How should I approach a primary source question in an exam?

These kinds of questions could ask you to analyse a piece of contemporary text, a picture or an object. However, the way you would go about answering the question would be the same whatever the source, and the first thing to remember is keep calm and give yourself a minute to properly look at and think about the source. I would divide my answer up into at least two paragraphs. The first section should analyse the source itself. Briefly describe what you can see, but then analyse it in more depth - why does it portray something in a certain way? What was its purpose, and who was it aimed at? Who was the author or painter, and did they have an agenda which means the source is biased towards one point of view? It's really important to show that you aren't just accepting the source at face value, but thinking critically about it and why it looks the way it does. In the second half of your answer, you should expand outwards and think about what this source tells us about the period it comes from more generally. What was going on at this time, and how is this source linked? By connecting the source to wider historical issues, you show an in-depth awareness which examiners are looking for in these answers.

So, to be brief, split your answer into two parts and think as much as you can about the source itself and its historical background. Ask yourself: what (is it)?, who (produced it, and who for)?, why (was it produced)?, when (was it produced; what else was going on)? Answer as clearly as you can in short, concise sentences. My last piece of advice would be to practice as many source questions as you can when revising. The chances are that you'll get something similar in your exam!