Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
HISTORY 9489/13
HISTORY 9489/13
Paper 1 Document question May/June 2026
Paper 1 Document Question May/June 2026
MARK SCHEME
1 hour 15 minutes
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
*
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
Published
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer one question from one section only.
Section A: European option
Section B: American option This mark scheme contains the instructions and marking guidance that our examiners used to mark
candidate responses for this component.
Section C: International option
*
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper, Before they start marking, examiners complete a standardisation process. They review a range of candidate
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet. responses and discuss the mark scheme in detail to agree which answers can and cannot be accepted.
Examiners award marks where it is clear that candidate responses have met the requirements of the mark
scheme. These requirements may vary between different components or different versions of the same
INFORMATION component, depending on the exact requirements of the question and the candidate responses seen during
● The total mark for this paper is 40. the standardisation process.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
Sometimes, our mark schemes may allow marks to be awarded to responses which contain elements that
are factually incorrect or for content not covered by the syllabus. We do this in response to the demands of a
specific question to support candidates and make sure that our assessments are fair. However, these
allowances should not be used as a guide for teaching and learning.
We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
together with the assessment material and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (EV/TC) 358590/2 This document consists of 14 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9489/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
Answer one question from one section only. General marking principles
Section A: European option All examiners must apply these marking principles when marking candidate responses.
The Russian Revolution, 1894–1921 1 Examiners must award marks for each response in line with:
1 Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. • the specific content defined in the mark scheme
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the level descriptions
Source A
• the standard of response required as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
I don’t want revolutionary phrases and slogans. We are agitating not by words, but by 2 Examiners must award whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
the revolution.
3 Examiners must award marks positively. This means that:
It is a mockery for our Central Committee members to talk of an international civil war when it
does not exist. There is a civil war in Russia but not in Germany. The German revolution has not • marks are not deducted for errors or omissions
yet matured. This will take months. • marks are awarded for correct/valid answers as defined in the mark scheme and also for
other valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme
Stalin is wrong when he says that we need not sign the treaty. These terms must be signed. referring to your team leader as appropriate
If you don’t sign them, you will sign the Soviet power’s death warrant within three weeks. • the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar are judged only when the mark scheme
These terms do not infringe on the Soviet power. The terms must be accepted. I have not the indicates that these features are specifically assessed in the question. However, the
slightest hesitation. meaning of all responses must be unambiguous.
From a speech given by Lenin at a meeting of the Bolshevik party, 23 February 1918. 4 Examiners must consistently apply the requirements of the mark scheme and any rules for
what to do when candidates have not followed instructions correctly.
Source B 5 Examiners must use the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme, unless limited by
the quality of the candidate responses seen.
Now, the only correct tactic is to wage revolutionary war against imperialism. In view of the
complete disintegration of the old army, the remnants of which are worse than useless, 6 Examiners must award marks according to the mark scheme and must not award marks with
revolutionary war in its first stage can only be a war fought by partisans. These will pull both grade thresholds or grade descriptions in mind.
the city proletariat and the poorest peasantry into the struggle. They will transform military
activities outside Russia into a civil war of the working class against international capital.
Such a war, whatever defeats it might bring in the beginning, would inevitably lead to victory
against imperialism.
Brest Litovsk’s terms isolate the centres of revolution from the producing regions which feed
industry. They divide the workers’ movement, destroying a number of its largest centres. They
undermine the policy of socialism and bring to nothing the international significance of the
Russian Revolution. They turn the Soviet Republic into a tool of imperialist policy and attempt to
disarm it by demanding that all military units be demobilised. This does not give the possibility of
a breathing space but places the struggle of the proletariat in worse conditions than ever.
From a speech entitled ‘Theses on War and Peace by opponents of the peace’,
given at the Seventh Bolshevik Party Congress, 6–8 March 1918.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9489/13/M/J/26
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 14
HISTORY 9489/13
HISTORY 9489/13
Paper 1 Document question May/June 2026
Paper 1 Document Question May/June 2026
MARK SCHEME
1 hour 15 minutes
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
*
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
Published
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer one question from one section only.
Section A: European option
Section B: American option This mark scheme contains the instructions and marking guidance that our examiners used to mark
candidate responses for this component.
Section C: International option
*
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper, Before they start marking, examiners complete a standardisation process. They review a range of candidate
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet. responses and discuss the mark scheme in detail to agree which answers can and cannot be accepted.
Examiners award marks where it is clear that candidate responses have met the requirements of the mark
scheme. These requirements may vary between different components or different versions of the same
INFORMATION component, depending on the exact requirements of the question and the candidate responses seen during
● The total mark for this paper is 40. the standardisation process.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
Sometimes, our mark schemes may allow marks to be awarded to responses which contain elements that
are factually incorrect or for content not covered by the syllabus. We do this in response to the demands of a
specific question to support candidates and make sure that our assessments are fair. However, these
allowances should not be used as a guide for teaching and learning.
We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
together with the assessment material and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (EV/TC) 358590/2 This document consists of 14 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9489/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
Answer one question from one section only. General marking principles
Section A: European option All examiners must apply these marking principles when marking candidate responses.
The Russian Revolution, 1894–1921 1 Examiners must award marks for each response in line with:
1 Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. • the specific content defined in the mark scheme
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the level descriptions
Source A
• the standard of response required as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
I don’t want revolutionary phrases and slogans. We are agitating not by words, but by 2 Examiners must award whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
the revolution.
3 Examiners must award marks positively. This means that:
It is a mockery for our Central Committee members to talk of an international civil war when it
does not exist. There is a civil war in Russia but not in Germany. The German revolution has not • marks are not deducted for errors or omissions
yet matured. This will take months. • marks are awarded for correct/valid answers as defined in the mark scheme and also for
other valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme
Stalin is wrong when he says that we need not sign the treaty. These terms must be signed. referring to your team leader as appropriate
If you don’t sign them, you will sign the Soviet power’s death warrant within three weeks. • the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar are judged only when the mark scheme
These terms do not infringe on the Soviet power. The terms must be accepted. I have not the indicates that these features are specifically assessed in the question. However, the
slightest hesitation. meaning of all responses must be unambiguous.
From a speech given by Lenin at a meeting of the Bolshevik party, 23 February 1918. 4 Examiners must consistently apply the requirements of the mark scheme and any rules for
what to do when candidates have not followed instructions correctly.
Source B 5 Examiners must use the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme, unless limited by
the quality of the candidate responses seen.
Now, the only correct tactic is to wage revolutionary war against imperialism. In view of the
complete disintegration of the old army, the remnants of which are worse than useless, 6 Examiners must award marks according to the mark scheme and must not award marks with
revolutionary war in its first stage can only be a war fought by partisans. These will pull both grade thresholds or grade descriptions in mind.
the city proletariat and the poorest peasantry into the struggle. They will transform military
activities outside Russia into a civil war of the working class against international capital.
Such a war, whatever defeats it might bring in the beginning, would inevitably lead to victory
against imperialism.
Brest Litovsk’s terms isolate the centres of revolution from the producing regions which feed
industry. They divide the workers’ movement, destroying a number of its largest centres. They
undermine the policy of socialism and bring to nothing the international significance of the
Russian Revolution. They turn the Soviet Republic into a tool of imperialist policy and attempt to
disarm it by demanding that all military units be demobilised. This does not give the possibility of
a breathing space but places the struggle of the proletariat in worse conditions than ever.
From a speech entitled ‘Theses on War and Peace by opponents of the peace’,
given at the Seventh Bolshevik Party Congress, 6–8 March 1918.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9489/13/M/J/26
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 14
