The document provides guidance on answering the essay question in the IGCSE Source Analysis paper. It states that students must analyze ALL sources in relation to the given question and cannot leave any sources unanalyzed. It explains that sources may support the statement, not support it, or provide no information. It recommends framing the answer by either analyzing sources individually or grouping sources by their stance. The introduction should state what will be analyzed. The conclusion should reach a determination based on whether more sources supported or opposed the statement. It stresses using outside knowledge to evaluate source reliability.

1. Source Analysis: Paper 2 – IGCSE By Prof. Lenny Ambrosini
In the IGCSE paper for Source Analysis, the last question is always an essay question.
In this essay question students are expected to analyse ALL sources in the light of the question
given as well as use their own knowledge of the subject in that analysis. This means that you
CANNOT leave sources unanalyzed.
In this case, the essay question is: “How far do the sources in this paper support the view that the
Soviet Union invaded Hungary in 1956 to help the Hungarian people?”
The sources analysed may:
a. Support the statement.
b. Not support the statement.
c. Provide no info as regards the statement. Statistically, the sources that provide no info on
the statement are always a minority. This means that if you have many sources that, in
your view, do not support the statement you should check again.
In framing your answer you may:
a. Analyse the essay question source by source.
b. Group the sources that support the statement and analyse them one by one. Then, group
the sources that do not support the statement and analyse them one by one. Finally, talk
about the sources that provided no info as regards the question.
The intro to this type of essay may very well be a line as simple as this one:
In the following essay I will analyse how far the sources in this paper support the view that the
Soviet Union invaded Hungary in 1956 to help the Hungarian people.
In the conclusion, students are expected to reach a conclusion related to the previous analysis
they made. Thus, if more sources support the statement rather than oppose it then you should
write your conclusion according to that.
IMPORTANT: Do not forget to use your knowledge of the topic when analyzing the sources. This is
what will make it easier for you to decide if a source is reliable or not and the reasons for its
reliability or unreliability.