O Level History 2147 · Topic 5

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

73 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2020–2026usually: Explain, Describe, Use

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

The newest 20 of 73 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q9a[4]
Describe events in South West Africa during the First World War.
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q9b[6]
Why was Japan involved in the First World War?
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2147/12 · 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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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q10a[4]
Describe events on the Eastern Front in 1914.
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q10b[6]
Why did the Allied Gallipoli campaign fail?
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q10c[10]
‘Germany’s U-boat campaign was a success.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study B: Germany, 1918–45
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q12a[4]
What was Germany’s ‘war economy’?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q9b[6]
Why was the First Battle of the Marne important?
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2147/13 · 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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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q10a[4]
Describe the tactics used to defeat the U-boat threat.
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q10b[6]
Why was Russia defeated in the First World War?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q10c[10]
‘The Gallipoli campaign was not an important factor in the First World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study B: Germany, 1918–45
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q4c[10]
‘Austria was responsible for the fact that the crisis of June–July 1914 resulted in a general European war.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Option B: The twentieth century
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[4]
What happened to Germany’s colonies in the Treaty of Versailles?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5b[6]
Why was the fact that the Treaty of Versailles was a ‘diktat’ important to the Germans?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q7c[10]
How far did the United States fail to achieve its aims in the Korean War? Explain your answer.
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q10a[4]
Describe the contribution of American troops in 1918 on the Western Front.
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q10b[6]
Why did the Allies agree to the Armistice?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q18c[10]
‘The Allied methods of occupation and control of Germany in 1945 were similar to those used in Japan.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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2147/13 · May/June 2025 · Q9a[4]
Describe the experiences of Indian troops on the Western Front.
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What examiners said

Many candidates found it straightforward to find valid agreements between the two sources, and there were many, for example Germany sent the Panther, Germany was given land, and there was tension between the British and French navies. Fewer candidates found disagreements. The most commonly used one was over whether the crisis came close to causing war. Disagreements require more explanation than a...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2147/21 Q1 (Cambridge)

One way of explaining why Heydebrand made this speech in November 1911 is to refer to the political context. The provenance of the source mentions the Franco-German agreement of that time, but a good number of candidates were able to add that the agreement was a disappointment to the Germans, thus explaining Heydebrand’s tone. Another approach adopted by some candidates involved explaining Heydebr...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2147/21 Q4 (Cambridge)

A number of candidates struggled with this question. It is important that candidates test the hypothesis exactly as it is stated in the question. Some answers contained no use of the sources. The question asked candidates how far the sources support the hypothesis. This means that the question is about the sources and that answers must be based on them. When sources were used by candidates, they w...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2147/21 Q6 (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

5.1 Why was there stalemate on the Western Front?

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?.

5.2 To what extent was it a world war?

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?.

5.3 How important were other fronts?

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?.

5.4 Why did Germany ask for an armistice in 1918?

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.

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