Which of these is a primary source?

A soldier's diary written in the trenches

Which of these is a secondary source?

A textbook chapter explaining the causes of a war

Research and evidence: notes, sources and reliability

Strong arguments, reports and essays are built on evidence. Knowing how to find it, judge it, take notes and use it honestly is a skill you will need at GCSE and far beyond.

Key Stage 3
About 13 minutes

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Primary and secondary sources

Primary sources are first-hand: a diary, a letter, an eyewitness account, a photograph, the results of a survey you carried out.
Secondary sources explain or analyse other sources: a textbook, an encyclopedia article, a documentary.
Both are useful. Always check how reliable they are.

Is it reliable? Ask five questions

Question	Why it matters
Who wrote it?	An expert or an official body is usually more trustworthy than an anonymous post
When was it written?	Facts and figures can go out of date
Why was it written?	Is it trying to sell, persuade or inform?
What evidence does it give?	Look for data and sources, not just opinion
Do other sources agree?	Check facts in more than one reliable place

Notes and honesty

Notes: write key words and short phrases, not whole sentences. Use headings, bullet points and abbreviations.
Paraphrase: put ideas into your own words.
Quote: use speech marks for exact words, and say where they came from.
Plagiarism is copying someone else's work and passing it off as your own. Always credit your sources.

Worked example

Turn this sentence into brief notes: 'The Great Fire of London began on 2 September 1666 in a bakery on Pudding Lane and burned for several days.'

Pick out the key facts: what, when, where, how long.
Cut extra words.
Use a short, list-like style.

Answer: Great Fire of London: began 2 Sept 1666, bakery, Pudding Lane; burned several days.

Key idea

Primary sources are first-hand; secondary sources explain others. Judge reliability by asking who, when, why, what evidence, and whether other sources agree. Take brief notes, paraphrase, credit sources and avoid plagiarism.

Key words

Evidence: A quotation or detail from a text that supports your point.
Speech marks: Marks (' ' or " ") around the exact words someone says. The punctuation of the speech goes inside them.

All KS3 English key terms and definitions →

Quick check

Try two quick questions

See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.

Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

Which is a primary source about the Blitz?
1. A 2020 history website
2. A school textbook
3. A photograph taken in London in 1940
4. A documentary made in 2015
Show the answer
Answer: A photograph taken in London in 1940
It was created at the time.
Which is a secondary source about Victorian schools?
1. A modern book explaining Victorian education
2. A Victorian pupil's exercise book
3. A school register from 1880
4. A photograph of a classroom in 1890
Show the answer
Answer: A modern book explaining Victorian education
Secondary sources explain later.

Check you have got it

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All KS3 English lessons

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 17 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.