HISTORY PAST PAPER

QUESTIONS BOOKLET
(2015 – 2021) (OCT/NOV)
CHAPTER 1
2015
(b) Why did Shah Waliullah have such a major influence on the revival of Islam in the
subcontinent? [7]

2017
(c) Did Haji Shariatullah contribute more to the spread of Islam than anyone else in the
Subcontinent before 1850? Explain your answer. [14]

2018
(b) Why did Syed Ahmad Barelvi call for Jihad to overthrow Sikh rule in the early nineteenth
century? [7]

2020
(b) Explain why Shah Waliullah was an important figure for the Muslim community during the
eighteenth century. [7]

CHAPTER 2
2015
(a) Who was Robert Clive? [4]
(c) Were the invasions by the Persians and Afghans the main reason for the decline of the
Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14]

2016
(b) Why was Britain so successful in expanding its control of the sub-continent between 1750
and 1850? [7]

2017
(b) Why did the East India Company become involved in the Indian subcontinent during the
seventeenth century? [7]

(a) Who was Warren Hastings? [4]

2019
(b) Explain why the Mughal Empire declined following the death of Aurangzeb. [7]

2020
(a) Describe the Jizya tax. [4]

2021

1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A, which policies do some historians claim contributed to the increasing
instability of the Mughal Empire by the time of Aurangzeb’s death? [3]
(b) What can we learn from Source B about Mughal rule in India? [5]
(c) Explain why the Hindu community objected to the Jizya tax. [7]
(d) ‘The Marathan rebellions were the main reason for the decline of the Mughal Empire after
the death of Aurangzeb.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2 (a) Describe what happened at the battle of Buxar. [4]

CHAPTER 3
2016
(a) Who was Nana Sahib? [4]

2017
(a) Who were the Thuggee? [4]
(c) How far was Indian resistance to British expansion in the subcontinent successful before
1850? [14]

2018
(a) Who was Lakshmibai? [4]

2019
(c) Did educational reforms have a greater effect on the Indian people than any other changes
introduced by the British between 1773 and 1856? Explain your answer. [14]
2020
Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about the British in India during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A, why was Queen Victoria made Empress of India? [3]
(b) What can we learn from Source B about Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore? [5]
(c) Explain the impact of railways on the lives of Indian people in the nineteenth century. [7]
(d) To what extent were the different aims of Indian groups in 1857 the main reason why the
War of Independence was short-lived? Explain your answer. [10]
2022
2(a) Describe the military actions of Nana Sahib in 1857.(4)
2(b) Explain how Britain extended its control across the subcontinent between 1756 and 1856.(7)

CHAPTER 4
2016
(c) Was the development of a western education system the greatest achievement of Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan? Explain your answer. [14]

2019
(a) Describe ‘The Loyal Mohammedans of India’. [4]

2020
(c) ‘The “Two-Nation” Theory was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s main contribution to the
development of the Pakistan Movement during the nineteenth century.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [14]
2022
2(c) ‘Introducing a new approach to education was the main contribution of Sir Syed Ahmad
Khan to improving the lives of Muslim people during the nineteenth century.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
2021

(b) Explain why Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wanted to improve relations between the Muslim community and
the British after the War of Independence. [7]
CHAPTER 5
2018
(b) Explain why Urdu was chosen as the national language of Pakistan in 1947. [7]

CHAPTER 6
2015
(a) What was the Simon Report? [4]
(b) Why were the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms opposed by Indians in 1919? [7]
(c) How successful was the Partition of Bengal in 1905? Explain your answer. [14]

2016
(a) Describe what happened at Lucknow in 1916. [4]
(c) Was the partition of Bengal the main reason for the formation of the Muslim League in 1906?
Give reasons for your answer. [14]

2018
Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about the Pakistan Movement between 1909 and 1919.
1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A, what reasons are suggested for the introduction of the Defence of
India Act in 1915? [3]
(b) How does Source B help us to understand what happened at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919? [5]
(c) Why was India not granted self-rule by Britain in 1919? [7]
(d) Which of the following had the most important effect on the Pakistan Movement between
1909 and 1919?
(i) The Morley–Minto reforms, 1909
(ii) The reversal of the Partition of Bengal, 1911
(iii) The Lucknow Pact, 1916
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above. [10]
(b) Explain how the British reacted to Hindu-led protests against the Partition of Bengal between
1906 and 1908. [7]

