How do I use a pre-release resource booklet to evaluate a geographical issue?
The issue evaluation: using a pre-release resource booklet to analyse a contemporary geographical issue, weigh up options and reach a justified decision in Paper 3 Section A.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.3.1 issue evaluation, explaining the pre-release resource booklet, how to analyse and interpret the resources, and how to weigh options and justify a decision in Paper 3 Section A.
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What this dot point is asking
This is AQA GCSE Geography (8035) Paper 3, Section A (3.3.1 Issue evaluation). AQA expects you to use a pre-release resource booklet to understand a contemporary geographical issue, analyse and interpret its maps, graphs and text, link it to what you have learned across the whole course (it is synoptic), then weigh up several options and reach a justified decision in an extended answer. This is the most heavily weighted decision-making part of the qualification.
What the issue evaluation is
The booklet presents a real contemporary geographical issue (for example a flood-management scheme, an energy decision, a development project or an environmental conflict) through maps, graphs, photographs, satellite images, data tables and the written viewpoints of different stakeholders (such as residents, businesses, planners and conservationists). Because the issue can be drawn from any part of the course, the section is synoptic: it tests whether you can pull together physical and human geography to make a real decision. Section A is worth 37.5 marks, including marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) in the extended answer.
Analysing the resources and reaching a decision
To do well in the decision answer: state your choice clearly at the start, give evidence from the resources (quote a figure, refer to a map or a stakeholder view) to support it, weigh the social, economic and environmental impacts of each option, explain why you rejected the alternatives (not just why your choice is good), and end with a firm, justified conclusion. Because SPaG marks are awarded here, write in clear, accurate, well-organised prose.
Try this
Q1. State how long before the exam the pre-release resource booklet is released. [1 mark]
- Cue. About 12 weeks before the exam.
Q2. Explain how you would justify a decision in the issue evaluation. [4 marks]
- Cue. State the chosen option, support it with evidence from the resources, weigh social, economic and environmental impacts, and explain why the other options were rejected.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20199 marksUsing the resources and your own knowledge, choose the option you think is most suitable. Justify your choice and explain why you rejected the other options. (Paper 3, Section A)Show worked answer →
A 9-mark levelled extended response from Paper 3 Section A (Issue evaluation), the highest-tariff question on the paper, assessing AO3 (using evidence to make a decision) and rewarding AO4 skills. Plus there are SPaG marks in this section.
Strong answers state the chosen option clearly at the start, then justify it using specific evidence from the resource booklet (quote a figure from a graph, refer to a map or a viewpoint) combined with wider geographical knowledge. Crucially, they explain why the other options were rejected, weighing social, economic and environmental impacts of each. A balanced, structured argument that ends with a firm, evidence-based conclusion reaches the top level. Markers penalise answers that sit on the fence, ignore the resources, or pick an option without saying why the alternatives are weaker.
AQA 20226 marksUsing Resource 2 (a graph and a map), describe the pattern shown and suggest one reason for it. (Paper 3, Section A)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark resource-analysis question (AO4 skills and AO2). Markers reward accurate reading of the resource plus a sensible geographical explanation.
Award credit for describing the pattern using evidence from the resource: state the overall trend (for example "the figure rises steadily then levels off"), quote specific values or locations, and note any anomaly. Then suggest one geographical reason linked to course knowledge (for example a fall in river flow because of upstream abstraction, or higher pollution near an industrial area). The strongest answers quote data from the resource accurately and link the explanation to a relevant process studied elsewhere in the course, showing the synoptic nature of Paper 3.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Geography (8035) specification — AQA (2016)