Extended Prose Questions (9 Marks)

The 9-mark extended prose questions are the most demanding questions on the AQA GCSE Geography papers. They require you to write a sustained, well-structured response that demonstrates depth of knowledge, analytical thinking and — where relevant — the ability to draw on case studies. This lesson focuses on the specific skills and techniques needed to achieve top marks.

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Where Do 9-Mark Questions Appear?

Paper	Section	Topic Areas
Paper 1	End of each sub-section	Natural hazards, ecosystems, physical landscapes (rivers/coasts)
Paper 2	End of each sub-section	Urban issues, economic development, resource management
Paper 3	Issue evaluation (pre-release)	Applied to a specific geographical issue

Each paper typically contains two or three 9-mark questions. Together with their SPaG marks, they can account for over 30 marks across the three papers — a significant proportion of your overall grade.

Exam Tip: Many students leave 9-mark questions to the end and rush them. This is a mistake. Plan your time so you have at least 12–15 minutes for each 9-mark question.

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Types of 9-Mark Questions