How to Score Well in Olevel/Nlevel History Source Based Case Study

9/16/20245 min read

person writing on brown wooden table near white ceramic mug
person writing on brown wooden table near white ceramic mug

This blog post is to help students be equipped with strategies to do well in their source base questions. This is for those who are taking the Singapore Elective History and the Pure History Syllabus.

O’Level Source Based Question and Investigation and IGCSE Document questions aren’t much different when it comes to answering techniques and how to effectively do well in these questions. I agree, investigating and analyzing sources seems to be much more difficult in comparison to memorizing essays for your Paper 1.

Table of content

  • Check the Syllabus

  • Understand the Content

  • Understand the different motivations of the main actors

  • Memorise Question Types

  • Support your answers with details from the source

  • Be Specific in your explanation

  • Use Background Knowledge

  • Use the Inquiry Question to your advantage

Check the Syllabus

Check the syllabus online and find out what they will test for the upcoming year. In 2024, Document Questions or Sourced Based Case Study will focus on these topics

  • Singapore GCE Olevel Elective History 2261

    • Case Study of Nazi Germany*

    • Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe*

    • The Cold War: Origins and development of the Cold War in Europe*

    • Extension of the Cold War outside Europe: Case study of Korean War, 1950–1953*

  • Singapore GCE Olevel (Pure) History 2174

    • British Malaya, 1870s–1920s (Compulsory)* Colonisation

    • Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe*

    • The Cold War: Origins and development of the Cold War in Europe

    • Extension of the Cold War outside Europe: Case study of Korean War, 1950–1953

    • British Malaya, 1945–1957 (Compulsory)* Decolonisation

Now you have a rough gauge of the possible case studies that will be coming up for the upcoming examinations.

Understand the Content

This is quite simple. You need to know the content from studying in your own revision time to fully understand and appreciate the sources.

Let’s look at the Cold War and the most important themes within this. Theme (1): The two superpowers have an ideological conflict and tension, dividing the world into two blocs of influence.

During the Cold War, Harry Truman was the United States’s president. Harry Truman’s policies were important in shaping the Cold War such as the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. For context, the Marshall Plan was a policy intention to economically restore Western Europe through financial support.

Consider why Harry Truman enacted the Marshall Plan. Do you think Harry Truman/USA has good intentions? No! His primary motivation was to prevent communism. His reason was that when a country is economically weak, they are more vulnerable to communism.

So, based on what the source talks about, we can figure out the political situation it comes from. This helps us analyze the source more accurately.

Understand the different motivations of the actors

Understanding why key players do what they do is like figuring out the reasons behind characters’ actions in a story. Think of it as trying to figure out why characters in a movie make specific choices. In history, it’s about getting inside the minds of the key players and understanding what influences their decisions

Take, for instance, John F. Kennedy’s Naval Blockade Speech on October 22, 1962. Kennedy wanted Americans to know that the communists were a big military threat. He thought they needed to act right away. The purpose of his speech was to gain support from the American people for his decision to enforce the naval blockade.

Everything Kennedy did or said was to curb communism because he viewed it as a threat.

Whereas according to Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet Union had a duty to safeguard the safety of its allies against aggressors.

Create Timelines

Creating a timeline will be very useful. Depending on the case studies, create timelines for the important events and political circumstances during that period.

Add the dates and explain why each event is important. This helps you know when things happen and why they matter in politics. It’s like connecting the dots to get the whole picture!

Memorise Question Types

Take the time to remember and learn how to approach each type of question, including the right steps to answer them effectively. Knowing each question type will boost your confidence during the exam as it allows you to tackle them efficiently.

Support your answers with details from the source

Now, we just went through the possible ways to better prepare the paper. How do we then make sure that our answers are accurate? If you’re figuring out what the source is saying, use specific details from the source to explain why you think that. Your answers become strong because they’re not just your thoughts; they rely on what the source says. This makes your conclusions trustworthy and well-supported.

Be Specific in your explanation

Make your answer super clear by giving specific details. For example, if the source talks about the Soviet Union building up weapons, a good way to put it is, “The Soviet Union seems aggressive in this source because they placed new missiles in Cuba, making the United States feel threatened.” Avoid vague phrases like saying, “The source shows that the Soviet Union is aggressive,” because it’s not clear and lacks specifics.

Always link your interpretation back to the main idea of the paragraph. This helps to reinforce what you’re saying and keeps everything connected. So, when you’re explaining a source, make sure your words tie back to the big picture or the main point you’re trying to make.

Use Background Knowledge

Use background knowledge or relevant context to support your point. When you’re talking about the context of a source, keep it simple and clear. First, mention the date and who wrote it. If the source has a specific date, talk about important things happening around that time, like naval blockades.

Don’t just give a vague time frame unless the source (provenance) says something general like “during Cuban Missile Crisis OR 1960.” Always link what you’re saying to our main idea!

For example, if you’re dealing with Stalin’s show trials, focus on that. Talk about what was happening during those trials, like the political situation and why they were taking place.

Remember to provide specific details for every part of the source. For example like who made it, why they made it, and what kind of source it is—especially if it’s a poster or cartoon. This way, you’re giving a clear picture of when, who, and why, making your analysis stronger.

Use the Inquiry Question to your advantage

Make the most of the Inquiry Question! This means using the question as a guide to help shape and direct your response. When you see the Inquiry Question, let it guide your thinking and structure your answer around it.

When you do this, you make sure your answer talks about what they’re asking, making it clear and on point. In essence, leverage the Inquiry Question as a tool to guide and enhance your overall response

Conclusion

Nlevel/Olevel HIstory Paper or Source Based Case Study does not have to be difficult! It is important to prep well for the examinations! If you understand the background information during your revision, it’ll boost your chances of getting a good score. All the best for your exams and take care!