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Primary vs. Secondary Sources: TEAS 7 Cheat Sheet

By Emily Chen, B.A. English · Updated April 18, 2026

Student analyzing a historical newspaper and textbook for reading comprehension prep
What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?

A primary source is a first-hand, original account of an event created at the time it occurred (e.g., diaries, photographs, experimental data). A secondary source analyzes, summarizes, or interprets primary sources after the fact (e.g., textbooks, biographies, review articles).

The ATI TEAS 7 Reading section doesn't just test if you can comprehend a passage; it tests if you understand the origin of the information. Separating primary sources from secondary sources is a guaranteed question on every exam variant.

If you're unsure how these analytical questions fit into the broader reading timeline (45 questions in 55 minutes), review our Ultimate TEAS 7 Study Guide to see the full structural breakdown.

What is a Primary Source?

To identify a primary source, you only need to ask yourself one question: "Was the creator of this source physically present?"

Primary sources are the raw materials of history and science. They haven't been filtered, edited, or interpreted by an outside author.

Common Primary Sources on the TEAS:

  • Diaries and Journals: Written directly by the person experiencing the event.
  • Photographs: Captures the exact moment it happened.
  • Autobiographies: A person writing a book about their own life.
  • Original Scientific Data: The raw spreadsheets of data from an experiment.
  • Historical Documents: The Constitution, a marriage license, or a treaty.
💡 Tutor's Tip: Be careful with newspapers. An article written in 1912 by a reporter standing on the docks watching Titanic survivors arrive is a Primary Source. An article written today summarizing the sinking of the Titanic is a Secondary Source.

What is a Secondary Source?

Secondary sources are written after the fact. The author was not there. They are looking at primary sources and writing summary reports about them.

Common Secondary Sources on the TEAS:

  • Textbooks: A history book summarizing the American Revolution.
  • Biographies: A book written by an author about somebody else's life.
  • Review Articles: A magazine article summarizing several different scientific experiments.
  • Encyclopedias: Compilations of general knowledge.

📋 From the Tutor's Desk

The ATI loves to use the "Autobiography vs Biography" trap. During a mixed-subject review, my student Chloe saw a question asking: "Which of the following is a primary source?" She rapidly clicked "A biography of Abraham Lincoln." She missed the prefix. A biography is written by an outsider (Secondary). An *auto*biography is written by the person themselves (Primary). Always slow down and read the prefixes on source-identification questions.

Check Your Knowledge

Can you identify trick sources under pressure? Take our Free TEAS 7 Practice Quiz to test your reading comprehension skills against the 60-second timer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a photograph a primary or secondary source?
A photograph is a primary source. It captures the exact moment in time as it happened, serving as an unfiltered, original record.
Is a textbook a primary source?
No, a textbook is almost always a secondary source (or even a tertiary source). Textbooks summarize, analyze, and compile information from various primary sources after the fact.
How do I tell the difference between primary and secondary sources on the TEAS?
Ask yourself: Was the author physically present when the event occurred? If yes, it's primary (diaries, speeches, raw data). If they read about it later and wrote a report, it's secondary (history books, biographies, review articles).
What type of source is a biography?
A biography is written by someone else about a person's life, making it a secondary source. However, an *autobiography* is written by the person themselves, making it a primary source.

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