Structure of the Exams
The Geography eAssessment follows a predictable structure, even though the content and case studies may change each year. Six recurring question types can be identified in the past questions so far. Each question type requires a different approach.
Question type Marks Criterion Assessed
Knowledge type questions 6 marks A
Evaluating an investigation Action Plan 8 marks B
Creating an investigation/Inquiry 12 marks B
18 marker Essay 18 marks A - 6 marks, C - 12 marks A and C
Evaluating a Source (OPVL) 6-8 marks D
Justifying a Choice 6 marks D
24 marker Essay 24 marks A - 8 marks, D - 8 marks, C - 8 marks A, C and D
Each criterion is worth 20 marks.
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.
Evaluating an Investigation/Action Plan
When evaluating an action plan, focus on the quality of the research design and data, rather than simply describing the stages. Strong answers assess how effective the plan will be in producing reliable, valid, and useful findings. This means you must focus on the process (how the research was done) rather than just what was found. You should assess whether the methods used were appropriate for answering the research question, and support your judgement with clear reasoning.
Focus: Evaluation and Judgement
Command term: Evaluate
Note: This question is not one blob. It has three clear parts, even if not labelled in the question. You are required to provide strengths (3 marks), limitations (3 marks), and an appraisal (2 marks).
Writing a Strength/Limitation
Only one well-developed strength/limitation is required. However, outlining three strengths/limitations can earn up to three marks. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to develop at least two strengths/limitations in detail.
For each:
Identify the strength/limitation
Explain why it is a strength /limitation
Link it to how it improves/limits the investigation and helps/doesn’t help answer the research question
To find a strength/limitation, you can analyse;
the use of both primary and secondary data
relevance of the data collection methods
credibility of sources (e.g., databases, expert opinions)
appropriateness of the sample size
goodness of the question design (open vs closed)
relevance of the data collected
Writing an Overall Appraisal
You are expected to make a clear judgement. Is the action plan effective, or not effective? You should Include:
A short justification based on your strength and limitation
A clear statement on whether the investigation will help answer the research question
Key Concepts for evaluating an investigation
(a) Data Collection
Primary Data - (Interviews, Surveys/questionnaires, Observations, Experiments)
Secondary Data – (Statistics, Databases, Existing research)
Validity- Relevance of the datat to the research question
Credibility of sources
Variety of data sources
(b) Scope and Quality of Data
Sample size (Is it large enough?)
Sampling method (Is it appropriate?)
Expertise of participants
(c) Context of Sources
DO NOT judge sources as outdated without considering context.
Example: A 2017 source is valid if the research focuses on 2017
Sample questions
Green Beyond is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been working in Mali since 2007. They focus on the Great Green Wall Project and have created an action plan in order to finalize their yearly report. You will be asked to evaluate this action plan. Evaluate the NGO’s action plan. (8 marks)
Example structure
A strength of the investigation process/results is that (state the limitation/strength). This is a strength because (explain the impact of the strength on the quality of your investigation). Another strength is…
A limitation of the investigation process/results is that (state the limitation). This is a limitation because (explain the impact of the limitation on the quality of your investigation). Another limitation is….
Overall, the investigative process was very (effective/satisfactory/not effective) because (provide reasoning for your evaluation and make reference to the strength(s) and / limitation(s) ).
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)
Evaluating a Source (OPVL)
Source evaluation questions test your ability to think critically about where information comes from and how useful it is. Rather than repeating what a source says, students must analyse its reliability, perspective, and limitations.
Focus: Critical evaluation of source reliability, usefulness, perspective, and limitations
Command terms: State, Outline, Describe
Sample questions
Describe one value of the Wildfire Alert app for local residents. (3 marks)
Describe one limitation of the Wildfire Alert app for local residents. (3 marks)
State the origin of the graph shown in Source D. (1 mark)
State the purpose of the graph shown in Source D. (1 mark)
Justify a choice
This type question assesses your ability to make a clear, evidence-based decision between two or more options. You must compare alternatives, evaluate their impacts, and explain why one option is more suitable than the other. You are expected to use geographical knowledge and, where provided, information from sources to support their reasoning.
