IGCSE History Topics by Exam Board: Full List

As an IGCSE History student, you’re probably aware that the syllabus is packed with a variety of topics. The problem is, with so many topics, students often struggle to understand what’s assessed in each paper. IGCSE History is not just about knowing the facts—it’s about understanding the skills and the context in which they’ll be tested.

But don’t worry! This article will help guide you through the IGCSE History topics for both Cambridge and Edexcel, providing clarity on where each topic falls in the exam. By breaking down the key areas of the syllabus, you’ll be able to approach your revision with confidence and focus.

 With 10 years of experience working with thousands of students in your position, my expertise can help you ace your IGCSE History exams.

Cambridge IGCSE History Topics

Cambridge offers a wide range of choice of modern history. These are organised into:

• Core content

  • A choice of either 19th century or 20th century history that must be studied

  • Split into six key questions.

  • Students can be asked essay-based or source analysis questions on this content.

• Depth studies

  • A choice of 5 topics.

  • A short period of world history where you get to explore specific events, regions, or periods in history.

Core content

All candidates must study either Option A or Option B of the core content.

Option A: The Nineteenth Century - The Development of Modern Nation States, 1848–1914

Were the revolutions of 1848 important?

If you study this topic, you'll explore the series of revolutionary movements across Europe in 1848, focusing on causes and outcomes. You will examine the growth of nationalism and liberalism, the similarities and differences between each revolution, and why many failed to achieve their aims.

How was Italy unified?

In this section, you’ll study the process of Italian unification under key figures like Giuseppe Mazzini, Count Cavour, and Garibaldi. You will learn how Italy overcame its regional divisions and achieved unification in the 19th century, and the political and social challenges involved in this process.

How was Germany unified?

This topic focuses on the unification of Germany in the 19th century, under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. With this topic, you'll have a chance to explore Bismarck’s policies, including the use of war and diplomacy, which led to the creation of the German Empire in 1871.

Why was there a civil war in the United States and what were its results?

If you look at this topic, you will study the causes of the American Civil War (1861–1865), including the issues of slavery and states' rights. You will examine the war’s consequences, including the abolition of slavery and the Reconstruction of the South.

Why, and with what effects, did nations gain and expand their overseas empires in the nineteenth century?

This question focuses on the period of imperialism, when European powers and the United States expanded their empires across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. You will have a chance to investigate the motivations behind imperialism, such as economic gain and national pride, and assess the long-term effects on both the colonisers and the colonised.

What caused the First World War?

If your school opts for this one, you will study the complex causes of the First World War, including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. You will have the chance to examine the events that led to the war's outbreak in 1914, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Option B: The Twentieth Century - International Relations Since 1919

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

This question focuses on the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War. If you're exploring this topic, you will learn about the terms of the treaty, the political reactions to it, and whether the treaty was fair to all parties, particularly Germany.

To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

Selecting Option B will allow you to study the League of Nations, created after the First World War to promote peace and prevent future conflicts. You’ll examine its successes, such as resolving some international disputes, and its failures, including its inability to prevent the rise of fascism and the Second World War.

How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939?

In this section, you will assess the role of Hitler’s aggressive foreign policy in the lead-up to the Second World War. Key events such as the reoccupation of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria, and the invasion of Czechoslovakia will be explored.

Who was to blame for the Cold War?

If studying this topic, you have an opportunity to study the origins of the Cold War, focusing on the ideological, political, and economic differences between the USA and the USSR. You will evaluate the actions of both superpowers and their allies to determine who was primarily responsible for the conflict.

How effectively did the United States contain the spread of communism?

This question focuses on the policy of containment adopted by the USA during the Cold War. You have the chance to explore key events like the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, and assess the success of the US in containing communism.

How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?

With this topic, you'll have a chance to examine the extent of Soviet control over Eastern Europe, looking at events like the Hungarian Uprising (1956) and the Prague Spring (1968), and exploring how the USSR maintained dominance until the fall of communism in the late 1980s.

Depth Studies

In addition to the core content, all students must study at least one of the following Depth Studies:

The First World War, 1914–18

If you look at this topic, you will explore the causes, major battles, and outcomes of the First World War, focusing on key events like the Battle of the Somme and the Treaty of Versailles.

Germany, 1918–45

This depth study covers the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, the creation of a totalitarian state, and the events leading up to the Second World War.

Russia, 1905–41

If you're exploring this topic, you will study the 1905 Revolution, the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the establishment of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin.

The United States, 1919–41

This topic looks at the social, economic, and political changes in the USA between the First and Second World Wars, including the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression.

The Second World War in Europe and the Asia–Pacific, 1939–c.1945

If your school opts for this option, you examine the causes, major battles, and outcomes of the Second World War, including the conflict in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

What is Covered in Cambridge IGCSE History Papers?

• Papers 1 and 2 are compulsory for all students

• Students have a choice whether to take:

  • Component 3: Coursework

  • Paper 4: Alternative to Coursework

Revision Resources for Cambridge IGCSE History

At Save My Exams, we’ve got course-specific revision notes on Cambridge IGCSE History on a range of topics, along with part papers to allow you to practise your exam skills.

Cambridge IGCSE History: Revision Notes

Cambridge IGCSE History: Past Papers

Edexcel IGCSE History Topics

Edexcel has a staggering 21 topics to choose from! However, to help your understanding of this, Edexcel has broken these down into three key areas:

• Depth studies

  • A short period of world history where you get to explore specific events, regions, or periods in history.

  • Depth studies require you to know a lot of knowledge and be able to critically analyse.

