9489 · Cambridge International A Level
9489/23
Outline Study
History · June 2024 · Variant 3
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
4.2 / 5
200
360 min
Source-based evaluation of international diplomacy, domestic reform movements, and structural causes of global conflicts.
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
200
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
4.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
Success in Paper 1 hinges on a student's ability to move beyond face-value comparison.
In Part (a), candidates who explained why source attitudes differed (by evaluating target audiences and political agendas) comfortably reached the top level.
In Part (b), high-scoring responses consistently used contextual knowledge to test the reliability of source assertions, rather than treating them as undisputed facts.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Source-Based Evaluation
Weight: 7100%Thematic Essay Writing Writing
Weight: 571%Historiographical Analysis
Weight: 343%Deployment
Weight: 114%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 77% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 68% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 59% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 51% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 44% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “contrast” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Assess” questions.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.9
Min per mark: 1.9
Min per mark: 1.8
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 0.8
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
International option: International history, 1870–1945 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
35 marks this session
European option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
30 marks this session
American option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
30 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
European option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921
European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41
The origins of the First World War
The origins and development of the Cold War
European option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
American option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
International option: International history, 1870–1945 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 Document Question:
Paper 2 Outline Study:
Paper 3 Interpretations Question:
Paper 4 Depth Study:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
International option: International history, 1870–1945 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
35 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEuropean option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAmerican option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941 (Papers 1 and 2 (AS Level))
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
Success in Paper 1 hinges on a student's ability to move beyond face-value comparison.
- 2Message
In Part (a), candidates who explained why source attitudes differed (by evaluating target audiences and political agendas) comfortably reached the top level.
- 3Message
In Part (b), high-scoring responses consistently used contextual knowledge to test the reliability of source assertions, rather than treating them as undisputed facts.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
History
Success in Paper 1 hinges on a student's ability to move beyond face-value comparison. In Part (a), candidates who explained why source attitudes differed (by evaluating target audiences and political agendas) comfortably reached the top level. In Part (b), high-scoring responses
Success in Paper 1 hinges on a student's ability to move beyond face-value comparison.
In Part (a), candidates who explained why source attitudes differed (by evaluating target audiences and political agendas) comfortably reached the top level.
In Part (b), high-scoring responses consistently used contextual knowledge to test the reliability of source assertions, rather than treating them as undisputed facts.
- Total marks
- 200
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 4.2 / 5
Session analysis
Success in Paper 1 hinges on a student's ability to move beyond face-value comparison. In Part (a), candidates who explained why source attitudes differed (by evaluating target audiences and political agendas) comfortably reached the top level. In Part (b), high-scoring responses consistently used contextual knowledge to test the reliability of source assertions, rather than treating them as undisputed facts.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 Document Question:
Paper 2 Outline Study:
Paper 3 Interpretations Question:
Paper 4 Depth Study:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
70% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Paper 4)
60·2·34%
Paper 2)
40·2·23%
Paper 3)
40·1·23%
Paper 2)
20·2·11%
200marksSource-based Comparison
(Part a)
15·1·9%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1: Source-bas
1.33 m/minPaper 1: Source-bas
0.50 m/minPaper 2: Explanator
0.67 m/minPaper 2: Evaluative
0.53 m/minPaper 3: Historiogr
0.53 m/minPaper 4: Depth Stud
0.57 m/minTotal marks
205
Total time
350 min
Avg pace
0.59
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
American Option: The New Deal structural policies and controversies
88%88%
European Option: French Revolution (The Terror and Robespierre)
82%82%
International Option: League of Nations 1930s successes and failures
78%78%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Primary-Source Trap on Paper 3: A recurring pitfall was treating the historian's secondary extract as if it were a primary source, cross-examining it for personal 'bias' or 'unreliability' rather than decoding its academic historiographical approach.
- Symmetric Comparison Failure: In Paper 1 Part (a), weaker responses failed to compare the sources directly, instead discussing Source A in isolation followed by Source B. Comparison must be active and integrated.
- Chronological Narrative Over Analysis: In Papers 2 and 4, many candidates wrote detailed chronological descriptions of events (such as the course of the Spanish Civil War or the Weimar years) rather than structuring their answers around the analytical prompt.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 45min
- Total marks
- 60
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.