Secondary · History
The source-based question has a framework. We teach it.
History marks are lost in structure, not in knowledge. This class drills the SBQ and structured essay formats Cambridge rewards.
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Format
Live online via Zoom
Lessons
Weekly 1-hour lessons
Class size
Maximum 6 students
Taught in
English
Does this sound familiar?
Signs your child may need this class
- Revises thoroughly but the grade does not move
- Retells the source instead of inferring from it
- Struggles to compare two sources or judge reliability
- Writes essays that describe events without answering the question
Knowing the history is only half the paper
The source-based question does not test how much a student remembers. It tests whether they can infer, compare, weigh reliability and judge usefulness — skills with their own vocabulary and structure. Students who have not been taught that structure tend to summarise the sources, which reads as effort but earns very little.
How we teach it
Each type of source question is taught as a framework, practised, marked and practised again. Students plan before they write, since most weak essays are weak at the planning stage rather than the writing stage. Content revision runs alongside, so technique always has something concrete to work on.
Who teaches it
Mr Raymond
- Secondary Humanities specialist
- Teaches to the Cambridge source-based mark scheme
Students who know the content and still score badly are nearly always answering a different question from the one that was set.
What the class covers
- Source-based question framework — inference, comparison, reliability, utility
- Structured essay planning and argument
- Handling the bridging and hypothesis-testing question
- Content revision across the syllabus
- Timed practice under exam conditions
What's included
- Weekly live lesson focused on question technique
- Marked SBQ and essay practice with comments
- Model responses with the reasoning explained
- Make-up options if a lesson is missed
Questions parents ask
My child revises hard but History marks stay low. Why?
History rewards a way of using evidence, not the amount recalled. A student who describes a source without drawing an inference from it scores poorly no matter how well they know the topic. The framework is learnable and usually produces quick improvement.
Do you cover the essay as well as the SBQ?
Yes, both. The structured essay has its own planning approach and we teach it alongside source technique.
Is this class only for weaker students?
No. Students already scoring reasonably often gain the most, because refining evidence use is what separates a good grade from a top one.
Ask about S4 History
We will confirm current availability and let you know whether this class is the right fit for your child.
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