TKGS 2026 SS PRELIM MS

TANJONG KATONG GIRLS’ SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2026 SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS HUMANITIES (SOCIAL STUDIES) Marking Guide Section A: Source-Based Case Study Question Answer Marks 1 Study Source A. Why was the cartoon published? Explain your answer. L1 Answer based on provenance [1] e.g. The source was published because the cartoonist wanted to comment on the United Kingdom's proposed ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. L2 Valid inference with Source Content [2] e.g. The source was published to show that some young people cannot imagine spending their time without social media. L3 Valid message/Outcome [3-4] Award higher mark for supported inference. Students must describe the source as evidence instead of copying the provenance. e.g. The source was published to show that many young people have become overly dependent on social media. This is evident from the child asking, "If we kids are banned from social media, what are we supposed to do all day?" while looking at a mobile device. The father's reply, "Read a book? Play a game? Look up?" suggests that there are many meaningful alternatives that the child has overlooked because of excessive social media use. [4] e.g. The source was published to persuade readers to support the government's proposed ban on social media. This is shown by the child asking, "If we kids are banned from social media, what are we supposed to do all day?" while looking at a mobile device. The father's response, "Read a book? Play a game? Look up?" suggests that there are many meaningful alternatives that the child has overlooked because of excessive social media use. [4] 5 Other accepted inferences • Obsessed • Addicted • Over-reliant • Over dependent

L4 Main message leading to intended outcome [5] The cartoonist's purpose is to persuade people in the United Kingdom that many young people have become overly dependent on social media, so that they will support the government's proposed ban on social media access for children under the age of 16 as a necessary measure to protect children. This is shown by the child asking, "If we kids are banned from social media, what are we supposed to do all day?" while looking at a mobile device. The father's response, "Read a book? Play a game? Look up?" suggests there are many meaningful alternatives that the child has overlooked because of excessive social media use. The cartoonist hopes the highlight that young people's dependence on social media has become a problem that justifies intervention. Markers comments: - Generally well done, with most students getting L3/4. - Accepted answers to get L3/4 must show the main message of the source or the purpose of the source ie: youths are addicted to phones / social media or to persuade readers to support the ban - Students need to address both the message and the purpose of the source in order to get L4/5. - Some students misunderstood the source and stated that the ban will have a negative impact on youths as they will be bored / have nothing to do. These answers are not accepted - Students need to remember that a valid purpose requires some form of audience action, “not oppose the ban” is NOT a form of audience action. - Similarly, answers that state that the cartoonist published the source to support the ban have not identified some form of audience action thus were not awarded the marks. - Students who explained that the purpose of the source was so that readers understand the reason for the ban also did not have their answers accepted, as understanding does not necessarily mean that they agree with the ban.

Question Answer Marks 2 Study Sources B and C. How far does Source B agree with Source C? Explain your answer. L1 Answers based on the provenance of the source [1] e.g. The sources disagree because Source B is adapted from a parenting advice website, while Source C is adapted from a discussion posted on the Reddit online discussion forum. L2 False matching [2] L3 Agree OR disagree in content [3-4] Award 3 marks for unsupported answers. Award 4 marks for supported answers. e.g. Sources B and C agree that parents have a responsibility to guide their children's use of mobile phones and social media. Source B states that "The best way to help your child with healthy and responsible mobile phone use is by being a role model" and recommends discussing rules with children. Similarly, Source C states that "parents absolutely should parent their children" and "Parents are responsible for raising their children." This means both sources believe parents have an important role in helping children develop responsible online habits. [4] e.g. Sources B and C disagree on who should be responsible for protecting young people from the harms of social media. Source B suggests that parents should take the lead in guiding their children's mobile phone use, while Source C suggests that governments also have a responsibility to protect young people online. This is evident in Source B which states, "The best way to help your child with healthy and responsible mobile phone use is by being a role model" and recommends discussing and agreeing on mobile phone rules with children. This means that parents play the main role in encouraging responsible mobile phone use. On the other hand, Source C states, "That's why governments regulate things all the time" and "Parents are responsible for raising their children. But they're doing so in an environment that none of us controls individually." This means that while parents have a responsibility, governments also need to take action to protect young people from the harms of social media. [4] L4 Both aspects of L3 [5] L5 Sources disagree in intention [6] e.g. Sources B and C disagree in intention. Source B was published to provide practical guidance for parents on helping their children develop healthy and responsible mobile phone habits. In contrast, Source C was published to persuade readers that parents alone cannot protect young people from the harms of social media and that government action should also be considered. [6] Marker’s Comments: 6 A bit contradictory Alternative BOC: both agree it’s important to regulate childrens’ phone usage Ƙ

1. Students who fail to establish agree / disagree = 0. You cannot use similar / different because this is not what the question asks for. 2. Agreement OR Disagreement – L3/4 Agreement + Disagreement – L4/5 3. Internal Contradiction – only awarded for one comparison. If the agreement BOC is ‘parents should be responsible for safe mobile phone usage’ then the disagreement BOC cannot be ‘whether parents are responsible for safe mobile phone usage’ 4. BOC – at least one needs to be about phone/mobile / safe usage online – because this is the issue of the sbcs. Both BOC cannot be abo