Social Sciences (History, Geography, Development Studies)
Core ideas
Social Sciences covers History, Geography, and Development Studies. In History, work with primary and secondary sources, chronology, cause and consequence, change and continuity, and different interpretations. In Geography, master map skills (scale, grid references, contours), physical processes (weather, rivers, plate tectonics), human geography (population, settlement, migration), and fieldwork. In Development Studies, understand indicators such as GDP, HDI, literacy, and life expectancy; the difference between growth and development; and sustainable development goals.
Traps
In History, avoid judging the past by today's values (presentism) and avoid assuming a source is unbiased. In Geography, check the scale bar before measuring distance, and remember that grid references are read eastings then northings. In Development Studies, do not treat GDP as a complete measure of wellbeing; explain its limitations. Distinguish correlation from causation.
Worked example
A map has a scale of 1:50 000. Two towns are 6 cm apart on the map. Actual distance = 6 cm × 50 000 = 300 000 cm = 3 km. If asked for time, divide distance by speed, not multiply.
Rule of thumb
For source questions, use OPCVL: Origin, Purpose, Content, Value, Limitation. For development questions, define the indicator, give a figure, and explain one strength and one weakness.