← Social Studies syllabus

SingaporeSocial Studies

Source-Based Question Skills

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do I decide whether a source can be trusted, using its purpose, tone and who made it?

Assess the reliability of a source by weighing who produced it, why, and how its tone or content might make it more or less trustworthy
A scaffolded answer to the N(A)-Level Social Studies skill of judging reliability. How to weigh the author, purpose, tone and content of a source, why provenance alone is not enough, and how to reach a balanced judgement.
9 min answer →

How do I compare two sources and show whether they agree or disagree, with evidence from both?

Compare two sources for similarities and differences in what they say or suggest, supporting each point of comparison with matched evidence from both sources
A scaffolded answer to the N(A)-Level Social Studies skill of comparison. How to find genuine similarities and differences between two sources, how to match evidence from both, and how to avoid writing about each source separately.
8 min answer →

How do I work out what a source is really telling me, and show that working in my answer?

Make a supported inference from a source by drawing a conclusion that goes beyond the surface and backing it with specific evidence from the source
A clear, scaffolded answer to the N(A)-Level Social Studies skill of inference. How to draw a conclusion that goes beyond the words on the page, how to support it with exact detail from the source, and how to avoid simply copying or guessing.
8 min answer →

How do I answer the big how far do sources support question using the whole set of sources?

Judge how far a set of sources supports a given statement by sorting sources into those that support and those that challenge it, using evidence from each, and reaching a balanced overall judgement
A scaffolded answer to the N(A)-Level Social Studies how far do sources support skill, the highest-mark case-study question. How to group sources for and against a statement, use evidence from each, weigh reliability, and reach a balanced judgement.
9 min answer →