Paper 3 Writing Tips

After consulting with other IB Geo teachers and reviewing materials from InThinking and other
IB Geo sites, I have prepared this guide for you. While it is mostly about paper 3, it reviews all
the extended responses expected in the external exams.

What is the Paper 3 portion of the exam like?

You have 60 minutes to write two extended responses, a 12 mark essay (3a) and a 16 mark
essay (3b).

How am I evaluated?

Refer to the link here for all the markbands on all the extended responses for all the papers in
IB Geography.

How are the two essays different in Paper 3?

The first 12 mark essay will come from a specific area of the HL Core Extension themes and
require knowledge and understanding within a specific topic area, e.g. a case study or process
such as migration. It will not feature an evaluative command word or require any level of
synthesis. It can be based on any topic within the three themes.

The 16 mark essay has more generous grade levels at the lower grades but the key difference is
that it will feature an evaluative command term and will require synthesis, e.g. synthesis refers
to explained links to evidence within subtopics of the course. Therefore, bring more examples
and depth to your response to fulfill AO3 expectations. Most of the synthesis of evidence will
come from the three HL themes of global interactions but you also may be able to link evidence
from to SL/HL Core themes (paper 2) or even optional themes (paper 1), depending on the
question. Exam moderators are encouraged to reward alternative approaches and so links to
any of the units can be anticipated.

If the 12 mark essay questions have you drilling deep into a specific topic area, 16 mark essay
questions are written very broadly in order to invite a wide variety of approaches. Here’s an 16
mark (3b) example prompt: Examine the ways that global interactions are being rejected by
different groups. During your outlining, you should be thinking: there are so many different
interactions! So many different groups! And, reflecting across the entire two year course, see
what you can apply.
So, what’s the difference between all the extended responses across all the papers?

Extended responses for the 10 mark essay from paper 1 (options) and 2 (HL/SL core) are the
same - they require you to look at an issue from a variety of perspectives and to
synthesize/evaluate well developed case studies. Paper 3b (16 marks) is basically the same as
the 10 mark response for papers 1 and 2, only with more emphasis on AO3 (synthesis and
evaluation). So, you should spend a little more time bringing in more examples and depth to
that response. Paper 3a (12 marks) is the only real outlier. It expects you to go into depth on a
specific topic area (e.g. a case study or a process), and, if possible, consider both sides of the
argument. Answer the question (according to the command term) with organization and
analysis but use case studies more as examples, unless the question calls for something
different. ALL extended responses have high expectations regarding your ability to marshall a
logically organized response (AO4) and show a command of evidence and geographic
terminology (AO1/2). Also, ALL extended responses expect you to draw on the 4 Ps: place,
process, power, and possibility.
Strategy for Writing the 12 mark essay in Paper 3a.

The essay should be concisely written and well-structured. Avoid unnecessary words and over
descriptive sentences. Aim for about 500-600 words.

The structure should include a concise introduction, a detailed main body – with paragraphs
and a clear conclusion, that supports and summarises the main argument(s).

The essay must be fixed at all times to the command word and based on the subject. This is
achieved by frequently referencing the subject in your argument. Avoid lengthy references,
these should be smoothly integrated into the sentence.

The argument must be balanced. This means a critical awareness of different perspectives and
interpretations of evidence. This does not mean that all perspectives have equal importance.
Introduction
1. Define key terms. What are the terms presented to you in the question that qualify?
What are terms that you will use to answer the question that qualify?
2. Identify places/case studies to be used. It is important that you can show how this
problem plays out over a space in the real world. Tell us what part of the world you will
use to draw out specific examples.
3. Chart a path for the rest of the paper. You should set the reader at ease, leave her
thinking as she finishes the first paragraph that she knows where you are going with this.

