How to Answer a 12 mark 'Evaluate' Question (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note

How to answer 12-mark 'Evaluate' questions

• Every topic ends with a 12-mark "Evaluate this statement" question, worth up to 15 marks

  • The 15 marks is 12 marks for the content of the answer and 3 marks for SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar — assessed only on this question)

  • Unlike the "Explain" questions, this one is not point-marked — it's marked using levels of response

  • It is the only question on the paper testing AO2 (evaluation), rather than AO1 (knowledge)

What the question requires

• Every 12-mark question gives you the same four instructions:

  • Refer to religious teaching

  • Give reasoned arguments to support the statement

  • Give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view

  • Reach a justified conclusion

Command word and assessment objectives

• The question uses the command word 'evaluate'

• This means your answer must:

  • Consider different viewpoints

  • Weigh up evidence for and against a statement

  • Arrive at a reasoned, justified conclusion

• You must present balanced arguments (reasons to agree and disagree) supported by religious evidence

• The question only examines one assessment objective AO2

  • Analyse and evaluate aspects of religion and belief, focusing on significance, influence, and balanced, reasoned arguments with justified conclusions

How it's marked: levels of response

• The examiner reads your whole answer and decides which level it best fits, then places it within that level's mark range

• Within a level examiners award:

  • The top mark if your answer convincingly meets the level statement

  • The middle mark if it adequately meets it

  • The bottom mark if it just meets it

Level 4 (10-12 marks)

• A well-argued response, reasoned consideration of different points of view

• Logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s) supported by knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information

• References to religion applied to the issue

Level 3 (7-9 marks)

• Reasoned consideration of different points of view

• Logical chains of reasoning that draw on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information

• Clear reference to religion

Level 2 (4-6 marks)

• Reasoned consideration of a point of view, OR recognition of different points of view each supported by relevant reasons/evidence

• Maximum Level 2 if there is no reference to religion

Level 1 (1-2 marks)

• Point of view with reason(s) stated in support

The single most important rule on this question: if there is no reference to religion in your answer the maximum marks are Level 2 (6 marks), no matter how well-argued your answer is otherwise

What is a "logical chain of reasoning"?

• This phrase appears in every level from 2 upwards, but it's rarely explained

• It is the single biggest gap between a Level 2 answer and a Level 4 one

• A chain of reasoning is a sequence of linked sentences, where each one builds on the last, rather than a list of separate points sitting side by side

• A useful scaffold:

  • Point → "This is because…" → "This suggests/means that…"

• Each link should add something the previous sentence didn't say

  • If your next sentence could be deleted without losing meaning, it isn't part of the chain, it's padding.

Weak: A list, not a chain (30 words)

Some Christians would agree with this statement. Suffering is bad and God is supposed to be loving. Other Christians would disagree because of free will. God gave humans free will.

• This states a position and gestures at a reason, but never explains why the reason supports the point, or what it means for the question

  • It would sit at Level 1–2.

Strong: An actual chain (69 words)

Some Christians would agree with this statement. This is because if God is truly loving, it seems difficult to explain why he would allow innocent people, especially children, to suffer illnesses they did nothing to deserve. This suggests that either God lacks the power to stop suffering, or chooses not to use it, which challenges the traditional belief that God is both omnipotent and loving at the same time.

• Notice the difference: point → reason → implication

• Each sentence forces the next, "why?", then "so what does that mean?", instead of jumping to a new, disconnected idea

• This is what "logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s)" actually looks like in practice

How to answer a 12-mark question

Step 1

• Read the statement and identify what's actually being evaluated

• Underline the specific claim in the statement, not the general topic

  • "God cannot be all-loving because evil and suffering exist." is a claim about the compatibility of God's love with suffering, not a general essay prompt about "suffering."

Step 2

• Spend 30 seconds jotting: one argument for, one argument against, the religious teaching for each, and your likely conclusion

• A planned answer reaches a genuine judgement far more reliably than one written straight off the top of your head

Step 3

• For every point: state it, give your reason, then explain what that reason implies for the question

• Don't move to your next point until the current one is fully linked through

Step 4

• Write a conclusion that judges, not just summarises

• "Some people think X, others think Y" is not a conclusion, it is a restatement

  • A justified conclusion says which argument is stronger, chained back to a reason why.

How to structure a 12 mark answer

• Arguments in support of the statement, with religious reasoning

• Arguments for a different point of view, with religious reasoning

• A conclusion that reaches a justified judgement

  • This should be more than "some people think X and others think Y," but your own reasoned view on which is stronger and why