Exam Tips for Decision-Making
Part of Decision Making Skills · GCSE GCSE Geography revision
This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Decision-Making within Decision Making Skills for GCSE Geography. Revise Decision Making Skills in Decision Making & Issue Evaluation for GCSE Geography with 15 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 14 of 15 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 14 of 15
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
💡 Exam Tips for Decision-Making
🎯 Decoding the Command Words
- Describe: State what you observe. Use data. Do not explain why — just what. "Figure 3 shows a north–south gradient in wind speed, from 6.1 m/s in the south to 8.7 m/s in the north."
- Explain: Give the geographical reason. Link cause to effect. "Wind speeds are higher in the north because the site is exposed to prevailing south-westerly winds and the northern ridgeline has no shelter from surrounding vegetation."
- Evaluate: Weigh the strengths and weaknesses, reach a judgement. "The noise impact data is based on the developer's own modelling (Figure 7) and is therefore less reliable than an independent assessment — however, it is the only noise data available in the booklet."
- Recommend / Justify: State a clear decision AND give reasons using evidence. A recommendation without evidence, or evidence without a clear recommendation, cannot score above Level 2. Always use the 3C structure.
- Assess: Consider the significance or importance of something. "Assess the extent to which economic factors influenced the stakeholders" requires you to consider whether economic factors were most important — compared to social or environmental ones.
📝 Making the Most of Your Pre-Release Preparation
- Annotate every resource in the booklet with: source, key statistic, which stakeholder uses it, and what it supports or undermines
- Research the location using Google Maps, Google Street View, and news sources — richer geographical context produces richer answers
- Draft a practice decision answer using the booklet and check it against the DECIDE SMART checklist before the exam
- In the exam, always ask "what are the options?" before answering — students who do not identify all options cannot eliminate the weaker ones with evidence
- Never start writing the final decision question until you have identified your recommendation — writing helps you think, but you need a direction before you start
⚠️ Five Mistakes That Cost Marks
- Describing resources rather than using them: Every figure citation must include a specific statistic and link to an argument
- Forgetting unseen resources in the exam: Many students focus entirely on the pre-release booklet and barely use the new resources. The new resources often contain the most important evidence for the decision
- Writing a "both sides" answer without a clear decision: The question asks you to recommend. A balanced account with no recommendation cannot reach Level 3
- Not acknowledging trade-offs: An answer that treats your chosen option as perfect in every way is less convincing — and less geographically sophisticated — than one that honestly names what it sacrifices
- Using generic geographical statements: "Renewable energy is important for the environment" earns nothing. "The proposed site would contribute 45 MW to Wales's 2035 legally binding net-zero target (Figure 3), equivalent to 18,000 homes" earns marks because it is specific to this case
Quick Check: A student's final decision answer includes: "I recommend Option B. Option A has advantages and disadvantages, and so does Option B. Option B is better for the environment but worse for the economy. In conclusion, there is no perfect solution." What is wrong with this answer, and how would you improve it?
Multiple problems: (1) No resource evidence — no figures cited, no statistics used; (2) No specific criteria — "better for the environment" is vague, not measured; (3) The final sentence refuses to make a decision — "no perfect solution" is not a recommendation; (4) No trade-off acknowledgement with justification — acknowledging that trade-offs exist is not the same as explaining why one trade-off is acceptable. To improve: state the recommendation in Sentence 1, cite specific figures with statistics for each option, weight the criteria (e.g. "I prioritise carbon reduction because Wales's 2035 target is legally binding — Option B achieves 60% of the carbon saving at 45% of the community impact"), and acknowledge the trade-off explicitly: "I accept the sacrifice of 40% carbon output because..."