2019
(a) What was Satyagraha? [4]

(c) Was the Simla Deputation of 1906 the most important reason for the formation of the Muslim
League later that same year? Explain your answer. [14]
2022
3(a) Describe the impact of Lord Curzon on India?(4)
2021
(b) Explain why the Congress Party opposed the Morley–Minto reforms of 1909. [7]

3(b) Explain why the Simon Commission of 1927 was unpopular?(7)

3 (a) Describe the events that took place at Jallianwalla Bagh in 1919. [4]

CHAPTER 7
2016
(b) Why did the Khilafat Movement emerge? [7]

2022
4(b) Explain why people joined the Khilafat Movement

2020
(a) Describe the Hijrat Movement. [4

2021
(c) ‘The imprisonment of its leaders was the main reason for the Khilafat Movement ending.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [14]

CHAPTER 8
2016

Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about the Pakistan Movement between 1927 and 1937.
1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A, why was there opposition to the Simon Commission of 1927? [3]
(b) What does Source B tell us about the negotiations during the Round Table Conferences
between 1930 and 1932? [5]
(c) Explain the importance of the Government of India Act of 1935 to the future of the
subcontinent.
[7]
(d) How successful were the provincial elections held in India in 1937? Explain your answer.
[10]

(b) Explain why the All India Muslim Conference rejected the Nehru Report in 1928. [7]

2017
Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about India 1927–1935.
1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A, what were Jinnah’s aims in his Delhi Proposals of 1927? [3]
(b) How does Source B help us to understand Indian concerns about the Simon Commission of
1927? [5]
(c) Why was Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal asked to chair the Muslim League at Allahabad in
1930? [7]
(d) Which of the following was the most important in the development of the Pakistan
Movement?
(i) The Nehru Report, 1928
(ii) Jinnah’s 14 Points, 1929
(iii) The Government of India Act, 1935
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above. [10]

2018
(a) What was the Communal Award? [4]
(c) Was the introduction of the Wardha Scheme the main reason why Congress rule
(1937–1939) was disliked by the Muslim community? Give reasons for your answer. [14]

2019
Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about Congress Rule in India between 1937 and 1939.
1 Study the sources (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
(a) According to Source A how did Jinnah want the Muslim community to act on 22 December
1939? [3]
(b) What can we learn from Source B about Gandhi’s ideas on education between 1937 and
1939? [5]
(c) Explain how Jinnah transformed the Muslim League between 1937 and 1939. [7]
(d) How successful were the 1937 elections? Explain your answer. [10]
(b) Explain why there were three Round Table Conferences between 1930 and 1932. [7]
(c) Were Jinnah’s 14 Points the most important development in the Pakistan Movement between
1929 and 1940? Explain your answer. [14]
2022
4(a) Describe the terms of the Nehru Report.(4)
4(c) To what extent did the Round Table Conferences (1930–1932) provide a solution to the
government of India? Explain your answer

2020
(b) Explain why there were three Round Table Conferences between 1930 and 1932. [7]

CHAPTER 9
2015
Section A
Answer the following question.
This question is about the steps taken towards the creation of Pakistan during the 1940s.
1 Study source A and source B (Insert) carefully and then answer the questions which
follow.
(a) According to source A, what were the problems facing India in 1940? [3]
(b) What does source B suggest about the attempts to solve the problems of the sub-continent in
1945? [5]
(c) Why did Congress and the Muslim League oppose the Cripps Mission in 1942? [7]
(d) Was the success of the Labour Party in winning the British General Election in 1945 the most
important reason why the sub-continent of India was partitioned in 1947? Explain your answer.
[10]

2016
(a) What was the June 3 Plan? [4]

2017
(a) What happened on Direct Action Day? [4]
(b) Explain why the Gandhi-Jinnah Talks of 1944 did not reach an agreement. [7]\

