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

Type 1: "To what extent…"

"To what extent does migration lead to economic development?"

• Requires you to consider how far the statement is true.
• Must include arguments for and against.
• Conclusion should state your degree of agreement: largely, partially, to a limited extent.

Type 2: "Evaluate…"

"Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used to increase food supply."

• Requires you to judge how well something works.
• Must include evidence of success and limitations.
• Conclusion should give your overall judgement of effectiveness.

Type 3: "Assess…"

"Assess the impact of globalisation on people in LICs."

• Requires you to weigh up the positive and negative effects.
• Must consider different perspectives (economic, social, environmental).
• Conclusion should identify the most significant impact.

Type 4: "Discuss…"

"Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources."

• Requires you to present multiple viewpoints.
• Must cover at least two perspectives in detail.
• Conclusion should offer a balanced summary or judgement.

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Planning Your Answer

Before you write a single sentence, spend 2 minutes planning. A good plan prevents waffle, ensures balance and keeps you focused on the question.

Planning Template

Write three bullet points — one for each main paragraph:

Paragraph	Content	Case Study / Evidence
1	First argument (agree / positive / for)	Named example + data
2	Second argument (develop or begin to challenge)	Named example + data
3	Counter-argument (disagree / negative / against)	Named example + data
Conclusion	Overall judgement	Refer back to strongest evidence

Exam Tip: Write your plan on the exam paper — it will not be marked, but it keeps your thoughts organised. If you run out of time, the examiner may even give some credit for a detailed plan.

graph TD
    A[Read the question carefully] --> B[Identify command word and topic]
    B --> C[Plan key points — 2 minutes]
    C --> D[Write Point 1 with evidence and explanation]
    D --> E[Write Point 2 with evidence and explanation]
    E --> F[Write Point 3 with evidence and explanation]
    F --> G[Write a conclusion — balanced judgement]
    G --> H[Review and check spelling]

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Writing the Introduction

An introduction is optional for a 9-mark question, but a brief opening sentence can help frame your argument.

Good introduction: "Tropical storms have devastating impacts on communities, but the extent of their effects depends on the level of economic development and the preparedness of the affected region."

Bad introduction: "In this essay I am going to talk about tropical storms and their impacts." — This wastes time and adds nothing.

Keep it to one or two sentences at most. If you are short on time, skip the introduction entirely and go straight into your first point.

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Writing Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should be a mini-argument with four components:

The PEEL Structure

Point: "One significant impact of deforestation in tropical rainforests is the loss of biodiversity."

Evidence: "In the Amazon rainforest, it is estimated that deforestation has contributed to the extinction of numerous plant and animal species, with approximately 17% of the forest lost over the past 50 years."

Explanation: "As large areas of forest are cleared for cattle ranching and soy farming, the habitats of countless species are destroyed. Many species are endemic to specific areas of the rainforest and cannot survive elsewhere, meaning that habitat loss directly leads to population decline and eventual extinction."

Link: "This demonstrates that deforestation has an extremely significant environmental impact, as biodiversity loss is irreversible and has long-term consequences for ecosystem stability."

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Writing a Strong Conclusion

The conclusion is where you earn your top-level marks. It must:

1. Answer the question directly — do not leave the examiner guessing.
2. Refer back to your evidence — explain which argument was strongest.
3. Make a judgement — use evaluative language.

Strong Conclusion Examples

• "Overall, tropical storms have a far greater impact on LICs than HICs because the lack of infrastructure, limited warning systems and high levels of poverty mean that communities are less able to prepare for and recover from the destruction."

• "In conclusion, renewable energy strategies are effective at reducing carbon emissions in the long term, but their high initial costs and dependence on weather conditions mean that they cannot currently replace fossil fuels entirely. The most effective approach is a combination of renewable investment and energy efficiency measures."

Weak Conclusion (Avoid)

• "In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages." — This says nothing. It does not answer the question or make a judgement.

Exam Tip: Start your conclusion with "Overall" or "In conclusion" and immediately state your judgement. Then give one sentence of justification. This ensures you answer the question even if you are running out of time.

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SPaG: The Extra 3 Marks

On many 9-mark questions, an additional 3 marks are available for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar and the use of specialist terminology.

How to Secure Full SPaG Marks

Strategy	Detail
Spell geographical terms correctly	Practise spelling words like: erosion, deforestation, urbanisation, sustainability, precipitation, biodiversity, globalisation
Use full sentences	Avoid bullet points or note-form in extended prose
Paragraph your answer	Start a new paragraph for each new point
Use specialist terminology	Include terms like: multiplier effect, transnational corporation (TNC), carbon footprint, food miles, social deprivation, gross national income (GNI)
Punctuate correctly	Use capital letters, full stops, commas and apostrophes correctly

Exam Tip: If you are not sure how to spell a word, try an alternative word that you can spell. Do not leave a gap or write illegibly.

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Worked Example

Question: "To what extent do you agree that climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world today?" (9 marks + 3 SPaG)

Plan:

1. Climate change is a major challenge — rising sea levels, extreme weather, food insecurity
2. Other challenges — poverty, conflict, disease
3. Link — climate change worsens other challenges
4. Conclusion — largely agree, as climate change is a threat multiplier

Model Answer:

Climate change is arguably the most significant challenge facing the world today because its effects are global and long-term. Rising global temperatures, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, are leading to the melting of polar ice caps and thermal expansion of the oceans. This is causing sea levels to rise — the IPCC estimates that sea levels could rise by up to 1 metre by 2100, which would threaten low-lying countries such as Bangladesh and island nations like Tuvalu. Millions of people could become climate refugees, demonstrating the enormous scale of this challenge.