eAssessment Paper Walkthrough

Structure of the Exams

Knowledge Type Questions

Knowledge questions test your ability to recall, recognise, explain and use core geographical knowledge and skills. Success depends on accuracy, clarity, and appropriate use of examples.

Focus: on factual, conceptual, and procedural knowledge. 

Common question types: Map reading, Cause and effect, Impact, Factors etc

Command terms: Explain, Select, State, Identify

Note: Explanations should be detailed. Reasons(s) must be given. An example should be used to support explanations. Recommended structure should be Point → Explanation → Reason → Example.

Sample questions

• Referring to the graph in Source A, identify the category receiving the largest amount of aid from Australia. (1 marks)

• There are three indicators used to calculate HDI (Human Development Index): 1. GNI (Gross National Income) per capita 2. Education Index. Select which one of the following is the third indicator used to calculate HDI. (1 marks)

• From the map, identify the coastal feature located at Point Kean at grid reference 5003. This is marked by a black box. (1 mark)

• Explain one benefit of using aid to invest in education for communities in Laos. (4 marks)

• Natural resources can become scarce. Using an example from your MYP studies, explain one factor that can cause scarcity of natural resources. (4 marks)

• Explain how one human activity causes land degradation. (4 marks)

Explain how urbanization affects different economic sectors [4 marks].

Sample Answer: Urbanization refers to the increasing population in urban areas due to migration and natural growth. This impacts different economic sectors. In the primary sector, it leads to a decline because many people move from rural areas to cities, reducing the number of workers in farming and mining. In the secondary sector, it causes growth as industries and factories develop in urban areas due to the availability of labor and infrastructure. The tertiary sector expands rapidly because urban populations require more services such as transport, healthcare, and retail. Additionally, the quaternary sector also grows as cities promote jobs in technology, research, and information. Overall, urbanization shifts economic activity from primary to more industrial and service-based sectors. For example, in India, urbanization has led to a decline in agriculture as more people seek employment in IT and service industries in cities like Bangalore.

Creating an Investigation/Inquiry

This question requires you to assume the role of a research designer and formulate a clear research question to guide an investigation. You will justify its importance and relevance, identify suitable data sources or methods, and discuss potential challenges along with practical ways to address them. Your response will demonstrate clear reasoning and an understanding of research design.

Understanding the Statement of Inquiry

Understanding the SOI and breaking it down into its key components can help you create a clear and focused research question. By identifying the main concepts, such as the topic, impacts, place, and time, you can ensure your question is specific, analytical, and directly linked to the investigation. This process helps you avoid vague or overly broad questions and improves the quality of your research design.

Example SOI: The extraction of natural resources can have a great impact on human and natural environments

Break it down:

• Extraction of natural resources → mining, oil drilling, logging, quarrying 

• Human environments → settlements, health, economy, employment, infrastructure 

• Natural environments → ecosystems (forest, marine), biodiversity, soil, water/air quality 

• Impact → positive and negative effects, short-term and long-term consequences 

• Place → specific country, region, or case study location 

• Time → changes over time, historical vs recent development 

Your research question must connect resource extraction to at least one of these concepts.

Note: Do not repeat the SOI directly in your research question. Instead, use it to guide your thinking and create a specific, focused question.

Research Question

To achieve full marks, the research question should:

• Focus on only one issue (one area of further research). Avoid combining multiple variables or themes in one question. Example, Weak RQ (How does mining affect the soil and air quality in Obuasi?) Strong RQ (To what extent does mining affect air quality in Obuasi)

• Require analysis and critical thinking, rather than having a simple “yes” or “no” answer (e.g., beginning with “To what extent…” or “How”). 

• Be specific and focused (e.g., referring to a particular person, place, time period, or country). Identify a specific location (e.g. country, city, or region) or Include a time frame (e.g. “between 2000 and 2020”, “since 1990”) 

• Be clear and precise, avoiding vague or ambiguous wording.

Justifying Relevance

When you are asked to justify your research question, you are explaining why your question is useful and how it helps you understand the topic in the Statement of Inquiry.

Sample Structure:

My research question is about (brief outline of what the investigation focuses on). Over the years, (brief description of the real-world situation or case study, including what is happening and where and why this issue matters in that specific place or situation)

It is relevant to (area of study or task or statement of inquiry) because (brief explanation of why the topic is important and worth investigating).

I will be able to find out the extent to which (state the relationship between the key variables being studied). My findings will be beneficial to (target audience) because (brief explanation of how and why the information can be used).

A Challenge you may face with the investigation

To achieve full marks, you should identify one specific, realistic challenge linked directly to your investigation

Depending on the command term, marks available or the nature of the question, you may need to identify the challenge, explain why it is a problem and explain how it affects your investigation or even suggest how you will overcome it.

Avoid generic challenges like lack of time.

Choose a specific research-related challenge such as language barriers, lack of access to data, difficulty reaching participants etc

Avoid general challenges like “not enough time” or “lack of information” unless clearly explained in context.

Sample structure:

The challenge I would have to overcome is (state a specific challenge directly related to your investigation, such as limited access to primary data in a specific location, unreliable survey responses, difficulty reaching a target population, or lack of recent secondary data for a case study). 

This is a challenge because (provide detailed reasoning explaining why this problem occurs in the context of your chosen research and why it is difficult to manage).

Because of this challenge, (describe how it would negatively affect the quality of your investigation, such as reducing reliability, limiting sample size, introducing bias, or weakening the validity of conclusions).

