New
New
Year 11
AQA

Evaluating geographical issues

I can evaluate different sources of evidence to justify a decision about a geographical issue.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Evaluating geographical issues

I can evaluate different sources of evidence to justify a decision about a geographical issue.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geographical issues link different parts of geography together and involve decisions about how land is used.
  2. There is a wide range of data that can be used when evaluating geographical issues, including graphs and maps.
  3. Data can be used to understand the issue and as evidence to support an argument.
  4. Geographers use evidence to make decisions and aim to balance the needs of people and the environment.

Keywords

  • Pre-release material - resources that are released prior to an examination, which include maps, graphs and text that give information about a geographical issue

  • Tidal barrage - a dam built across a bay or estuary that uses the movement of the tides to generate electricity

  • Context - the economic, environmental, historical or social background to an issue

Common misconception

There is always a correct solution to a geographical issue.

There is not a 'correct' answer to a geographical issue. Geographers try and balance economic, social and environmental concerns and use evidence to justify their opinion.


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Evaluating geographical issues, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson provides a framework to help students understand and engage with the pre-release material. Once the pre-release is available, you may wish to revisit this lesson and break it into smaller parts that directly link to the specific content of the booklet.
Teacher tip

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is an example of balancing people’s needs with the environment?

Building new housing on farmland
Expanding a road through a forest
Correct answer: Creating a park in a city centre
Draining a wetland for development

Q2.
What kind of data would most help a geographer evaluate a traffic issue in a city?

A climate graph
Correct answer: A bar chart of daily congestion levels
A pie chart of food exports
A population pyramid

Q3.
Which type of map is most useful for showing land use in a city?

Contour map
Choropleth map
Political map
Correct answer: Land use zoning map

Q4.
What is the purpose of using graphs in geography?

To draw sketches
To replace fieldwork
Correct answer: To display data visually
To show emotions

Q5.
Which of these is least useful when evaluating the environmental impact of building a shopping centre?

Correct answer: Historical rainfall data
Air pollution levels
Number of endangered species nearby
Land use around the site

Q6.
Some students think geographers don’t need to use graphs and maps if they’ve visited a place. What’s a better way to think about it?

Fieldwork is better than data
All decisions should be based on opinion
Correct answer: Graphs and maps help geographers understand patterns and support decisions
Local people don’t matter

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct meanings:

Correct Answer:Pre-release material,Information given before an exam to explore a geographical issue

Information given before an exam to explore a geographical issue

Correct Answer:Tidal barrage,A dam using tide movement to generate electricity

A dam using tide movement to generate electricity

Correct Answer:Context,The background (e.g. economic or environmental) to an issue

The background (e.g. economic or environmental) to an issue

Q2.
What type of energy is generated by a tidal barrage?

Solar
Wind
Nuclear
Correct answer: Tidal

Q3.
Which of these would you expect to find in pre-release material?

An answer sheet
Correct answer: Maps, graphs and text about a place
Only data about river flooding
Satellite images without explanation

Q4.
Why might there be no single correct answer to a geographical issue?

Correct answer: Because decisions involve values and trade-offs
Because no one has studied the issue
Because geography is too easy
Because the answer is always economic