Paper 1 · Compare and evaluate historical sources
Practise comparing two sources and using all four sources with knowledge to judge a claim. Scenarios are invented and are not authentic historical sources.
Section P1-SOURCE-SKILLS · Paper 1 · Compare and evaluate historical sources
Exam scope and assessment notes
Cambridge lists International History 9982 for schools in the United States only. It is assessed in 2027–2029, with June AS/A Level and November AS-only series, subject to administrative-zone availability. Original StudyForA teaching and practice. This is not an official Cambridge coursebook, question paper, mark scheme or grade prediction. Historical interpretations and source scenarios written for practice are invented and must not be treated as authentic historical sources or named historians’ work. Use the current Cambridge syllabus, specimen materials and class sources; teacher review of extended responses remains important.
Before you begin
- Know the relevant syllabus topic and date range.
- Keep invented practice material separate from authentic historical evidence.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
What should you identify before drafting?
What you will learn
- Compare source content and context; use all four sources and relevant knowledge to weigh support and challenge.
- Apply the paper 1 · compare and evaluate historical sources method to an original practice task and explain the evidence behind the response.
Part (a) · compare two sources
Identify a clear similarity and difference in what two sources say, supporting each with content. Use context or provenance to explain why their accounts may differ; do not treat date or identity alone as proof of reliability.
Part (b) · weigh the full set
Use all four sources and relevant knowledge to assess how far they support a statement. Explain support and challenge, link evidence to the exact claim, and reach a qualified judgement. Sample text on this course is invented, not Cambridge material.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
How should a judgement use evidence?
Worked example
Invented practice scenario: two fictional accounts discuss the Berlin Conference. One emphasises trade and navigation; another emphasises rival claims and occupation. How could you compare them and use a four-source set to assess a claim that the conference resolved imperial rivalry?
Show the worked solution
- Identify the exact command and scope.
- Select precise evidence and explain its connection to the issue.
- State what the evidence supports and what alternative or uncertainty remains.
Answer Compare the accounts’ stated similarities and differences, then use context to explain their emphasis. For the judgement, address the claim directly using all four sources and relevant knowledge, including both the conference agreements and later rivalries. These fictional accounts are invented teaching material and cannot establish historical facts. A real examination answer must analyse the supplied sources.
From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Invented practice scenario: two fictional accounts discuss the Berlin Conference. One emphasises trade and navigation; another emphasises rival claims and occupation. How could you compare them and use a four-source set to assess a claim that the conference resolved imperial rivalry?
Give me a hint
Break the task into its command, claim and required evidence.
Compare my reasoning
- Identify the issue and date range.
- Select a precise piece of evidence.
- Explain how it supports or challenges the claim.
Compare the accounts’ stated similarities and differences, then use context to explain their emphasis. For the judgement, address the claim directly using all four sources and relevant knowledge, including both the conference agreements and later rivalries. These fictional accounts are invented teaching material and cannot establish historical facts. A real examination answer must analyse the supplied sources.
Look for these in your work
- Answers the command
- Uses relevant evidence
- Explains a connection
Plan a response to this task: Invented practice scenario: two fictional accounts discuss the Berlin Conference. One emphasises trade and navigation; another emphasises rival claims and occupation. How could you compare them and use a four-source set to assess a claim that the conference resolved imperial rivalry?
Give me a hint
Choose a position, then select evidence that could challenge it.
Compare my reasoning
- State a provisional answer.
- Select at least two relevant examples.
- Explain how their significance differs.
A strong plan answers the task directly, selects evidence for the view and an alternative, and explains their relative importance. Compare the accounts’ stated similarities and differences, then use context to explain their emphasis. For the judgement, address the claim directly using all four sources and relevant knowledge, including both the conference agreements and later rivalries. These fictional accounts are invented teaching material and cannot establish historical facts. A real examination answer must analyse the supplied sources.
Look for these in your work
- Includes more than one perspective
- Explains relative importance
- Keeps within syllabus scope
Original practice claim: ‘One dramatic event explains an entire historical outcome.’ Evaluate the claim using the method for this paper.
Give me a hint
Distinguish a trigger from longer-term conditions and later decisions.
Compare my reasoning
- Identify the event and outcome.
- Compare the event with structural or alternative factors.
- Reach a qualified judgement.
A dramatic event may act as a trigger, but its importance depends on the conditions and choices around it. Compare the event with other evidence and qualify the conclusion. Any sample text in this skill lesson is invented and is not an authentic source.
Look for these in your work
- Tests a broad claim
- Compares alternatives
- Qualifies the conclusion
Common mistakes
- Retelling content without answering the command
- Using an unsupported judgement
- Treating invented practice material as authentic historical evidence
What can you explain now?
What makes an assessment response convincing?
Compare with the explanation
Relevant evidence, explained reasoning and a judgement that addresses alternatives.
A response must answer the command and use evidence appropriate to its paper.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
Check that each paragraph answers the command and every example has an explained link to the question.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.