How to Answer a 7 Mark Question | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

How to Answer a 7 mark Question

• Levelled response questions are often the most daunting aspect of final exams for many students.
• Your grade is determined by the quality of your answer rather than specific points earned.
• Examiners seek evidence that you can apply your knowledge and understanding of a case study to address a particular question.
• The following guidelines are designed to assist you in articulating your knowledge and comprehension effectively to achieve top marks.
• In Paper 1, three 7-mark questions are presented at the conclusion of each section.
• Students are tasked with completing three 7-mark questions in total.
• Levelled response questions are graded across three levels, each with specific criteria for evaluation.

Answering the 7 Mark Question

Regardless of the topic, the type of question that you will need to answer will be broadly the same. You will be asked to describe and/or explain

‘For a named country you have studied, explain why the natural population growth rate is low.’
Or
‘For a named urban area you have studied, describe the problems which are caused by urban sprawl.’

Step 1

Carefully examine the question and identify the command word, whether it's asking for description, explanation, or both.

Step 2

Underline the key terms in the question.
In this example:

• The question directs to describe how coastal erosion is managed in a studied area.
• Description entails providing details and outlining characteristics.
• Explanation involves clarifying why something is the way it is or how it occurs.

Step 3

Plan the information you will include. This can be a concise list of bullet points.
For instance:

• Brief definition of erosion and management.
• Description of the specified area, such as the Holderness coast.
• Details about the location, erosion rate, and factors influencing rapid erosion.
• Description of management strategies, including hard engineering (e.g., sea walls at Bridlington) and soft engineering (e.g., beach replenishment at Withernsea).

Step 4

Write your response.

• Ensure each statement is detailed, includes a named example, and provides place-specific details.
• Avoid general statements and instead focus on specific examples and details relevant to the specified area. For instance, "The 5km sea wall at Bridlington, situated along the town's seafront, is a prominent example of hard engineering...".
• Incorporate place-specific details, such as discussing defenses in named locations along the Holderness coast or providing accurate information about the erosion rate.