IGCSE History (9–1) 0977 · Topic 3

Core content: Option A: past paper questions

53 real questionsasked in 6 of the last 6 exam series2020–2025usually: Explain, Describe, Use

Real questions on core content: option a

The newest 20 of 53 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
What was the role of Pope Pius IX in the revolutions in Italy?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[6]
Why was there support for revolutionary ideas across Europe by 1848?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1c[10]
‘The revolutions of 1848 failed because the revolutionaries had different aims.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[4]
Describe how the Prussian army was reformed between 1859 and 1862.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[6]
Why was Austria able to reassert control over Germany by 1850?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2c[10]
‘Germany was united more through the use of diplomacy than the use of force.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[4]
Describe the British policy of indirect rule.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[6]
Why was the Berlin Conference of 1884–85 important?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[10]
‘European powers wanted to build empires for economic reasons.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[4]
What happened in the Bosnian Crisis of 1908–09?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[6]
Why did events involving Morocco in 1905–06 lead to increased tensions in Europe?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4c[10]
How far do you agree that Austria was responsible for the outbreak of a general European war in 1914? Explain your answer. Option B: The twentieth century
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0977/21 · October/November 2025 · 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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0977/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[8]
Study Source C. What is the cartoonist’s message? Explain your answer using details of the source and your knowledge.
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0977/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1c[8]
Study Source D. Why was this source published in the South in 1831? Explain your answer using details of the source and your knowledge.
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0977/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1d[8]
Study Sources E and F. Does Source E prove that Source F cannot be trusted? Explain your answer using details of the sources and your knowledge.
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0977/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1e[9]
Study all the sources. How far do these sources provide convincing evidence that people in the South justified slavery by claiming that black Americans were not capable of looking after themselves? Use the sources to explain your answer. Option B: Twentieth century topic
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[4]
What were the Hungarian ‘March Laws’?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[6]
Why was Charles Albert important in 1848–49?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1c[10]
‘The revolutions in France and Prussia in 1848 were similar.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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What examiners said

The best answers were based on a careful reading of the question. It is about why the two sources disagree, rather than how they disagree. These answers used the background information and relevant knowledge to explain that both sources were announcements made on the day the Franco-Prussian War began. Having established this, they then explained the purpose of both the French government and Willia...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/22 Q1(a) (Cambridge)

A reasonable number of candidates showed understanding of the two cartoons and explained that the cartoonists would not have agreed. They understood that, in Source C, ‘Death‘ is Napoleon’s friend. The clear suggestion is that Napoleon was responsible for the carnage shown and for war, famine and ruin. In Source D, ‘Death’ is pleased with Bismarck, who is shown to be responsible for the war and th...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/22 Q1(b) (Cambridge)

Good answers used the content of the two sources to explain that they disagree over who was to blame for the war. Source E contains Bismarck’s claim that he cleverly engineered the war, while making it look as if France was the aggressor. Source F, on the other hand, clearly makes France responsible for the war. These answers took Source E at face value to argue that it does, therefore, make Sourc...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/22 Q1(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.

Download 0977 papers

In the syllabus

1 0470.3.1.01 — Why had liberalism and nationalism grown in influence by 1848?.

Why had liberalism and nationalism grown in influence by 1848?.
Why were there so many revolutions in 1848?.
Did the revolutions have anything in common?.
Why did most of the revolutions fail?.
Did the revolutions change anything?.
The nature of revolutions in 1848 and the influence of liberalism and nationalism.
Causes, events and results of revolutions in:; France; Italy; Germany; the Austrian Empire.
Reasons for the failure of the revolutions.

2 0470.3.1.02 — Why were there so many revolutions in 1848?.

Why were there so many revolutions in 1848?.

3 0470.3.1.03 — Did the revolutions have anything in common?.

Did the revolutions have anything in common?.

4 0470.3.1.04 — Why did most of the revolutions fail?.

Why did most of the revolutions fail?.

5 0470.3.1.05 — Did the revolutions change anything?.

Did the revolutions change anything?.

6 0470.3.1.06 — The nature of revolutions in 1848 and the influence of liberalism and nationalism.

The nature of revolutions in 1848 and the influence of liberalism and nationalism.

7 0470.3.1.07 — Causes, events and results of revolutions in:; France; Italy; Germany; the Austrian Empire.

Causes, events and results of revolutions in:; France; Italy; Germany; the Austrian Empire.

8 0470.3.1.08 — Reasons for the failure of the revolutions.