2019
(a) What was the Cabinet Mission Plan? [4]
(b) Why was the Cripps Mission of 1942 unsuccessful? [7]

2020
(b) To what extent was Direct Action Day more significant in the creation of Pakistan than
other key events of the 1940s? Explain your answer. [14]

2021
4 (a) Describe the Quit India Resolution. [4]

CHAPTER 10
2016
(c) Did Allama Iqbal contribute more to the Pakistan Movement than Rahmat Ali? Explain your
answer. [14]

CHAPTER 11
2017
(b) Explain why the subcontinent was faced with a refugee problem in 1947. [7]

2018
(a) Describe the refugee crisis of 1947. [4]

2019
(c) Why did Pakistan apply for membership of the United Nations in 1947? [7]

2021
(c) ‘By 1948 Pakistan had solved the challenges created by Partition.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [14]

CHAPTER 12
2016
(b) Why was there a constitutional crisis between 1954 and 1955? [7]

2022
1(a) This question is about Muhammad Ayub Khan’s rule, 1958–69.
According to Source A, what did Fatima Jinnah wish for the people of Pakistan?
(B)What can we learn from Source B about the relations between Pakistan and the USA in the
early 1960s?
1(c) Explain why General Muhammad Ayub Khan came to power in 1958?(7)
1(d) To what extent were the years 1958 to 1968 ‘A Decade of Development’? Explain your
answer?(14)

2021
(b) Explain why martial law was implemented in 1958. [7]

CHAPTER 13
2015
(a) What was Operation Searchlight? [4]

CHAPTER 14
2017
(a) What happened at Pucca Qila? [4]

2018
(c) In which of the following did Zulfikar Ali Bhutto have most success?
(i) Reform and control of the armed forces
(ii) Constitutional reform
(iii) Education and health reforms
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above. [14]
(a) What was the Eighth Amendment? [4]

(c) How successful was Pakistan in establishing a new constitution between 1947 and 1973?
Explain your answer. [14]
2021
(b) Explain why Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reformed education between 1971 and 1977. [7]

(c) To what extent was the Islamisation programme the most significant domestic policy introduced
by the government of Zia-ul-Haq between 1977 and 1988? Explain your answer. [14]

2019
(c) To what extent did Pakistan achieve a new constitution between 1949 and 1973?
Explain your answer. [14]

2020
 (b) Explain why it became more challenging for Zia-ul-Haq to govern Pakistan effectively
during the late 1980s. [7]
2021
(c) 5 (a) Describe the ‘cricket diplomacy’ of 1987. [4]

CHAPTER 15
2015
(b) Why was Benazir Bhutto dismissed from office a second time in 1996? [7]

2016
(a) Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power in 1999. [4]

2018
(b) Why did educational reform become such an important issue between 1947 and 1999? [7]

2020
(c) To what extent did Benazir Bhutto’s privatisation policy contribute to the government being
replaced in 1996? Explain your answer. [14]

CHAPTER 16
2015
(a) What is the Karakoram Highway? [4]
(c) How successful have India and Pakistan been in finding a solution to the Kashmir issue
between 1947 and 1999? Explain your answer. [14]
(b) Why did Pakistan support the Palestinian cause between 1947 and 1999? [7]

2016
(c) How successful was Pakistan’s relationship with the UK and the Commonwealth in the years
1947 to 1999? Explain your answer. [14]

2017
(c) How effective has Pakistan been as a member of world organisations between 1947 and
1999? Explain your answer. [14]

(c) To what extent was the relationship between Pakistan and USSR successful from 1947 to
1999? Explain your answer. [14]

2018
(c) How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with China between 1947 and 1999? Give
reasons for your answer. [14]

2019
(a) What is the Karakoram Highway? [4]

2020
(a) Describe the OIC. [4]
(c) ‘Pakistan has had good relations with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth since
1947.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [14]
(a) Describe the Security of Tenure scheme. [4]
2021
(c) To what extent has Pakistan been an effective member of world organisations since 1947? Explain
your answer. [14]