Answering Question 1 (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note

Question 1 - analysing the stimulus

• Question 1 presents a short stimulus

  • This may be a written extract, a piece of data, a political cartoon, a photograph or a quote

• You are asked to analyse the stimulus in relation to a specific global political challenge

• Question 1 is worth 3 marks and should take approximately 5–8 minutes

What the examiner is looking for

• Identification of the key political issue raised by the stimulus

• Explanation of how the stimulus relates to global politics - not just a description of what it shows

• At least one specific connection to political concepts, actors, or frameworks from your studies

Description vs analysis

Description	Analysis

Step-by-step approach

Step 1: Read carefully (1 minute)

• Examine the stimulus carefully and identify the key political issue it raises

Step 2: Plan your response (1 minute)

• What does the stimulus show? (one sentence)

• What political concept, principle or challenge does it connect to?

• Which actors are relevant?

Step 3: Write your response (5–6 minutes)

• Open with a clear statement of what the stimulus illustrates politically

• Explain the connection - why is this a global political challenge?

• Support with at least one specific reference to the stimulus

Common mistakes

• Only describing what the stimulus shows without connecting it to political concepts

• Drawing on your case study extensively - question 1 does not require it

• Writing too much - 3 marks requires a focused response of approximately 70 - 100 words

• Making vague references to the stimulus rather than engaging with its specific content