IGCSE History (9–1) 0977 · Topic 5

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

11 real questionsasked in 2 of the last 6 exam series2025–2025usually: Explain, Describe

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

The newest 11 of 11 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[4]
What happened at Tanga in 1914?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[6]
Why was the campaign in South West Africa a success for the Allies?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q9c[10]
‘The Allied campaign in East Africa was a success.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q10a[4]
What was the Ludendorff Offensive?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q10b[6]
Why were German forces defeated at Amiens?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q9a[4]
Describe how the Schlieffen Plan was meant to work.
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q9b[6]
Why was the First Battle of Ypres important?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q9c[10]
Which had more of an impact on the Battle of the Somme: trench warfare or Haig’s tactics? Explain your answer.
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q10a[4]
Describe the contribution of American troops in 1918 on the Western Front.
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q10b[6]
Why did the Allies agree to the Armistice?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q10c[10]
‘The failure of the German offensive of 1918 was more important than events in Germany in 1918 in deciding the outcome of the war.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study B: Germany, 1918–45
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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.

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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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