How should I answer a source-based exam question?

Source-based exam questions typically make up about half of the examined questions at GCSE level History. They can seem pretty challenging and confusing at first, but if you answer them in a structured way you will be fine!Firstly, you want to identify what the source is. Is it a cartoon? A newspaper article? A photograph? Or an official document? It may seem obvious but it is important that you include this, even if very briefly, in your answer. You then want to identify the author, the audience, and when and where it was created/published. By doing this quickly at the start of each question you have the information you need to effectively analyse the source and answer the relevant questions. The next step is to assess how each of these points influences the creation of and reception to the source. Every source has a purpose, and you are being examined on your ability to find out what the purpose is and how this relates to the question being asked. Is it designed to persuade, to inform, or to amuse the audience? This is where the author and the audience are important. No author is entirely objective, but some will have a greater tendency to exaggerate or emphasise one point of view over another. Is the author a name you recognise? Are there any hints about who they may be? Once you have got an idea, think about how this would affect the writing of the source. Does it affect what information is included, or the way that it is presented?Finally, relate the purpose of the source to the date and location of the source. Work out where this date fits into what you know about the period. Is it just before or just after a major event? Can you position any aspect of the source within the context that it is being written in? Do any of the points that are mentioned link to something that is happening at the time it was written or published? By thinking through and gathering all of this information you'll be able to find points that you'll be able to explore further in your answer. You don't need to unravel each point, sometimes the audience, for example, won't need more than a brief mention, but other times it might be able to unlock an argument strong enough to get you the grade you want!