How do I answer the 15-mark (d) evaluation question in Eduqas RS?
How to plan and write the Eduqas 15-mark (d) evaluation question, with both-sides argument, sources and a justified conclusion, and how the SPaG marks are earned.
An exam-skills guide to the Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) 15-mark (d) evaluation question, covering the four bullet instructions, balanced argument, sources of wisdom and authority, the justified conclusion, and how the SPaG marks are awarded on Components 1 and 2.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
The 15-mark (d) evaluation question is the biggest single item on every Eduqas Religious Studies section and the one most students lose marks on. This page is a method, not new content: it shows how to plan and write the evaluation answer so you hit the top band and earn the SPaG marks (awarded on a (d) answer on Components 1 and 2). Master the formula here, then apply it to every theme and belief on the rest of the site.
What the question looks like
The four instructions are a checklist: an answer that does all four well reaches the top band, and an answer that misses one (most often the "different point of view" or the "justified conclusion") cannot.
The method: plan both sides first
Planning both sides is what stops the most common failure: a one-sided answer. Eduqas's own instructions demand arguments for and against, so balance is not optional.
Writing the answer
A reliable structure for the body is:
- Open by showing you understand the statement and the issue.
- Arguments for. One paragraph: 2 or 3 developed reasons supporting the statement, each anchored in a source of wisdom and authority and explained, not just named.
- Arguments against. One paragraph: 2 or 3 developed reasons for a different view, including divergent religious views (for example Catholic versus Protestant, or Sunni versus Shia) and non-religious views.
- Justified conclusion. Do not sit on the fence and do not just assert. Weigh the arguments and explain why one side is stronger (or why a nuanced middle position is best). This is what makes the conclusion "justified".
Throughout, use specialist terms correctly (omnipotent, Tawhid, sacrament, sanctity of life, just war) to earn the SPaG marks.
Try this
Q1. What four things do the instructions of an Eduqas (d) question ask you to do? [a-style recall]
- Cue. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings; give reasoned arguments to support the statement; give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view; reach a justified conclusion.
Q2. Explain why a "justified conclusion" scores more than just repeating one side. [b-style short explanation]
- Cue. A justified conclusion weighs the arguments on both sides and explains why one is stronger (or why a nuanced position is best), showing the analysis and evaluation (AO2) that the top band rewards, rather than mere assertion.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas C120 2022 (style)15 marks[d] "Religious teachings should always come before personal opinion." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to religious beliefs and teachings, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is a sample 15-mark (d) AO2 question used here to model the technique. Plan two sides. For the statement: many believers hold that God's revealed teaching (the Bible, the Qur'an) is the highest authority and should guide every decision, since human opinion is fallible. Against: some argue conscience, reason and changing circumstances matter, and that believers must apply teachings thoughtfully; non-religious people put reason and wellbeing first. Use specialist terms (sources of wisdom and authority, conscience, AO2). The justified conclusion must weigh the sides, for example that teachings carry great authority but must be applied with conscience. Write in accurate continuous prose for the SPaG marks, and sustain one clear line of reasoning.
Eduqas C120 2021 (style)15 marks[d] "A good evaluation answer must include arguments the writer disagrees with." Evaluate this statement about exam technique, modelling how Eduqas marks the (d) question.Show worked answer →
This question is framed about technique to model the mark scheme. For the statement: Eduqas's instructions explicitly require reasoned arguments to support the statement and reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, so a one-sided answer cannot reach the top bands; balance is rewarded. Against (a weaker case): one might argue a very strong single case shows conviction, but this misreads the mark scheme, which rewards weighing alternatives. The justified conclusion: yes, a top answer must engage views it may not share and then judge between them. Use specialist terms (AO2, justified conclusion, reasoned argument, SPaG). This shows why the formula (for, against, conclude) is essential.
Related dot points
- How to answer the Eduqas a (2-mark), b (5-mark) and c (8-mark) AO1 questions, matching the answer to the command word and the marks, and using sources of wisdom and authority in the c question.
An exam-skills guide to the Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) a, b and c questions, covering the 2-mark definition, the 5-mark description or explanation, and the 8-mark extended explanation with sources of wisdom and authority, and how to match each answer to the marks.
- What counts as a source of wisdom and authority, how to build a bank of references for Christianity and Islam, and how to use them in the c and d questions for the top band.
An exam-skills guide to using sources of wisdom and authority in Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120), covering what counts as a source, building a bank of Christian and Islamic references, and the point-source-explain technique for the 8-mark c and 15-mark d questions.
- Religious and non-religious teachings on crime and punishment, the aims of punishment, the treatment of criminals, forgiveness, and the problem of suffering and evil.
An Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) Component 1 answer on issues of good and evil, covering crime and punishment, the aims of punishment, the treatment of criminals, forgiveness, and the problem of suffering and evil, from Christian, Islamic and non-religious perspectives, with sources of wisdom and authority.
- Christian beliefs about sin and the Fall, salvation through grace, faith and works, atonement through the death of Jesus, and the afterlife of judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory.
An Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) Component 2 answer on Christian beliefs about sin, salvation and the afterlife, covering original sin and the Fall, salvation by grace, faith and works, atonement through the death of Jesus, and judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory, with the sources of wisdom and authority Eduqas rewards.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies specification (C120, from 2016) — WJEC Eduqas (2016)