• Historical investigations

  • Using sources and your own contextual knowledge to explain how the events and developments within this period.

• Breadth studies

  • A long period of history where you get to explore change and continuity, cause and consequence, and significance.

  • Each study has five topics with five themes that can be traced throughout them.

Depth studies

Edexcel IGCSE History students are required to study two depth studies:

1. The French Revolution, c1780–99

Within this topic, you'll explore the causes, key events, and outcomes of the French Revolution, including the increase of revolutionary ideas, the fall of the monarchy, and the rise of Napoleon.

2. Development of a Nation: Unification of Italy, 1848–70

This topic covers the unification of Italy, examining key figures like Cavour and Garibaldi, as well as the political and social changes that led to the creation of modern Italy.

3. Germany: Development of Dictatorship, 1918–45

If studying this topic, you have an opportunity to study the Weimar Republic, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, and the establishment of a totalitarian regime in Germany.

4. Colonial Rule and the Nationalist Challenge in India, 1919–47

This depth study looks at British colonial rule in India and the growing nationalist movement that led to India’s independence in 1947.

5. Dictatorship and Conflict in the USSR, 1924–53

If your school opts for this one, you will explore the rise to power and rule of Joseph Stalin, including the purges and the impact of his policies on Soviet society and international relations.

6. A World Divided: Superpower Relations, 1943–72

This topic covers the Cold War era, focusing on the relationship between the USA and the USSR, including key events like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Blockade, and the arms race.

7. A Divided Union: Civil Rights in the USA, 1945–74

This depth study involves investigating the struggle for civil rights in the United States, covering key events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Civil Rights Act, and examining the contribution of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

8. South Africa: From Union to the End of Apartheid, 1948–94

This depth study covers the history of apartheid in South Africa, focusing on the system of racial segregation, the resistance movements, and the eventual dismantling of apartheid in the 1990s.

Historical investigations

Students must study one of the following historical investigations:

The Origins and Course of the First World War, 1905–18

If you're exploring this topic, you will study the causes of the First World War, including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. The course also covers the key events of the war, major battles, and the consequences, including the Treaty of Versailles and the changes in Europe after the war.

Russia and the Soviet Union, 1905–24

This topic delves into the 1905 Revolution, the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the establishment of the Soviet Union under Lenin. You will learn about the rise of Bolshevik power, Lenin's policies, and the Civil War that solidified communist control in Russia.

The USA, 1918–41

This historical investigation focuses on the social, economic, and political changes in the United States during the interwar period. This includes the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the USA’s shift from isolationism to involvement in global events.

The Vietnam Conflict, 1945–75

This topic covers the causes and major events of the Vietnam War, focusing on the role of the USA and its military involvement. You will explore key battles, the impact of the war on Vietnam and the USA, and the eventual end of the conflict with the fall of Saigon.

East Germany, 1958–90

If studying this topic, you have an opportunity to examine the history of East Germany during the Cold War, from the refugee crisis and division of Berlin to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The focus includes life under communist rule, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the eventual reunification of Germany in 1990.

Breadth studies

Students must also study one breadth study in change. The available options are:

America: From New Nation to Divided Union, 1783–1877

With this topic, you'll have a chance to study the early development of the United States, including the challenges of forming a new nation, the expansion westward, and the tensions over slavery that led to the Civil War. Key events include the Missouri Compromise, the abolitionist movement, and the causes and consequences of the Civil War.

Changes in Medicine, c1848–c1948

This topic covers the major developments in medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries, including advancements in surgical techniques, the discovery of germs, and the development of vaccines. You will also explore the impact of war on medical progress, especially during World War I and World War II.

Japan in Transformation, 1853–1945

If you're exploring this topic, you will examine Japan’s transition from isolation to becoming a modern industrialised nation. This includes the Meiji Restoration, Japan’s imperial ambitions, and the events leading to World War II, such as the invasion of China and relations with the United States.

China: Conflict, Crisis, and Change, 1900–89

This topic focuses on China’s turbulent 20th century, from the Boxer Rebellion to the rise of communism. Key events include the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese Civil War, the rise of Mao Zedong, the Cultural Revolution, and the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

The Changing Role of International Organisations: The League and the UN, 1919–c2011

If your school opts for this one, you will study the role of international organisations like the League of Nations and the United Nations in maintaining world peace and addressing global issues. This includes the successes and failures of the League and the influence of the UN, especially in areas such as conflict resolution and human rights.

The Changing Nature of Warfare and International Conflict, 1919–2011

Choosing this topic allows you to examine how warfare and international conflict have evolved over the 20th and early 21st centuries. You will have the chance to explore new forms of warfare, such as nuclear weapons, and the impact of major conflicts like the World Wars, the Cold War, and the War on Terrorism.

The Middle East: Conflict, Crisis, and Change, 1917–2012

If studying this topic, you have an opportunity to learn about the history of the Middle East, focusing on key events like the establishment of Israel, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the rise of radical movements. The topic also covers the impact of oil politics, the role of foreign powers, and the ongoing issues surrounding the region's stability.

Diversity, Rights, and Equality in Britain, 1914–2010

This topic looks at the social and political changes in Britain regarding diversity and equality. You will study the fight for women’s suffrage, civil rights movements, and the impact of immigration on British society, as well as changes in law and public attitudes towards equality.

What is Covered in Edexcel IGCSE History Papers 1 and 2?

The content of Edexcel IGCSE History papers 1 and 2:

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IGCSE History Resources

References

Edexcel IGCSE History Specification

CIE IGCSE History Specification