Reasons for the failure of the revolutions.

9 0470.3.2.01 — Why was Italy not unified in 1848–49?.

Why was Italy not unified in 1848–49?.
How important was Garibaldi’s contribution to unifying Italy?.
Did Cavour help or hinder the unification of Italy?.
How important for other European countries were moves towards Italian unification?.
Austrian influence over Italy.
Italian nationalism and the role of Mazzini.
Events of 1848–49.
Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour: the agreement of Plombières, war with Austria in 1859.
Garibaldi and the invasion of Sicily and Naples.
The creation of the Kingdom of Italy, completion of unification by 1870.

10 0470.3.2.02 — How important was Garibaldi’s contribution to unifying Italy?.

How important was Garibaldi’s contribution to unifying Italy?.

11 0470.3.2.03 — Did Cavour help or hinder the unification of Italy?.

Did Cavour help or hinder the unification of Italy?.

12 0470.3.2.04 — How important for other European countries were moves towards Italian unification?.

How important for other European countries were moves towards Italian unification?.

13 0470.3.2.05 — Austrian influence over Italy.

Austrian influence over Italy.

14 0470.3.2.06 — Italian nationalism and the role of Mazzini.

Italian nationalism and the role of Mazzini.

15 0470.3.2.07 — Events of 1848–49.

Events of 1848–49.

16 0470.3.2.08 — Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour: the agreement of Plombières, war with Austria in 1859.

Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour: the agreement of Plombières, war with Austria in 1859.

17 0470.3.2.09 — Garibaldi and the invasion of Sicily and Naples.

Garibaldi and the invasion of Sicily and Naples.

18 0470.3.2.10 — The creation of the Kingdom of Italy, completion of unification by 1870.

The creation of the Kingdom of Italy, completion of unification by 1870.

19 0470.3.3.01 — Why was Germany not unified in 1848–50?.

Why was Germany not unified in 1848–50?.
How did Bismarck bring about Austria’s defeat of 1866?.
How did Bismarck bring about France’s defeat of 1870?.
How far was Bismarck responsible for the unification of Germany?.
German nationalism.
The Zollverein.
The 1848 revolution in Prussia.
The setting up and eventual failure of the Frankfurt Parliament.
Re-establishment of Austrian influence in Germany by 1850.
Bismarck as Prussian Minister–President.
Bismarck’s foreign policy to 1871:; Schleswig-Holstein; the Austro–Prussian War and its consequences; relations with France; the Spanish Succession and the Franco–Prussian War; the creation of the German empire.

20 0470.3.3.02 — How did Bismarck bring about Austria’s defeat of 1866?.

How did Bismarck bring about Austria’s defeat of 1866?.

21 0470.3.3.03 — How did Bismarck bring about France’s defeat of 1870?.

How did Bismarck bring about France’s defeat of 1870?.

22 0470.3.3.04 — How far was Bismarck responsible for the unification of Germany?.

How far was Bismarck responsible for the unification of Germany?.

23 0470.3.3.05 — German nationalism.

German nationalism.

24 0470.3.3.06 — The Zollverein.

The Zollverein.

25 0470.3.3.07 — The 1848 revolution in Prussia.

The 1848 revolution in Prussia.

26 0470.3.3.08 — The setting up and eventual failure of the Frankfurt Parliament.

The setting up and eventual failure of the Frankfurt Parliament.

27 0470.3.3.09 — Re-establishment of Austrian influence in Germany by 1850.

Re-establishment of Austrian influence in Germany by 1850.

28 0470.3.3.10 — Bismarck as Prussian Minister–President.

Bismarck as Prussian Minister–President.

29 0470.3.3.11 — Bismarck’s foreign policy to 1871:; Schleswig-Holstein; the Austro–Prussian War and its consequences; relations with France; the Spanish Suc

Bismarck’s foreign policy to 1871:; Schleswig-Holstein; the Austro–Prussian War and its consequences; relations with France; the Spanish Succession and the Franco–Prussian War; the creation of the German empire.

30 0470.3.4.01 — How far did slavery cause the Civil War?.

How far did slavery cause the Civil War?.
What was the significance of Lincoln’s election as president?.
Why was the North able to win the war?.
Did the war change anything?.
Causes and consequences of the American Civil War, 1820–77:; differences between North and South; slavery, slave states and free states, abolitionism; the 1860 election and secession of the Southern states; reasons for the North’s victory and the South’s defeat; the role of Lincoln; reconstruction and the extent of its success.

