Fiducia TogetherSource-based questions in history
The standard question types on a source paper, and what each rewards.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Source papers typically ask what a source suggests, how useful it is, why two sources differ, and how far sources support a statement.
Where it applies
GCSE and A Level history.
How it works
Each question type has its own mark scheme and its own required moves — inference for 'what does it suggest', provenance and knowledge for utility, context for 'why do they differ'.
How to use it in your work
Learn what each question type rewards and write to it. Applying a utility structure to an inference question wastes time and marks.
Inference means going beyond what the source says to what it implies, supported by a quotation.
For 'how far do the sources support', use every source given and reach a judgement.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification and mark scheme.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The History Song The GCSE history topics, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.