How to Revise for IGSCE History: Tactics That Work

Revising for IGCSE History can feel like an uphill battle. It can feel overwhelming with so many events, dates, and concepts to memorise. But don’t worry! With the right approach, you can make your revision more manageable and even—dare I say it—enjoyable. 

As an experienced History teacher, this article is my list of how to revise for IGCSE History more effectively. Following these techniques consistently will mean walking into the exam hall feeling prepared and confident:

• Get to know your exam board

• Break down the content into manageable chunks

• Create timelines of key events

• Focus on cause and consequence

• Make flashcards for key terms and concepts

• Practise with past papers

Get to Know Your Exam Board

Before diving into your IGCSE History revision, it’s essential to know which exam board you’re working with — whether it’s Cambridge (CIE) or Edexcel.

Take a look at your exam board’s specification:
Cambridge IGCSE History

Edexcel IGCSE History

This is a key document that outlines all the topics you’ll be studying. 

Find the topics that apply to your course, and you’ll see them divided into important areas of history you need to know for the exam. Once you’ve got this list, you can decide which topic to focus on first, making your revision more organised and effective.

Break the Content Down Into Manageable Chunks

One of the biggest challenges in IGCSE History is the amount of material you need to cover. Both exam boards have two exams that test a range of historical skills including chronology, second-order concepts, and using sources. Instead of trying to study everything at once, break it down into smaller, more manageable sections. 

Start by identifying the main topics — like Nazi Germany, the Cold War, or Tsarist and Communist Russia — and then break each of these into smaller subtopics, such as how Hitler gained power, the consequences of the Berlin Blockade, or the success of the New Economic Policy. Focus on understanding one subtopic at a time before moving on to the next. 

This approach helps you stay on top of your revision, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed before your exams.

Create Timelines of Key Events

As a former Head of GCSE History, I know that timelines are a simple yet powerful tool for visualising and understanding the chronology of a time period.

Enhance your timeline with colour-coding, icons, or symbols to highlight major turning points, significant treaties, or influential leaders. This visual approach not only aids in memorising dates but also helps identify causes, consequences, and crucial links between events.

You can use the Save My Exams timelines for topics like the Treaty of Versailles, or create your own.

You and your friends could even make a living timeline. Each person selects a key event from a chosen topic, such as the Yalta Conference. Then, work together to line yourselves up in the right order — it's a fun way to learn the order of events!

Keep going back to your timeline to refresh your memory. Repetition, repetition, repetition! Effective revision for IGCSE History requires a “little but often” approach where you revisit topics often.

Focus on Cause and Consequence

IGCSE History is about more than just memorising facts—it’s about understanding why things happened and what came next.

When revising each topic, always ask yourself: What caused this event? What were the consequences? Jot these down as you study each topic. This approach allows knowledge to be fresh in your mind and reduces your revision workload.

There are many ways that you can show causes and consequences in your revision:

• Draw a table with the heading of your topic and two columns for causes and consequences

• Write a bullet point list

• Sketch an SME-style cause and consequence flow diagram for topics such as the establishment and failure of the League of Nations

A concept map showing the causes and consequences of the League of Nations

This approach will help you build stronger, more analytical answers, which is exactly what examiners are looking for.

Make Flashcards for Key Terms and Concepts

Flashcards are a fantastic way to test yourself on key dates, terms, and definitions. However, they can take time to make. For the best results, create flashcards for each History topic as you learn it — this helps consolidate the information into your long-term memory.

Write a question on one side (e.g., "What were the key aims of the New Deal?") and some bullet points of potential correct answers on the other. Focus on both recall questions and those that require deeper understanding. This will ensure you have key knowledge and can apply it to any IGCSE History exam question.

Don't let your flashcards gather dust! In my experience, I have seen many students produce wonderful flashcards but never use them. 

Find any spare moments to quiz yourself — the journey to and from school, the queue for the canteen, or whilst waiting for a friend. You can even get friends and family to test you. Flashcards are a quick and easy way to keep those key facts at your fingertips.

Practise with Past Paper Questions

There’s no substitute for practice when it comes to exam technique.

Use SaveMyExams to find past papers for your IGCSE History exam board:
Cambridge IGCSE History past papers

Edexcel IGCSE History past papers

Try tackling a question you find tricky. Spend five minutes outlining your approach and key points, then ask your teacher for feedback.

You can also time yourself answering questions to get used to exam conditions and experiment with different planning methods for longer essay-style answers.

For a fun group activity, try writing an essay answer with friends, splitting up the sections, and seeing what you come up with together. The more you practise, the more confident you'll feel on exam day!

Improve Your Grades with Save My Exams

Save My Exams empowers students to study smarter and achieve top grades with confidence.

We offer thousands of practice questions, revision notes, and flashcards tailored for GCSE, IGCSE, IB and A Level exams. 

Written by experienced teachers, our high-quality resources will help you nail those key concepts and boost your confidence for exam day.

Check out our IGCSE History resources and see how Save My Exams can help you ace your exams.

References

Cambridge IGCSE History syllabus
Edexcel IGCSE History syllabus
How to revise for History GCSE