Focus: Evidence-based decision-making
Command term: Justify, Analyse
To answer a justify question, start by clearly stating your choice. Make it obvious which option you support. Then explain your reasoning in detail. Your explanation should include evidence, either from the sources provided or your own geographical knowledge, and should show the impact of your choice (for example economic, environmental, or social effects).
A strong answer must also consider the alternative. You should briefly explain why the other option is less suitable. This comparison is essential because it shows you have evaluated both sides rather than making a one-sided argument.
Finish with a clear conclusion that reinforces your decision.
A simple way to think about it is:
Choose → Explain → Compare → Conclude
Note: If you only describe both options without choosing, or if you choose but don’t compare, you won’t reach full marks.
Sample questions
Two of your city planner colleagues have different opinions about how to develop 'Area X'. Their opinions are shown below.
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)
18 Marker Essay
The 18-mark essay assesses your ability to construct a clear, well-organised written argument using geographical knowledge. While evaluation may be included, the main focus is on explanation, use of examples, and effective communication. This essay rewards depth of understanding and clarity of expression.
Focus: Structured explanation using geographical knowledge, examples, and clear communication
Command term: Explain
The question assesses two criteria, Criterion A and Criterion C
• Criterion A - 6 marks
You are only awarded marks for the content of their report. You are required to demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding by thorough explanation. using accurate and effective examples and appropriate relevant terminology
• Criterion C1 (Format) - 2 marks
Your essay should follow the format given in the question. It should also have an Introduction, Body, Conclusion/ closing argument.
• Criterion C2 (Communicating information and Ideas) - 6 marks
The style and language used are required to be consistently appropriate to the format of the type of document.
• Criterion C3 (Organizational Structure) - 4 marks
You are required to structure information and ideas in a way that is consistently effective and appropriate to the audience. Ideas/paragraphs build on each other in a consistently clear and logical manner. Always uses effective transitions within sentences and/or between sentences and/or paragraphs to show relationships between ideas.
Sample questions
The video report has inspired you to start a petition to convince world leaders to take action and protect natural environments. A local TV channel has asked to interview you. Your interview should persuade people to sign your petition by explaining how natural environments are threatened by tourism and how they could be managed more sustainably. In your response, you should refer to examples from your MYP studies.
As a local geography student, you have chosen to write a convincing email to the local government about which management strategy should be invested in. In your email, you must explain:
the cause(s) of the type of tectonic activity most likely to occur in your chosen location
which management strategy would be the most effective in this area. You should use examples from your MYP geography course to support your explanation.
You are a popular travel blogger who has many online followers. You decide to write a blog post to explain the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the culture of one community. In your blog post, you must:
include a relevant title and sub-headings
explain at least one positive and at least one negative impact of tourism on the culture of one community
conclude with advice for future travelers.
Here’s a simple MYP-style guide you can follow to write a strong 18-mark geography essay
Introduction
Set the context of the essay by starting with a hook. You should try and define the key terms in the question and showing that you understand the topic. Briefly introduce what the essay will discuss and clearly state your main argument or viewpoint.
Main Body
Provide facts, evidence, explanations, evaluations. Each paragraph should focus on one clear point related to the question.
Using PEEL:
PEEL is a structure that helps you write clear and well-developed paragraphs.
• P – Point: Start with a clear sentence that answers the question or introduces your idea.
• E – Evidence: Support your point with relevant evidence such as examples, data, or case studies.
• E – Explain: Explain how the evidence supports your point and link it back to the question using geographical concepts.
• L – Link: Link your point back to the question or connect it to your overall argument.
Using PEEL makes your writing more organized, analytical, and focused, which helps you achieve higher marks.
Conclusion
Summarize your main points/arguments and directly answer the question. End with a clear final judgement or opinion, showing which argument is stronger or more important.
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.