'Assess' & 'Evaluate' Questions (6–9 Marks)

'Assess' and 'Evaluate' questions are the highest-tariff questions on AQA GCSE Geography papers. They appear at the end of each major section and require you to construct a balanced argument before reaching a supported judgement. These questions separate grade 7–9 students from the rest. This lesson shows you how to approach them with confidence.

---

What Is the Difference Between Assess and Evaluate?

Although these two command words are similar, there is a subtle distinction:

Command Word	What It Means	Focus
Assess	Weigh up the importance, significance or extent of something	How far? How important? How significant?
Evaluate	Judge the effectiveness, success or value of something	How successful? How effective? How valuable?

In practice, both require the same skills: present evidence on both sides, then reach a conclusion.

Example Questions

• "Assess the extent to which urban regeneration has improved quality of life in a named city." (9 marks) — Assess focuses on how far the improvement extends.
• "Evaluate the effectiveness of flood management strategies in a named area." (9 marks) — Evaluate focuses on how well the strategies have worked.

Exam Tip: Whether the question says "assess" or "evaluate", the structure is the same: argue for, argue against, then conclude.

---

The Mark Scheme: What Examiners Are Looking For

9-Mark Questions (with SPaG marks)

Many 9-mark questions carry an additional 3 marks for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) and the use of specialist terminology. This means the question is actually worth 9 + 3 = 12 marks in total.

Level	Marks (out of 9)	Descriptor
Level 1	1–3	Basic. Isolated points with limited or no development. No clear structure or argument.
Level 2	4–6	Clear. Some developed points with evidence. An argument is emerging but the conclusion may be weak or absent.
Level 3	7–9	Detailed. Well-developed points with strong evidence (case studies, data). A balanced argument leading to a clear, supported conclusion.

SPaG Level	Marks (out of 3)	Descriptor
Low	0	Errors severely hinder meaning.
Intermediate	1–2	Generally accurate with some errors. Some use of specialist terminology.
High	3	Consistently accurate. Specialist terminology is used effectively.

Exam Tip: SPaG marks are essentially free marks. Write in full sentences, use paragraphs, and include geographical terminology (e.g., "multiplier effect", "sustainability", "food security").

---

The PEEL Framework for Extended Answers

Use PEEL to structure each paragraph of your argument:

Letter	Meaning	What to Do
P	Point	Make a clear argument or claim
E	Evidence	Support it with a specific example, case study or data
E	Explanation	Explain how the evidence supports your point
L	Link	Link back to the question — does this support or challenge the statement?

graph TD
    A[Point — State your argument] --> B[Evidence — Give specific facts or data]
    B --> C[Explain — Show how the evidence supports the point]
    C --> D[Link — Connect back to the question]

---

Structuring Your Answer

Recommended Structure for a 9-Mark Question

1. Brief introduction (optional but helpful) — restate the question in your own words and signal your argument.
2. Paragraph 1 — First argument (usually agreeing with or supporting the statement). Use PEEL.
3. Paragraph 2 — Second argument (can agree or begin to challenge). Use PEEL.
4. Paragraph 3 — Counter-argument (challenging or providing balance). Use PEEL.
5. Conclusion — Your overall judgement. Answer the question directly.

Time Allocation

For a 9-mark question (+ 3 SPaG), spend approximately 12–15 minutes:

Stage	Time
Planning (bullet points)	2 minutes
Writing (3 paragraphs + conclusion)	10–12 minutes
Checking SPaG	1 minute

Exam Tip: Spend 2 minutes planning before you write. A brief plan (3 bullet points with case study details) prevents waffle and keeps your answer focused.

---

Worked Example: Assess Question

Question: "Assess the effectiveness of strategies used to manage the impacts of tropical storms in a named area you have studied." (9 marks + 3 SPaG)

Plan:

• Prediction and warning systems — effective (Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines)
• Building design and sea defences — partially effective
• Limitations — poverty, corruption, scale of destruction
• Conclusion: effective to an extent, but LICs face major barriers

Model Answer:

Prediction and warning systems have been one of the most effective strategies for reducing the impact of tropical storms. During Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the Philippine government issued warnings 48 hours before landfall, and satellite tracking allowed the path of the storm to be predicted with reasonable accuracy. As a result, some coastal communities were able to evacuate, reducing the potential death toll. This demonstrates that early warning systems can be highly effective when they reach the population in time.

However, the effectiveness of these warnings was limited by the ability of people to act on them. In Tacloban City, many residents did not evacuate because they had no transport or nowhere to go. Furthermore, the term "storm surge" was not widely understood, meaning that people underestimated the danger. This suggests that while prediction technology is effective, it must be accompanied by public education and accessible evacuation routes to be truly successful.

Physical defences such as reinforced buildings and mangrove restoration have also been used to reduce the impact of tropical storms. The Philippine government has invested in building codes that require concrete rather than timber construction in high-risk zones. Mangrove planting along coastlines acts as a natural buffer against storm surges. However, the scale of destruction caused by a Category 5 typhoon — Haiyan's winds reached 315 km/h — means that even well-built structures can be destroyed. This suggests that physical defences can reduce damage but cannot prevent it entirely.

In conclusion, strategies to manage tropical storms are partially effective. Prediction and warning systems are the most successful because they can save lives, but their effectiveness depends on communication and the ability of communities to respond. Physical defences reduce damage but cannot withstand the most extreme storms. Overall, management strategies are significantly less effective in LICs like the Philippines, where poverty and infrastructure challenges limit the ability to prepare and respond.

---

Worked Example: Evaluate Question

Question: "Evaluate the success of an urban regeneration project you have studied." (9 marks + 3 SPaG)

Plan:

• Economic success — jobs, investment (London Docklands / Salford Quays)
• Social improvements — housing, facilities
• Limitations — gentrification, displacement, inequality
• Conclusion: successful economically, but socially mixed

Key Principles:

• Name your case study clearly at the start of your answer.
• Use specific data — numbers, dates, names of places or organisations.
• Balance — do not write entirely positively or entirely negatively.
• Conclude — answer the question: was it successful? To what extent?

Exam Tip: The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is almost always the quality of evidence and the strength of the conclusion. A vague conclusion like "it was partly successful" will score less than a specific one like "The Docklands regeneration was largely successful economically, creating over 120,000 jobs, but its failure to provide affordable housing for existing residents means that social success has been limited."

---

Common Mistakes in Assess/Evaluate Questions