Why did Germany invade Poland in September 1939?
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q6c[10]
Which was more important: the remilitarisation of the Rhineland or Anschluss? Explain your answer.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q7a[4]
What was Marshall Aid?
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q7b[6]
Why was the Truman Doctrine announced in 1947?
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q7c[10]
‘There was little agreement between the Soviet Union and the West in the peace conferences of 1945.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q4c[10]
‘Russia was responsible for the outbreak of the First World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Option B: The twentieth century
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[6]
Why was the United States’ absence from the League important?
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q5c[10]
How far were the most important achievements of the League to be found in its humanitarian work? Explain your answer.
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[4]
What was Britain’s policy of appeasement?
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What examiners said

Comprehensive responses • Most candidates knew that Clemenceau was prime minister. • Many identified the issues on which he was insistent at Versailles, notably his wish for a harsh settlement, large reparations, the establishment of war guilt, an independent Rhineland the return of Alsace-Lorraine. • Some candidates also mentioned the acquisition of the Saarland as another of his objectives. Lim...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0470/12 Q5(a) (Cambridge)

Comprehensive responses • Most candidates concentrated on the economic impact of the Versailles settlement notably reparations and the political turmoil of the years 1919–1923. • Many responses included both the impact of the disarmament clauses and the reaction to the war guilt clause. • Many candidates were knowledgeable of the political repercussions of the settlement including the left- and ri...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0470/12 Q5(b) (Cambridge)

Comprehensive responses • Most candidates were able to identify the important matters discussed at the peace conference. • Most candidates could identify and explain why the public of each of the three main victorious powers had mixed feelings about the outcome. • Many candidates produced explanations on both sides of the argument. For example, on the positive side, people in Britain welcomed the...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0470/12 Q5(c) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise core content: option b

In the syllabus

1 0470.4.1.01 — What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles?.

What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles?.
Why did the victors not get everything they wanted?.
What was the impact of the Treaty on Germany up to the end of 1923?.
Could the Treaty be justified at the time?.
The roles of Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George in the peacemaking process.
The terms of the Treaty.
Social, economic and political impact of the Treaty in Germany to the end of 1923.
Contemporary opinions about the Treaty.

2 0470.4.1.02 — Why did the victors not get everything they wanted?.

Why did the victors not get everything they wanted?.

3 0470.4.1.03 — What was the impact of the Treaty on Germany up to the end of 1923?.

What was the impact of the Treaty on Germany up to the end of 1923?.

4 0470.4.1.04 — Could the Treaty be justified at the time?.

Could the Treaty be justified at the time?.

5 0470.4.1.05 — The roles of Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George in the peacemaking process.

The roles of Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George in the peacemaking process.

6 0470.4.1.06 — The terms of the Treaty.

The terms of the Treaty.

7 0470.4.1.07 — Social, economic and political impact of the Treaty in Germany to the end of 1923.

Social, economic and political impact of the Treaty in Germany to the end of 1923.

8 0470.4.1.08 — Contemporary opinions about the Treaty.

Contemporary opinions about the Treaty.

9 0470.4.2.01 — How far did weaknesses in the League’s organisation and membership make failure inevitable?.

How far did weaknesses in the League’s organisation and membership make failure inevitable?.
How successful were the League’s attempts at peacekeeping in the 1920s?.
How important was the League’s humanitarian work?.
How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult in the 1930s?.
The structure, aims and membership of the League.
Successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s:; Vilna 1920; Aaland Islands 1920–21; Corfu 1923; Bulgaria 1925.
The League’s humanitarian work:; refugees; health; working conditions; slavery.
The League in the 1930s:; causes, events and consequences of the Manchurian crisis and of the Abyssinian crisis.

10 0470.4.2.02 — How successful were the League’s attempts at peacekeeping in the 1920s?.

How successful were the League’s attempts at peacekeeping in the 1920s?.

11 0470.4.2.03 — How important was the League’s humanitarian work?.

How important was the League’s humanitarian work?.

12 0470.4.2.04 — How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult in the 1930s?.

How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult in the 1930s?.

13 0470.4.2.05 — The structure, aims and membership of the League.

The structure, aims and membership of the League.

14 0470.4.2.06 — Successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s:; Vilna 1920; Aaland Islands 1920–21; Corfu 1923; Bulgaria 1925.

Successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s:; Vilna 1920; Aaland Islands 1920–21; Corfu 1923; Bulgaria 1925.

15 0470.4.2.07 — The League’s humanitarian work:; refugees; health; working conditions; slavery.

The League’s humanitarian work:; refugees; health; working conditions; slavery.

16 0470.4.2.08 — The League in the 1930s:; causes, events and consequences of the Manchurian crisis and of the Abyssinian crisis.

The League in the 1930s:; causes, events and consequences of the Manchurian crisis and of the Abyssinian crisis.

