How to Answer A-Level History Source Questions: The Four Sources in Cambridge 9489 Paper 1, Topic Rotations, and How to Write Comparisons and Judgments

Cambridge International A Level History (9489) Paper 1 is a source-based paper: it provides several primary sources and requires you to compare, evaluate, and determine the extent to which they support a given argument. It accounts for 40% of the AS grade, and 75% of the marks assess your ability to handle sources rather than how many historical facts you have memorized. We briefly introduced Paper 1 in How to Write A Level History Essays; this article provides a detailed breakdown: how the new syllabus is tested, which topics are examined each year, and how to read and write source-based questions. This is based on the 2027–2029 syllabus for 9489. The syllabus for Edexcel IAL History is not directly available on the official website (see How A Level History is Assessed), so this article focuses only on Cambridge; for the units and options in Edexcel IAL History, see How to Choose Edexcel IAL History Options.

I. How Paper 1 is Assessed (From 2027)

• Duration and marks: 1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks; accounts for 40% of AS and 20% of A Level;
• Options: Choose one of three options—Europe (Modern Europe, 1774–1924), USA (US History, 1820–1941), or International (International History, 1870–1939)—and answer one question;
• Sources: Each question includes four sources of different types, with at least three written sources and a maximum of one visual source (e.g., a cartoon, photograph, or poster); the four sources combined do not exceed 600 words;
• Two sub-questions: (a) Compare two of the sources, 15 marks; (b) Use all four sources and your own knowledge to judge the extent to which the sources support a given statement, 25 marks;
• Assessment objectives: Knowledge 25%, Sources 75%. The official definition of AO3 (Historical Sources) is: understand, analyze, evaluate, and interpret a range of historical sources in context.

Note on versions: Students taking the exam in 2026 will follow the 2026 syllabus, where Paper 1 is called the "Document Question," with at least three sources per question and a combined maximum of 600 words. The question format and marks are based on the 2026 syllabus.

II. Which Topic is Tested Each Year: Rotation Rules

Each option has three topics. The syllabus stipulates that each year, one topic is tested in Paper 1 as a source-based question, while the other two are tested in Paper 2 as essay questions; the topic tested in Paper 1 in a given year will not appear in Paper 2. The rotation provided by the syllabus is as follows:

This means you should first confirm the Paper 1 topic for your exam year. Practice the historical facts for this topic in conjunction with sources, and prepare the other two topics as essay questions.

III. (a) Compare Two Sources, 15 Marks

Syllabus example: Read Sources A and B. Compare these two sources as evidence about the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Official requirements:

• Compare the two sources, writing about both similarities and differences, and support them with content from the sources;
• Use contextual knowledge and/or source evaluation to explain why these similarities and differences exist.

Writing approach (practical tips):

1. Compare content first: For the issue asked in the question, identify which points are consistent and which differ between the two sources, quoting brief original text from each as evidence;
2. Then explain the reasons: Why are the accounts different? Look at the provenance—who wrote it, their identity, when, for whom, and why; then combine this with the historical context of the time;
3. Pay attention to "as evidence about" in the question: You are comparing the value of the two sources as evidence, not just the similarities and differences in content;
4. Compare within the same paragraph: Write point by point, mentioning both A and B in each paragraph, rather than writing about A first and then B.

IV. (b) Use Four Sources to Judge a Statement, 25 Marks

Syllabus example: Read all the sources. How far do these sources agree that economic problems were responsible for the growth of discontent before the Revolution?

Official requirements:

• Consider how the sources support and challenge the statement, providing evidence for both sides;
• Answer "how far," indicating the strength of both support and challenge;
• Explain how your answer and arguments relate to the statement in the question;
• Do not describe the content of the sources; instead, build an argument that considers both the view in the question and other perspectives.

Writing approach (practical tips):

1. Group first: After reading all four sources, categorize them into "support" and "challenge" (some sources may have elements of both);
2. The supporting side: Which sources support it, how they do so, and quote key words and phrases;
3. The challenging side: Same as above;
4. Evaluate the weight of the sources: Combine provenance and context to determine which sources are more credible and representative, thereby influencing the judgment of "how far";
5. Conclusion: Clearly answer "how far" and explain the reasons.

V. How to "Evaluate" a Source

AO3 requires evaluating sources "in context." Here are common angles (practical tips):

• Author: Identity, stance, whether they were an eyewitness;
• Time: During the event or after; what the situation was like at the time;
• Audience and purpose: Who it was written for and why—a public speech, private letter, government report, or newspaper editorial. Different purposes lead to different levels of credibility and bias;
• Content and known historical facts: Whether it aligns with the historical facts you know;
• Visual sources: Cartoons and posters often have a clear propaganda purpose; pay attention to the author, the publication, and the message they intend to convey.

Evaluation must be specific: Do not just write "this source is biased"; explain why it might be biased and how this bias affects its account of the issue in the question.

VI. How to Allocate Time

Here is some practical advice: 75 minutes for 40 marks. Spend about 10 minutes carefully reading the four sources and their provenance notes, making annotations; (a) about 22 minutes; (b) about 38 minutes.

VII. Common Reasons for Losing Marks

Here is a summary based on experience:

• Paraphrasing sources: Copying or rewriting the source content without analysis;
• (a) Writing only about similarities or only about differences;
• (a) Failing to explain reasons: Finding similarities and differences but not explaining them using provenance or context;
• (b) Writing only about the supporting side;
• (b) Not using all four sources;
• Vague evaluation: Only stating "biased" or "unreliable";
• Using the wrong topic: Not clarifying which topic is tested in Paper 1 for that year.

VIII. How to Practice

1. Confirm the Paper 1 topic for your exam year, focusing on organizing key figures, events, and context for this topic;
2. Practice provenance analysis: For each source you read, first write a sentence summarizing its provenance (who, when, why, for whom);
3. Practice comparison paragraphs for (a): One comparison point per paragraph, with A and B appearing simultaneously;
4. Practice grouping for (b): After reading the four sources, categorize them into "support/challenge" within two minutes;
5. Get the mark schemes: The syllabus states that (a) and (b) are marked according to the mark schemes in the sample paper mark schemes, combined with the indicative content for each question. Please ask your school teachers for these materials.

Final Thoughts

Source-based history questions do not test rote memorization, but rather using sources like a historian: comparing similarities and differences and explaining the reasons, judging the extent to which a set of sources supports a statement, and evaluating the value of sources in context. First, confirm the Paper 1 topic for your exam year, then practice comparison and argumentation according to the syllabus requirements, and you can confidently secure these 40 marks. If you need A Level History tutoring, feel free to chat with our teachers.

Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026: The duration, marks, weighting, options, composition and word limit of the four sources, marks and official answering requirements for (a) and (b), syllabus examples, assessment objective weightings and AO3 definition, topic rotation rules and Paper 1 topics for 2027–2029, and the instructions for marking according to the sample paper mark schemes are from Cambridge International's History 9489 syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029; the 2026 Paper 1 is a "Document Question," with at least three sources and a combined maximum of 600 words, from History 9489 syllabus for 2026. A public link for the sample paper mark schemes was not found on the Cambridge International website's course page. The Chinese translations of the topics are our own translations. The angles for source evaluation, writing approaches, time allocation, common reasons for losing marks, and practice methods are our practical tips.

References:

• Cambridge International: AS & A Level History (9489)