Issue Evaluation and Decision Making
What is the Issue Evaluation?
Paper 3 of the AQA GCSE Geography exam includes an Issue Evaluation section. You will receive a pre-release resource booklet approximately 12 weeks before the exam, containing information about a contemporary geographical issue. In the exam, you answer questions based on this booklet plus additional unseen resources.
The issue evaluation tests your ability to:
- Interpret geographical information from a range of sources
- Analyse different viewpoints and perspectives
- Evaluate evidence to make and justify decisions
- Apply geographical knowledge and understanding to a real-world issue
Types of Resources You May Encounter
The resource booklet and exam may include:
- Written text — newspaper articles, reports, press releases, statements from stakeholders
- Maps — OS maps, thematic maps, choropleth maps, sketch maps
- Graphs and charts — bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, climate graphs, scatter graphs
- Photographs — ground-level, aerial, satellite images
- Statistical data — tables of figures, data sets
- Diagrams — cross sections, flow charts, annotated diagrams
How to Approach Issue Evaluation
1. Understand the Issue
Before the exam:
- Read the resource booklet carefully and repeatedly
- Identify the key geographical issue — what is the problem or decision to be made?
- Note the location — where is it? What are the physical and human characteristics?
- Identify all stakeholders — who is affected? Who has decision-making power?
2. Analyse the Evidence
For each resource:
- What does it show? Describe the key patterns, trends, or information
- What does it suggest? What can you infer or conclude?
- How reliable is it? Consider the source, date, potential bias, sample size
- How does it link to other resources? Do sources agree or contradict each other?
3. Consider Different Viewpoints
Geographical issues involve multiple stakeholders with different perspectives:
| Stakeholder Type | Example Concerns |
|---|---|
| Local residents | Impact on quality of life, house prices, noise, traffic, services |
| Businesses | Profit, employment, customers, costs, regulations |
| Local government/council | Economic growth, public services, planning regulations, votes |
| National government | National interest, policy objectives, international commitments |
| Environmental groups | Biodiversity, pollution, sustainability, climate change |
| Developers | Profit, land availability, planning permission, demand |
| Farmers | Land use, income, subsidies, environmental impact |
| Scientists/experts | Evidence-based analysis, long-term impacts, technical feasibility |
| Future generations | Sustainability, long-term environmental and social consequences |
4. Evaluate Options
Many issue evaluations ask you to choose between options (e.g. where to build a new development, which flood management scheme to adopt, how to manage a coastline):
For each option, consider:
- Economic — cost, jobs created/lost, revenue, long-term economic impact
- Social — impact on communities, quality of life, access to services, equity
- Environmental — impact on habitats, pollution, carbon emissions, sustainability
- Political — public opinion, government policy, legal constraints, feasibility
5. Make and Justify Your Decision
In the exam, you may be asked to recommend a course of action:
- State your decision clearly
- Give reasons supported by evidence from the resources
- Acknowledge counterarguments — show you have considered alternatives
- Explain trade-offs — most decisions involve some negative impacts; show you understand the compromise
- Use geographical terminology throughout
Key Command Words
| Command Word | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Describe | Say what you see — state patterns, features, or trends using data |
| Explain | Give reasons why — use geographical understanding to account for patterns |
| Suggest | Propose possible reasons or ideas — there may not be one right answer |
| Compare | Identify similarities AND differences — use comparative language ("whereas", "in contrast", "similarly") |
| Assess | Weigh up the importance or significance of something — consider both sides, then reach a judgement |
| Evaluate | Judge the value or effectiveness — consider strengths and weaknesses, then conclude |
| Justify | Give reasons for your choice — explain why your decision is the best option |
| To what extent | How far do you agree? Consider arguments on both sides, then reach a balanced conclusion |
| Discuss | Explore different viewpoints or aspects of an issue; present arguments for and against |
Writing Extended Answers
For the 9-mark question (with SPaG marks):
Structure:
- Introduction — briefly state the issue and your position
- Arguments for — at least 2–3 points, each supported by evidence from the resources and your own geographical knowledge
- Arguments against / alternative views — acknowledge the other side
- Conclusion — restate your decision with a clear justification; explain why the benefits outweigh the drawbacks
Quality of writing:
- Use geographical terminology accurately
- Write in clear paragraphs
- Check spelling, punctuation, and grammar (SPaG marks are awarded)
- Support points with specific evidence (data, place names, statistics from the resources)
Exam tip: The issue evaluation is not about finding the "right" answer — it is about showing you can analyse evidence, consider different perspectives, and justify a decision using geographical reasoning. Any well-supported conclusion can gain full marks.