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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Evaluating sources & evidence

How often Evaluating sources & evidence comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 7 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Evaluating sources & evidence, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Evaluating sources & evidence.

(a)A report opposing a sugar tax is funded by a soft-drinks company. What should a critical reader question?
  1. Nothing: funded research is always neutral
  2. Possible bias from the funder's interests
  3. Only the length of the report
(b)What does 'currency' mean when judging a source?
  1. How widely it was shared online
  2. The money used to fund the research
  3. How up to date the information is
(c)A bar chart's vertical axis starts at 45% instead of 0%. What is the effect?
  1. Small differences look much larger
  2. Differences are hidden entirely
  3. The data becomes more accurate
Show the answers

(a) Possible bias from the funder's interests

(b) How up to date the information is

(c) Small differences look much larger

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Evaluating sources & evidence.

Higher Level

Asked on 7 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q2
2024Q2
2023Q2
2022Q2
2021Q1e, Q2
2019Q2
2018Q1l, Q2

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Evaluating sources & evidence questions

Evaluating sources & evidence, 2 marks

A report gives percentages but never says how many people took part. What key information is missing?

  1. The author's age
  2. The margin of profit
  3. The sample size
Show the answer

The sample size

Without the sample size you cannot judge reliability: 50% of 10 people means far less than 50% of 1,000.

Evaluating sources & evidence, 3 marks

A chart claims youth unemployment 'fell by half' but covers only two months. What is the main weakness?

  1. The data is qualitative, not numerical
  2. Too short a period to show a trend
  3. The axis starts at zero, not at the lowest value
Show the answer

Too short a period to show a trend

Short periods can reflect seasonal or one-off changes. A longer time series is needed before claiming a real trend.

Evaluating sources & evidence, 2 marks

What is 'cherry-picking' evidence?

  1. Choosing only data that supports your view
  2. Checking every source equally and fairly
  3. Using the largest possible sample of people
Show the answer

Choosing only data that supports your view

Cherry-picking hides data that points the other way. A critical reader asks what has been left out.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q3
2024Q1d, Q3
2023Q2, Q3
2022Q3, Q5
2021Q1e, Q1j, Q1q, Q3
2019Q1r, Q2, Q3
2018Q2, Q3

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Evaluating sources & evidence questions

Evaluating sources & evidence, 2 marks

Which of these is an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. The Dáil meets in Leinster House in Dublin
  2. The UN adopted the UNCRC in the year 1989
  3. Politicians do not care about young people
Show the answer

Politicians do not care about young people

A fact can be checked against evidence. An opinion is a personal view or judgement. In data questions, watch for opinions presented as if they were facts.

Evaluating sources & evidence, 3 marks

Why can the authorship of a source affect its reliability?

  1. Only books by politicians are reliable
  2. The author may want a particular outcome
  3. Longer names make sources less reliable
Show the answer

The author may want a particular outcome

Ask who wrote or paid for the research. A lobby group or company may present data selectively. Independent bodies like the CSO or ESRI are usually seen as more reliable.

Evaluating sources & evidence, 2 marks

When judging a source, what does 'currency' mean?

  1. How up to date the information is
  2. The money used in the country
  3. How popular the author is
Show the answer

How up to date the information is

Old data may no longer reflect reality, for example on housing or migration. Check when the research was done as well as when it was published.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society