'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.

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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