17 0470.4.3.01 — What were the long-term consequences of the Treaty of Versailles?.

What were the long-term consequences of the Treaty of Versailles?.
What were the consequences of the failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s?.
Was the policy of appeasement justified?.
How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?.
Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?.
Hitler’s foreign policy aims.
Rearmament.
The Saar.
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland.
The Rome–Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact.
German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
Anschluss with Austria.

18 0470.4.3.02 — What were the consequences of the failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s?.

What were the consequences of the failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s?.

19 0470.4.3.03 — Was the policy of appeasement justified?.

Was the policy of appeasement justified?.

20 0470.4.3.04 — How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?.

How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?.

21 0470.4.3.05 — Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?.

Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?.

22 0470.4.3.06 — Hitler’s foreign policy aims.

Hitler’s foreign policy aims.

23 0470.4.3.07 — Rearmament.

Rearmament.

24 0470.4.3.08 — The Saar.

The Saar.

25 0470.4.3.09 — Remilitarisation of the Rhineland.

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland.

26 0470.4.3.10 — The Rome–Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact.

The Rome–Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact.

27 0470.4.3.11 — German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War.

German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War.

28 0470.4.3.12 — Anschluss with Austria.

Anschluss with Austria.

29 0470.4.3.13 — The crisis over Czechoslovakia and the Munich Agreement.

The crisis over Czechoslovakia and the Munich Agreement.

30 0470.4.3.14 — The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war.

The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war.

31 0470.4.4.01 — Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945?.

Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945?.
How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948?.
How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism?.
What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?.
Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR?.
The origins of the Cold War:; the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the US–Soviet alliance in 1945–46; Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe to 1948, and American reactions to it; the occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade; NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

32 0470.4.4.02 — How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948?.

How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948?.

33 0470.4.4.03 — How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism?.

How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism?.

34 0470.4.4.04 — What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?.

What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?.

35 0470.4.4.05 — Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR?.

Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR?.

36 0470.4.4.06 — The origins of the Cold War:; the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the US–Soviet alliance in 1945–46; Soviet expansion into East

The origins of the Cold War:; the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the US–Soviet alliance in 1945–46; Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe to 1948, and American reactions to it; the occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade; NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

37 0470.4.5.01 — The United States and events in Korea, 1950–53.

The United States and events in Korea, 1950–53.
The United States and events in Cuba, 1959–62.
American involvement in Vietnam, 1955–75.
Case studies of:; American reactions to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, the involvement of the UN, the course of the war to 1953; American reactions to the Cuban Revolution, including the Missile Crisis and its aftermath; American involvement in the Vietnam War, including reasons for involvement, tactics and strategy, reasons for withdrawal.

38 0470.4.5.02 — The United States and events in Cuba, 1959–62.

The United States and events in Cuba, 1959–62.

39 0470.4.5.03 — American involvement in Vietnam, 1955–75.

American involvement in Vietnam, 1955–75.

40 0470.4.5.04 — Case studies of:; American reactions to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, the involvement of the UN, the course of the war to 1953; Ame

Case studies of:; American reactions to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, the involvement of the UN, the course of the war to 1953; American reactions to the Cuban Revolution, including the Missile Crisis and its aftermath; American involvement in the Vietnam War, including reasons for involvement, tactics and strategy, reasons for withdrawal.

41 0470.4.6.01 — Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968, and how did the USSR react to this opposition?.

Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968, and how did the USSR react to this opposition?.
How similar were events in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968?.
Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961?.
What was the significance of Solidarity in Poland for the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?.
How far was Gorbachev personally responsible for the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe?.
Soviet power in Eastern Europe:; resistance to Soviet power in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968); the Berlin Wall; Solidarity in Poland; Gorbachev and the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe Depth studies Candidates must study at least one of the following Depth studies: A The First World War, 1914–18 B Germany, 1918–45 C Russia, 1905–41 D The United States, 1919–41 E The Second World War in Europe and the Asia–Pacific, 1939–c.1945.

42 0470.4.6.02 — How similar were events in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968?.

How similar were events in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968?.

43 0470.4.6.03 — Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961?.

Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961?.

44 0470.4.6.04 — What was the significance of Solidarity in Poland for the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?.

What was the significance of Solidarity in Poland for the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?.

45 0470.4.6.05 — How far was Gorbachev personally responsible for the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe?.

How far was Gorbachev personally responsible for the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe?.

46 0470.4.6.06 — Soviet power in Eastern Europe:; resistance to Soviet power in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968); the Berlin Wall; Solidarity in Pola

Soviet power in Eastern Europe:; resistance to Soviet power in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968); the Berlin Wall; Solidarity in Poland; Gorbachev and the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe Depth studies Candidates must study at least one of the following Depth studies: A The First World War, 1914–18 B Germany, 1918–45 C Russia, 1905–41 D The United States, 1919–41 E The Second World War in Europe and the Asia–Pacific, 1939–c.1945.

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