Practice Exam Questions
Paper 3 is an essay paper based on the 12 Asian History topics of which students at Island School study three. The paper consists of two questions for each of the 12 topics. China and Korea 1910 - 1950 is one of those topics. Students must answer any three questions. Ideally you should answer one question from each of the three topics you have studied however you are free to answer both questions from a single topic. Paper 3 is 2 hours 30 minutes in duration which leaves about 50 minutes per essay question. The maximum mark for this paper is 45, with a maximum of 15 marks awarded per essay question. Try these exam essay questions from past papers:
REMEMBER! The new IBDP specification for first examination in 2017 will include new questions on Korean and Taiwanese history as part of the changes to this unit!
REMEMBER! The new IBDP specification for first examination in 2017 will include new questions on Korean and Taiwanese history as part of the changes to this unit!
May 2018 |
"Jiang Jieshi's domestic policies during the Nanjing decade (1927-1937) were largely successful." To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
With reference to the period up to 1950, evaluate the impact of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) on Korea. |
May 2017 |
Evaluate the impact of the May Fourth movement (1919) on China. |
"Brutal and a failure." Discuss with reference to Jiang Jieshi's rule in Taiwan up to 1950. |
Nov 2017 |
Discuss the factors that helped and hindered the rise of communism in China in the 1920s. |
"Japanese rule of Korea had an entirely negative impact on Korea's economy and society." To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
May 2016 |
Examine the impact of the 21 Demands (1915) and the Treaty of Versailles (1919) on cultural and political developments in China up to 1924. |
"Jiang Jieshi's (Chiang Kai-shek's) rule between 1927 and 1937 unified and modernized China." Discuss. |
Nov 2016 |
"The conflict between Yuan Shikai and the Guomindang, undermined the principles of the Chinese Republic." Discuss. |
"The importance of the Long March to the survival of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 1930s has been exaggerated." To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
2015 |
“The Long March (1934–1935) was a complete failure but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) managed to transform it into a propaganda victory.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
“Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) was a cruel leader who did little to address the needs of the Chinese people.” With reference to the period 1927 to 1937, to what extent do you agree with this statement? |
2014 |
Compare and contrast the aims and policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with those of the Guomindang, GMD (Kuomintang, KMT) during the First United Front (1924–1927). |
Evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used by the Guomindang, GMD (Kuomintang, KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against the Japanese during the Fifteen-Year War (1931–1945). |
2013 |
To what extent was the New Culture Movement (1915–1924), which included the 1919 May Fourth Movement, an intellectual revolution that changed the course of Chinese politics? |
“Jiang Jieshi’s (Chiang Kai-shek’s) rule in China between 1927 and 1937 betrayed the Guomindang’s (Kuomintang’s) ideals.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
2012 |
Why did the First United Front (1924–1927) between the Chinese Communist Party and the Guomindang (Kuomintang) fail? |
“The main reason why the Guomindang (Kuomintang) lost the Chinese Civil War (1946–1949) to the Communists was that they were exhausted after fighting the Japanese in the Sino–Japanese War (1937–1945).” To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
2011 |
In what ways, and with what consequences, did Yuan Shikai (Yuan Shih-k’ai) betray the 1912 Chinese Republic? |
"The Long March (1934 –1935) was a retreat that changed the destiny of China." To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
2010 |
To what extent was the May Fourth Movement (1919) significant in determining the future of China? |
To what extent did Jiang Jieshi’s (Chiang Kai-shek’s) government address the problems facing China in the period between 1927 and 1937? |
2009 |
“The role of Sun Yatsen (Sun Yat-sen) in the emergence of modern China has been greatly exaggerated.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
Compare and contrast the aims and policies of the Communists and the Nationalists in China during the First United Front established in 1924. |
2008 |
Analyse the social, economic and political impact of war on Japan between 1937 and 1945. |
Compare and contrast the attitudes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Guomindang (Kuomintang) to the First United Front (1924–1927). |
2007 |
In what ways, and to what extent, was Yuan Shikai (Yuan Shih-k’ai) responsible for the rise of warlordism in China in the early twentieth century? |
Why were the Communists able to defeat the Nationalists in China in 1949? |
2006 |
“The achievements of the Nationalist Government of China between 1928 and 1937 have been greatly under-estimated.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
Evaluate the contribution of the Long March (1934–6) to the final victory of the Communist Party. |
2005 |
'The May 4th Movement was of greater importance for China than the Revolution of 1911' To what extent do you agree with this assessment? |
Compare and contrast the policies and tactics of the Guomindang (Kuomintang) and the Chinese Communist Party during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). |