International History 9982
Explore international relations, Holocaust interpretations and selected depth studies. Analyse sources, causes and competing historical arguments.
What you'll cover
- Imperialism and the emergence of world powers, c.1870–1918
- A Level · Paper 3 · Historical Interpretations
- A Level · Paper 4 · International history, 1909–94
Published syllabus exam years: 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International AS & A Level International History 9982 syllabus map
2027–2029 syllabus · Version 2
7 of 7 official syllabus topics have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
This active Cambridge qualification is for centres in the United States of America only. The 2027–2029 syllabus is Version 2. June entries are available for AS and A Level; November entries are AS Level only. Availability varies by administrative zone, so confirm with Cambridge and the centre’s exams officer. StudyForA maps all seven official syllabus topics across AS and A Level to original teaching and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice. Four additional lessons teach paper skills and do not increase the syllabus-topic count. Topics 1–3 rotate between Papers 1 and 2 by exam year. AS routes use Papers 1 and 2; the full A Level adds Papers 3 and 4, either in a staged route or a single series subject to carry-forward rules. Practice responses are formative and are not official Cambridge questions, sources, marks, grades or examiner judgements. Original StudyForA teaching and practice. This is not an official Cambridge coursebook, question paper, mark scheme or grade prediction. Historical interpretations and source scenarios written for practice are invented and must not be treated as authentic historical sources or named historians’ work. Use the current Cambridge syllabus, specimen materials and class sources; teacher review of extended responses remains important.
For 2027, Imperialism is on Paper 1 and International Relations 1919–29 plus 1929–39 are on Paper 2; for 2028, International Relations 1919–29 is on Paper 1 and the other two topics are on Paper 2; for 2029, International History 1929–39 is on Paper 1 and the first two topics are on Paper 2. The Paper 1/2 rotation changes each year. June is available for AS and A Level; November is AS Level only. This qualification is for US centres and is not available in every administrative zone.
Choose your paper route
- AS Level onlyPaper 1 · Historical Sources + Paper 2 · Outline Study
Candidates take Papers 1 and 2 in the same series. The prescribed topic for Paper 1 rotates each year; the other two topics are assessed on Paper 2. June and November are listed series, subject to zone and entry availability.
- A Level staged over two yearsYear 1: Papers 1 and 2 · Year 2: Papers 3 and 4
AS marks may be carried forward under current Cambridge Handbook rules and time limits. Confirm the eligible series and entry option with the exams officer.
- A Level in one seriesPapers 1, 2, 3 and 4
All four components are taken in one series. June offers AS and A Level; November is AS Level only. Confirm administrative-zone availability before entry.
Cambridge recommends previous history study equivalent to IGCSE or O Level. Assessment objectives include historical knowledge, analysis and judgement, source analysis, and historical interpretations. StudyForA offers formative explanations, not source authentication, exam marking, grade prediction or specialist review of extended writing.
View syllabus coverage
All seven official syllabus topics are mapped to original teaching: three rotating AS international-history topics, the Holocaust interpretations topic and three Paper 4 depth-study topics. Each topic includes four mapped syllabus questions and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice with explained answers. Supplemental paper-skill lessons are listed separately and do not increase the topic count. Original StudyForA teaching and practice. This is not an official Cambridge coursebook, question paper, mark scheme or grade prediction. Historical interpretations and source scenarios written for practice are invented and must not be treated as authentic historical sources or named historians’ work. Use the current Cambridge syllabus, specimen materials and class sources; teacher review of extended responses remains important.
AS Level · Papers 1 and 2 · International history, 1870–1939
- Imperialism and the emergence of world powers, c.1870–1918AS-1
- International relations, 1919–29: conflict and cooperationAS-2
- International history, 1929–39: extremism and the road to warAS-3
A Level · Paper 3 · Historical Interpretations
- The Holocaust: responsibility, interpretations and responsesA3-1
A Level · Paper 4 · International history, 1909–94
- The Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe, 1953–91A4-1
- The end of minority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe, 1948–94A4-2
- The route to independence: Malaysia and Indonesia, c.1909–67A4-3
Supplemental assessment skill
- Paper 1 · Compare and evaluate historical sourcesP1-SOURCE-SKILLS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Paper 2 · Explain causes and weigh historical argumentsP2-ESSAY-SKILLS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Paper 3 · Analyse a historian’s interpretation and approachP3-INTERPRETATIONS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Paper 4 · Build a balanced depth-study judgementP4-DEPTH-SKILLS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- 1 hour 15 minutes · 40 marks · 40% of AS / 20% of A LevelPaper 1 · Historical Sources · 2 lessonsImperialism and the emergence of world powers, c.1870–1918Paper 1 · Compare and evaluate historical sources
One two-part question on the prescribed rotating topic: 15 marks compare two sources and 25 marks use all four sources plus relevant knowledge to judge how far they support a statement. Practice scenarios are invented, not Cambridge sources.
- 1 hour 45 minutes · 60 marks · 60% of AS / 30% of A LevelPaper 2 · Outline Study · 3 lessonsInternational relations, 1919–29: conflict and cooperationInternational history, 1929–39: extremism and the road to warPaper 2 · Explain causes and weigh historical arguments
Answer two two-part questions from the two topics not prescribed for Paper 1. Each question includes a 10-mark explanation and a 20-mark comparative judgement. Topics rotate by examination year; practice is formative.
- 1 hour 15 minutes · 40 marks · 20% of A LevelPaper 3 · Historical Interpretations · 2 lessonsThe Holocaust: responsibility, interpretations and responsesPaper 3 · Analyse a historian’s interpretation and approach
One 40-mark question on interpretations and approaches related to the Holocaust. The StudyForA sample extract is invented practice, not a real historian’s work or a Cambridge extract.
- 1 hour 45 minutes · 60 marks · 30% of A LevelPaper 4 · Depth Study · 4 lessonsThe Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe, 1953–91The end of minority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe, 1948–94The route to independence: Malaysia and Indonesia, c.1909–67Paper 4 · Build a balanced depth-study judgement
Answer two 30-mark questions from a choice of three depth-study topics. Practice is formative; no official marks or grades are awarded.
Lessons and worked examples
Choose where to begin
Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.
- 01
Imperialism and the emergence of world powers, c.1870–1918
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
International relations, 1919–29: conflict and cooperation
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
International history, 1929–39: extremism and the road to war
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
The Holocaust: responsibility, interpretations and responses
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
The Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe, 1953–91
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
The end of minority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe, 1948–94
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
The route to independence: Malaysia and Indonesia, c.1909–67
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Paper 1 · Compare and evaluate historical sources
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 09
Paper 2 · Explain causes and weigh historical arguments
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 10
Paper 3 · Analyse a historian’s interpretation and approach
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 11
Paper 4 · Build a balanced depth-study judgement
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started
These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
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Browse 7 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.