To what extent were Soviet policies responsible for the outbreak and development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?

A question that begins 'To what extent...' is often one of the better questions to answer in an exam paper, as it allows for the expression of your own opinion on the topic. A question such as 'What were the causes of...' could risk lapsing into a simple factual answer that would be unlikely to achieve a level 7 score.

It is very important to structure your essays well in an IB history exam, as the examiners will be looking to make sure that you have met all the criteria for each respective mark band. A good structure also lends weight to the argument itself, as it makes it seem like a clear and well-developed answer. In order to achieve a good structure, you must develop a proper plan for your essay. 

Come up with two columns, with one listing the main policies of the Soviet Union that led to the outbreak of the Cold War, and the other listing all other major causes. Remember that you have a time constraint and will only be able to make about 4 major points in your essay.

Let's take an obvious example of Soviet policy that led to the outbreak of the Cold War, which was the development of the Eastern Bloc in the aftermath of World War Two. Start by outlining it as a clear topic sentence at the top of the paragraph, so that the examiner can tell that you are making your first (or next) point. You would then want to state a couple of facts of how the Soviet Union annexed Eastern European states or pressurised them into adopting Communist regimes. The level 7 score though will be achieved in your evaluation of the importance of the point. I would argue that it was important in the outbreak of the Cold War, as it forced the United States to respond with its own containment policies, such as the Marshall Plan. This opinion is also good because it allows me to prioritise Soviet policy, in the development of the Eastern Bloc, over US policy. 

When writing your next point or paragraph, it is also important to try to link it to the previous paragraph. The reason for this is to show the development of your argument in the essay, as though each point were a brick in the foundation of a wall, and each brick is laid on top of the other. Try to avoid basic 'GCSE style' links, such as 'On the other hand...' A suitable paragraph to follow the Eastern Bloc point would be on the development of Allied zones in Germany, particularly the zones controlled by the USA, Britain and France in Berlin. This was bound to create tensions between the competing superpowers in Europe, and so tension over European influence was not simply a result of the creation of the Eastern Bloc.

For your conclusion, make sure that you not only summarise your argument, but that you prioritise what you think the major point or points are. Try to develop some originality in your argument, as it will indicate to the examiner that you have thought out the essay rather than simply going through a rehearsed answer.