In order to overcome/mitigate this challenge, I would (describe a realistic and practical solution, such as using alternative secondary data sources, narrowing the scope of the study area, triangulating data, or using online datasets or reports).

Sources of information

You may be asked to list sources you would gather data from. Sources of information refer to where you will get your data from to support your investigation. These should be reliable and relevant to your research question.

You can look at both primary and secondary sources depending on the nature of the question.

State the type of source clearly (e.g. newspaper, academic journal, government record, report, or FDA website). Then specify the information you would be seeking from it. If you are referring to an article, be as precise as possible by identifying the focus or title area of the article being sought.

Example;

Official records on immigration trends will be collected from government statistical databases such as the national statistics office.

Sample questions

• With reference to the statement of inquiry, formulate a clear and focused research question. (2 marks)

• Justify the relevance of your research question to the statement of inquiry. (4 marks)

• List two relevant methods for collecting information/data for your investigation. (2 marks)

• Outline how one of the methods listed in part (c) could be useful to your investigation. (2 marks)

• Outline one challenge you might face while collecting information/data for your investigation. (2 marks)

• Outline one challenge you might face in your investigation. (2 marks)

• Excluding interviews, explain the benefit of using one other method of data collection in your investigation. (4 marks)

• Identify one secondary source of information that would be helpful for your investigation (1 mar)

• Explain one benefit of including the secondary source you identified in part c) in your investigation (3 marks)

Choose the option you would support. With reference to both opinions, justify your decision. (6 marks)

Note: If the student only refers to one of the options in their response, the maximum that can be awarded is (3 marks) 

24 Marker Essay

The 24-mark essay is the most demanding task in the examination. It requires you to synthesize knowledge, evaluate evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and reach a justified conclusion.

Focus: Synthesis of knowledge, evaluation of multiple perspectives, and justified judgement

Command term: To what extent, Discuss, Evaluate

What Makes This Different from 18 Marks

• More synthesis

• Stronger judgement

• Deeper evaluation of evidence

Criterion A – 8 marks

The student demonstrates detailed contextual and conceptual understanding in a thorough explanation, using accurate and effective examples and appropriate terminology.  

According to the mark scheme, responses should be very detailed and provide clear reasons, making use of examples that work to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the issue/topic. 

Terminology should be accurately and effectively used in the correct context all of the time. 

Criterion D – 8 marks

The student provides different perspectives in a detailed discussion and synthesizes information to make clear arguments in response to the question posed.

Two perspectives (e.g. arguing two sides) must be included with thorough development of these to show an excellent understanding. The two perspectives must be equally considered/balanced.

Ideas are combined to form a clear, coherent and convincing conclusion indicating which is most important is required (students may conclude that they are equally important).

The response should include evidence of examples being used effectively to help inform and support a comprehensive argument.

Criterion C- 8 marks

C1: Format (2 marks): Three of the following elements are included: introduction, a main body of argument and a conclusion. Note: The elements must appear as separate paragraphs

C2: Communication Information and Ideas (3 marks): The style and language used is consistently appropriate to the audience and purpose of informing. The style of writing is consistent with what would be expected in an essay. Language is formal and clear.

C3: Organisational structure (3 marks): The organizational structure is consistently appropriate and effective Paragraphs/ideas build on each other in consistently clear and logical manner. When appropriate, uses effective transitions within sentences and between sentences and/or paragraphs to show relationships between ideas.

How to Approach a 24-Mark Question

Start by carefully unpacking the question. Identify the command term (for example: “to what extent”, “evaluate”, “discuss”) and underline the key geographical focus. This tells you whether you are expected to argue, compare, or assess impacts.

Before writing, quickly plan your answer. You should decide your main arguments, supporting examples, and any counter-arguments. This prevents repetition and keeps your essay focused.

Introduction

Your introduction should do two things, define key terms in the question and briefly state your line of argument. If the question asks “to what extent”, you should already hint at your judgement.

Main Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should focus on one clear idea. A strong way to structure this is through PEEL:

You make a point that directly answers the question. You explain it using geographical reasoning. You support it with a specific example or case study evidence. Then you link it back to the question, showing how it supports your overall argument.

You should repeat this across several paragraphs, building a balanced argument. Higher-level responses include both sides of the argument, not just one.

Evaluation (Critical Thinking)

For higher marks, you must go beyond explanation. This means weighing up different factors. For example, you might show that one factor is important but only in certain contexts, or that its importance changes over time or place.

In “to what extent” questions, this is where you compare and judge which factor is more significant.

Conclusion

Your conclusion should directly answer the question. Do not introduce new ideas. Instead, summarise your main arguments and clearly state your final judgement. If it is an evaluative question, this is where you decide the extent of agreement or disagreement.

What Examiners Look For

They are assessing whether you can:

• Use accurate geographical knowledge 

• Apply real examples or case studies 

• Build logical arguments 

• Show balance and evaluation 

• Reach a clear judgement 

Sample questions

To what extent has technology reduced the impacts of natural disasters in HICs? In your essay, you must:

• Use examples from your MYP studies

• Consider different perspectives/factors

A report by the United Nations found that the extraction and processing of minerals is responsible for more than 80% of the world’s biodiversity loss. To what extent is the sustainable extraction of resources essential for reducing biodiversity loss? 

In a well-structured essay, you must:

• include explanations and examples to support your arguments

• consider different perspectives.

In a well-structured essay, respond to the following question: 

To what extent is trade environmentally and socially sustainable? In your essay, you must:

• consider different perspectives

• use examples from your MYP studies to support your arguments.