31 0470.3.4.02 — What was the significance of Lincoln’s election as president?.

What was the significance of Lincoln’s election as president?.

32 0470.3.4.03 — Why was the North able to win the war?.

Why was the North able to win the war?.

33 0470.3.4.04 — Did the war change anything?.

Did the war change anything?.

34 0470.3.4.05 — Causes and consequences of the American Civil War, 1820–77:; differences between North and South; slavery, slave states and free states, abo

Causes and consequences of the American Civil War, 1820–77:; differences between North and South; slavery, slave states and free states, abolitionism; the 1860 election and secession of the Southern states; reasons for the North’s victory and the South’s defeat; the role of Lincoln; reconstruction and the extent of its success.

35 0470.3.5.01 — What were the motives behind European and US imperialism?.

What were the motives behind European and US imperialism?.
How varied were the impacts of European imperialism on Africans?.
Why, and with what effects, did Indians resist British rule?.
Why, and with what effects, did the United States gain former Spanish colonies?.
Reasons for imperialism: economic, military, geopolitical, religious and cultural motives.
Europeans in Africa: case studies of French, British and Belgian imperialism, and their impacts on Africans:; the French model of assimilation and direct rule; Faidherbe and Senegal; the British model of indirect rule; Lugard and Nigeria; the Belgians and private imperialism; Leopold II and the Congo.
The British in India: the events of 1857 and the changes they brought to British rule.
Wars of independence in the Philippines and Cuba, the Spanish–American War and the Treaty of Paris:; the debate in the USA over US imperialism; the Philippines; consequences of American control on the Filipinos; American intervention in Cuba to 1906.

36 0470.3.5.02 — How varied were the impacts of European imperialism on Africans?.

How varied were the impacts of European imperialism on Africans?.

37 0470.3.5.03 — Why, and with what effects, did Indians resist British rule?.

Why, and with what effects, did Indians resist British rule?.

38 0470.3.5.04 — Why, and with what effects, did the United States gain former Spanish colonies?.

Why, and with what effects, did the United States gain former Spanish colonies?.

39 0470.3.5.05 — Reasons for imperialism: economic, military, geopolitical, religious and cultural motives.

Reasons for imperialism: economic, military, geopolitical, religious and cultural motives.

40 0470.3.5.06 — Europeans in Africa: case studies of French, British and Belgian imperialism, and their impacts on Africans:; the French model of assimilati

Europeans in Africa: case studies of French, British and Belgian imperialism, and their impacts on Africans:; the French model of assimilation and direct rule; Faidherbe and Senegal; the British model of indirect rule; Lugard and Nigeria; the Belgians and private imperialism; Leopold II and the Congo.

41 0470.3.5.07 — The British in India: the events of 1857 and the changes they brought to British rule.

The British in India: the events of 1857 and the changes they brought to British rule.

42 0470.3.5.08 — Wars of independence in the Philippines and Cuba, the Spanish–American War and the Treaty of Paris:; the debate in the USA over US imperiali

Wars of independence in the Philippines and Cuba, the Spanish–American War and the Treaty of Paris:; the debate in the USA over US imperialism; the Philippines; consequences of American control on the Filipinos; American intervention in Cuba to 1906.

43 0470.3.6.01 — Did the Alliance System and global diplomacy make war more likely or less likely?.

Did the Alliance System and global diplomacy make war more likely or less likely?.
How far did colonial problems create tensions between the Great Powers?.
Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve?.
How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war?.
The origins of the First World War, 1890–1914:; the Alliance System and the European diplomatic system; the 1902 Anglo–Japanese Alliance; the arms race; colonial rivalries; developments in the Balkans; the crisis of June–July 1914 and the outbreak of war.

44 0470.3.6.02 — How far did colonial problems create tensions between the Great Powers?.

How far did colonial problems create tensions between the Great Powers?.

45 0470.3.6.03 — Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve?.

Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve?.

46 0470.3.6.04 — How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war?.

How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war?.

47 0470.3.6.05 — The origins of the First World War, 1890–1914:; the Alliance System and the European diplomatic system; the 1902 Anglo–Japanese Alliance; th

The origins of the First World War, 1890–1914:; the Alliance System and the European diplomatic system; the 1902 Anglo–Japanese Alliance; the arms race; colonial rivalries; developments in the Balkans; the crisis of June–July 1914 and the outbreak of war.

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