P2.A AO1 — Identifying and Synthesising Evidence Across Two Sources
AO1 in Paper 2 Section A tests your ability to:
- Identify explicit and implicit information from both non-fiction sources
- Synthesise — draw together information from both sources to make a comparison
AO1 appears primarily in Questions 1 and 3 of Paper 2.
Q1 — Single source retrieval (4 marks)
List four pieces of information from Source A about [a stated topic]. This is the same skill as Paper 1 Q1 — retrieve explicit information, paraphrase or quote, ensure four distinct points.
Q3 — Cross-source synthesis (4 marks)
"Use details from both sources. Write a summary of the differences/similarities between X in Source A and Source B."
This requires synthesis — drawing on BOTH sources and making connections between them. Steps:
- Read the Q3 question carefully — what aspect are you comparing?
- Find 2–3 differences (or similarities) supported by evidence from each source
- Write each as a clear statement with brief supporting evidence
- Do NOT analyse language — this is AO1, not AO2
✦Worked example— Example Q3 structure
"In Source A, the writer suggests [point A1], whereas in Source B, the writer implies [point B1]."
Use connectives of contrast (whereas, while, however, on the other hand) and similarity (similarly, both sources suggest, equally).
Common Q3 errors
- Giving the same difference in two different ways (not two distinct differences)
- Starting to analyse language (save this for Q4)
- Only writing about one source rather than synthesising both
- Being too vague: "Source A is different from Source B" — no evidence
Higher-order synthesis skills
At higher levels of AO1, examiners reward inferred synthesis — identifying implications or what is suggested across both sources, not just what is explicitly stated. Example: Both writers imply a sense of nostalgia for the past, though neither uses the word.
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