IGCSE History 0470 · Topic 5

Depth study A: The First World War, 1914–18: past paper questions

126 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2026usually: Explain, Describe, Discuss, Write an account of, Write

Real questions on depth study a: the first world war, 1914–18

The newest 20 of 126 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q9a[4]
Describe the German advance through Belgium in 1914.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q9b[6]
Why was the Battle of Verdun important?
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q10a[4]
Describe the American entry into the war in 1917.
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0470/11 · May/June 2026 · Q10c[10]
How far was the American entry into the war the decisive military factor in bringing about the Allied victory? Explain your answer. Depth study B: Germany, 1918–45
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q9a[4]
Describe events in South West Africa during the First World War.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q9c[10]
How important was T E Lawrence in the success of the Arab Revolt? Explain your answer.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q10a[4]
Describe events on the Eastern Front in 1914.
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0470/12 · May/June 2026 · Q10b[6]
Why did the Allied Gallipoli campaign fail?
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q9a[4]
What was the British Expeditionary Force?
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q9b[6]
Why was the First Battle of the Marne important?
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0470/13 · May/June 2026 · Q9c[10]
How important was the impact of new types of weapons in the war? Explain your answer.
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0470/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1a[7]
Study Sources A and B. How far do these two sources agree? Explain your answer using details of the sources.
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0470/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1b[8]
Study Source C. Why was this source published at that time? Explain your answer using details of the source and your knowledge.
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0470/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1c[8]
Study Source D. What is the cartoonist’s message? Explain your answer using details of the source and your knowledge.
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0470/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1d[8]
Study Sources E and F. How far does Source E make Source F surprising? Explain your answer using details of the sources and your knowledge.
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0470/12 · February/March 2026 · Q9a[4]
Describe General Haig’s leadership and tactics in the Battle of the Somme.
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0470/12 · February/March 2026 · Q9b[6]
Why was Russian mobilisation in 1914 important?
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0470/12 · February/March 2026 · Q9c[10]
Which was more important: the Battle of Verdun or the Battle of the Somme? Explain your answer.
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0470/12 · February/March 2026 · Q10a[4]
What was the Armistice?
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0470/12 · February/March 2026 · Q10b[6]
Why was the British naval blockade of Germany important?
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What examiners said

This question required candidates to give reasons for the outcome of the First World War. The given factors were the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme. To achieve balance other aspects, for example the British Blockade of German ports, the failure of the Ludendorff Offensive and the German Revolution of October 1918, needed to be considered. Responses to this question would have been im...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0470/41 Q1 (Cambridge)

The focus on this question was on the reasons for Germany’s defeat in 1918. The given factor was the entry of the United States into the war. To achieve balance, factors such as the failure of Operation Michael, Germany leaving the Hindenburg Line and events within Germany such as the Kiel Mutiny, could be included. There were very few responses to this question but some of the answers seen were a...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0470/41 Q2 (Cambridge)

It was rare to read a poor answer to part (a) as candidates gained marks by describing the use and impact of gas on the Western Front, such as its first use at Ypres in 1915 and the damage caused by chlorine to soldiers’ lungs. There was an appreciation that gas was difficult to use as it was dependent on changes in wind direction and that it was responsible for only a small percentage of deaths i...
— Examiner report, May/June 2022, 0470/13 Q9(a) (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 depth study a: the first world war, 1914–18

In the syllabus

1 0470.5.1.01 — Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?.

Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?.
Why did a defensive war emerge by the end of 1914?.
What was living and fighting in the trenches like?.
How important were new methods of warfare?.
What was the significance of the Battles of Verdun and the Somme?.

2 0470.5.1.02 — Why did a defensive war emerge by the end of 1914?.

Why did a defensive war emerge by the end of 1914?.

3 0470.5.1.03 — What was living and fighting in the trenches like?.

What was living and fighting in the trenches like?.

4 0470.5.1.04 — How important were new methods of warfare?.

How important were new methods of warfare?.

5 0470.5.1.05 — What was the significance of the Battles of Verdun and the Somme?.

What was the significance of the Battles of Verdun and the Somme?.

6 0470.5.2.01 — How important was the role of troops from the British Empire on the Western Front?.

How important was the role of troops from the British Empire on the Western Front?.
What was the contribution of Indian and South African troops in Africa?.
What was the contribution of Japan to the Allied victory?.
How important was the Arab Revolt?.

7 0470.5.2.02 — What was the contribution of Indian and South African troops in Africa?.

What was the contribution of Indian and South African troops in Africa?.

8 0470.5.2.03 — What was the contribution of Japan to the Allied victory?.

What was the contribution of Japan to the Allied victory?.

9 0470.5.2.04 — How important was the Arab Revolt?.

How important was the Arab Revolt?.

10 0470.5.3.01 — Who won the war at sea?.

