Succeeding at Sourcework exam tips

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• Hi Mr Allsop my name is Ahmad I wanted to ask you that how much reasons should we write in the ten mark question

  • The mark scheme says that for 7 marks you need to write one explanation on one side, and two on the other. For nine marks you need two well-explained arguments on each side.

• Hi Mr. Allsop, I am Yayra Sosu from Ghana. I have a paper 2 soon. How do you really analysis illustrations from a source paper. I watched your YouTube video on source paper by I want a clarification on the 5 ws and 1 h thing if I remember clearly. Thanks

  • You need to consider what you can see as well as what those features represent in the context of the image:

    What can you see?
    Who is shown? Who created it?
    When was it created / what was happening at the time?
    Where was it created / where is the image meant to be? (i.e. is it a foreign or a local comment?)
    Why was it created? What was the motivation of the illustrator?

    The 'H' is 'how far' - but this is very specific to the exact question being asked.

• Hi Mr.Allsop,

  In your 'top tips for exam revision' video, you stated that in a question that asks 'how far' sources agree, a main mistake was to state the similarities and differences of the sources as they are not the same as agreements/disagreements. However, in this video, you suggested making a comparative table of the similarities and differences of the sources. Perhaps you could clarify that bit?

  • Yes, I see how that can be a bit unclear. I have used the terms interchangeably, which I really shouldn't have done. In this video the 'similarities/differences' I'm really talking about the content of the source, which is therefore their agreements/disagreements.

• Thank you! My GCSE exam is this summer, and these podcasts are great! You condense the info and make it sort of fun. I very much appreciate it. Making notes and also using a revision guide.

• Thank you for all the great resources, and the clarity of your podcasts. History can be such a vast and therefore difficult subject to navigate through, but your advice has made me confident!

• Good Morning Mr A.
  Your site is new to me but I will be exploring it a lot more, I have left links to a few of your videos for my students here in Spain. Could you tell me, on a Paper 2, is there a recommended time for each question? Regards, Michael

  • Thanks for your message - I'm glad that you have found the materials here useful. In terms of time, I usually just suggest a maximum of 2-and-a-quarter minutes per mark, since that leaves a bit of time for checking the paper at the end.

• Dear Mr Allsop,
  I am writing from Bangalore, India. I am teaching IG History for the first time and was in jitters...... With your podcasts and valuable information I was able to cope with the portions and teach it effectively!!!!!
  Today, I can say that I love teaching History and my students show great interest too....
  When I am tired of listening to my voice, ( probably my students feel the same) we listen to your podcasts..... It is so clear and easy to understand.
  It is excellent revision material.
  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your great help and inputs.
  Malini

  • Hi Malini
    Thank you very much for taking the time to send such a flattering message! I'm really glad you've found my website to be useful in delivering the CIE IGCSE History course to your students. Good luck to them in the exams.
    All the best,
    Scott

• Hi Mr.Allsop,
  Thanks a ton!!!! Your podcasts on the Gulf wars are very very helpful in preparing the kids for exams.A request, do you conduct any workshop for History teachers taking up IGCSE curriculum? If yes please let me know very much interested to attend such session!!!Do think of it for teachers in India also.

  • That's very kind of you to say, and I'm flattered that you would be interested in me leading a workshop for IGCSE teachers. I hope that my podcasts will provide enough guidance, and I do plan to create more to cover every examination paper in the future.

• This website has been a life saver. I actually believe I can pass my mocks now. Please could you upload a written version of the podcast like your other posts, would be very helpful.
  Thank You

• I am truly thankful Mr All Sop for the guidance and tips for IGCSE PAPER 2 HISTORY, in this peak hour and very limited time for revision. It was tedious for books revision so I listened to your podcasts and I now have the idea and understanding concept to do the Paper 2. Thank you so much. I hope to succeed in that paper. Especially explaining the agreements on the sources. Thank you very much. Have a good day.

  -Lucas
  SINGAPORE

  • Hi Lucas, and thanks for your message. I'm glad that you've found my website useful. Good luck in your exam.