Who won the war at sea?.
Why did the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 fail?.
How important was the Eastern Front?.
What was the impact of war on civilian populations?.

11 0470.5.3.02 — Why did the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 fail?.

Why did the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 fail?.

12 0470.5.3.03 — How important was the Eastern Front?.

How important was the Eastern Front?.

13 0470.5.3.04 — What was the impact of war on civilian populations?.

What was the impact of war on civilian populations?.

14 0470.5.4.01 — What was the importance of America’s entry into the war?.

What was the importance of America’s entry into the war?.
Why was the German offensive of 1918 unsuccessful?.
Why did revolution break out in Germany in October 1918?.
Why was the Armistice signed?.
The Schlieffen Plan and how it worked in practice:; the German advance through Belgium and the impact of the British Expeditionary Force; the effect on the western front of Russian mobilisation.
The battles of Mons and the Marne, the race to the sea and the First Battle of Ypres:; the reaction to the stalemate: trenches and the development of a war of attrition.
The nature and problems of trench warfare.
The use and impact of developments such as tanks, machine guns, aircraft and gas.
The impact of the battles of Verdun and the Somme:; the leadership and tactics of Haig at the Battle of the Somme.
The role and experiences of British Empire troops on the Western Front:; Case study: Indian troops; Case study: Canadian troops.
The war in Africa:; Case study: German East Africa; Case study: South West Africa.
Contribution of Japan in Asia:; the siege of Tsingtao; naval assistance in securing the sea lanes.

15 0470.5.4.02 — Why was the German offensive of 1918 unsuccessful?.

Why was the German offensive of 1918 unsuccessful?.

16 0470.5.4.03 — Why did revolution break out in Germany in October 1918?.

Why did revolution break out in Germany in October 1918?.

17 0470.5.4.04 — Why was the Armistice signed?.

Why was the Armistice signed?.

18 0470.5.4.05 — The Schlieffen Plan and how it worked in practice:; the German advance through Belgium and the impact of the British Expeditionary Force; th

The Schlieffen Plan and how it worked in practice:; the German advance through Belgium and the impact of the British Expeditionary Force; the effect on the western front of Russian mobilisation.

19 0470.5.4.06 — The battles of Mons and the Marne, the race to the sea and the First Battle of Ypres:; the reaction to the stalemate: trenches and the devel

The battles of Mons and the Marne, the race to the sea and the First Battle of Ypres:; the reaction to the stalemate: trenches and the development of a war of attrition.

20 0470.5.4.07 — The nature and problems of trench warfare.

The nature and problems of trench warfare.

21 0470.5.4.08 — The use and impact of developments such as tanks, machine guns, aircraft and gas.

The use and impact of developments such as tanks, machine guns, aircraft and gas.

22 0470.5.4.09 — The impact of the battles of Verdun and the Somme:; the leadership and tactics of Haig at the Battle of the Somme.

The impact of the battles of Verdun and the Somme:; the leadership and tactics of Haig at the Battle of the Somme.

23 0470.5.4.10 — The role and experiences of British Empire troops on the Western Front:; Case study: Indian troops; Case study: Canadian troops.

The role and experiences of British Empire troops on the Western Front:; Case study: Indian troops; Case study: Canadian troops.

24 0470.5.4.11 — The war in Africa:; Case study: German East Africa; Case study: South West Africa.

The war in Africa:; Case study: German East Africa; Case study: South West Africa.

25 0470.5.4.12 — Contribution of Japan in Asia:; the siege of Tsingtao; naval assistance in securing the sea lanes.

Contribution of Japan in Asia:; the siege of Tsingtao; naval assistance in securing the sea lanes.

26 0470.5.4.13 — The Arab Revolt.

The Arab Revolt.

27 0470.5.4.14 — The war at sea:; the Battle of Jutland and its consequences; the use of convoys and submarines and the U-boat campaign.

The war at sea:; the Battle of Jutland and its consequences; the use of convoys and submarines and the U-boat campaign.

28 0470.5.4.15 — The reasons for, and results of, the Gallipoli campaign.

The reasons for, and results of, the Gallipoli campaign.

29 0470.5.4.16 — Events on the Eastern Front and the defeat of Russia.

Events on the Eastern Front and the defeat of Russia.

30 0470.5.4.17 — The impact of war on civilian populations.

The impact of war on civilian populations.

31 0470.5.4.18 — The German offensive of 1918 and the Allied advance:; the impact of American entry into the war.

The German offensive of 1918 and the Allied advance:; the impact of American entry into the war.

32 0470.5.4.19 — Conditions in Germany towards the end of the war:; the Kiel Mutiny and German Revolution; the abdication of the Kaiser.

Conditions in Germany towards the end of the war:; the Kiel Mutiny and German Revolution; the abdication of the Kaiser.

33 0470.5.4.20 — The Armistice.

The Armistice.

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