Body Paragraphs (you’ll need 2 to 4 of these)

1. One way to organize the approach by SPEED categories of analysis (Social, Political,
Environmental, Economic, Demographic) to get at the processes of change. It is okay
(probably better) for you to focus on more depth of just two or three of these categories.
See “pre-writing” below.
2. You should discuss power here too - who are the stakeholders?
3. AO1 and AO2 scores: apply and explain geo terminology in service of your argument
4. AO1 and AO2 scores: apply and explain your place examples and evidence in
service of your argument as it addresses the command term
5. AO1 and AO2 scores: explain how the evidence supports both sides of the argument
(if applicable) by showing an awareness of different perspectives or factors
6. AO4 scores: logical structure with smooth transitions between paragraphs.

Conclusion
1. Is concise
2. Summarizes the main perspectives and interpretations of the evidence
3. Is consistent with the introduction and the main body
4. If you haven’t already considered alternative possibilities in a body paragraph, this is
the place to do it.
Things that are easy to forget, but you must not...
1. Prewrite! 5 minutes of that time should be spent pre-writing. If you organize your
approach, you are less likely to waste time and words by repeating yourself. Before you
start - list the places you will mention, stakeholders involved, key terms you will use,
components of SPEED processes that you will be able to use in the response. It might
help to brainstorm in a pro/con grid like the one below. After a few minutes, you’ll know
the two or three SPEED categories that best fit your argument because you will have the
most to say about them, especially if you have speed categories with a little bit of
information in both the pro and con side.

SPEED Category Pro Con

Social

Political

Economic

Environmental

Demographic

2. Proofread. Does the structure flow, and is it focused on the question throughout? Are
the 4 Ps covered? Did you examine the place(s) where the change happens,
processes by which the change happens, the power of actors to influence the change,
and the possibility for future change?
3. Timed. Response should take you 25 minutes (!)
Strategy for Writing the 16 mark essay in Paper 3b, 16 marks
The essay should be concisely written and well-structured. Avoid unnecessary words and overly
descriptive sentences. Aim for about 600 words.

The structure should include a concise introduction, a detailed main body – with paragraphs and a clear
conclusion, that supports and summarises the main argument(s).

The essay must be fixed at all times to the command word and based on the subject. This is achieved by
frequently referencing the subject in your argument. Avoid lengthy references, these should be smoothly
integrated into the sentence.

The argument must be balanced. This means a critical awareness of different perspectives and
interpretations of evidence, which you should reference no matter the command term (they are often
“to what extent,” “discuss,” and “examine.”). This does not mean that all perspectives have equal
importance. Often, you might be able to examine the prompt in a range of possibilities that breaks down
into roughly three parts: accepting the statement, rejecting the statement, and finding some middle
ground. Doing so will position you for better marks in the AO3 category.

Introduction
1. Define key terms. What are the terms presented to you in the question that qualify? What are terms that
you will use to answer the question that qualify?
2. Identify places/case studies to be used. It is important that you can show how this problem plays out
over a space in the real world. Tell us what part of the world you will use to draw out specific examples.
3. Chart a path for the rest of the paper. You should set the reader at ease, leave her thinking as she finishes
the first paragraph that she knows where you are going with this.

Body Paragraphs (you’ll need 5-6 of these, each developing a key idea)
1. One way to organize the approach by SPEED categories of analysis (Social, Political,
Environmental, Economic, Demographic) to get at the processes of change. It is okay (probably
better) for you to focus on more depth of just two or three of these categories. See
“pre-writing” below.
2. You should discuss power here too - who are the stakeholders?
3. AO1 and AO2 scores: apply and explain geo terminology in service of your argument
4. AO1 and AO2 scores: apply and explain your place examples and evidence in service of your
argument as it addresses the command term
5. AO1 and AO2 scores: explain how the evidence supports both sides of the argument (if
applicable)
6. AO3 scores: Demonstrate a balanced approach that shows a critical awareness of different
perspectives and interpretations of evidence. This does not mean that all perspectives have
equal importance. In other words, you can have your pro or con position, but you should
acknowledge the other side’s position. Synthesis = putting things together. Evaluation =
considering the limits of the evidence presented / different perspectives.
7. AO4 scores: logical structure with smooth transitions between paragraphs.
Conclusion
1. Is concise
2. Summarizes the main perspectives and interpretations of the evidence
3. Is consistent with the introduction and the main body
4. If you haven’t already considered alternative possibilities in a body paragraph, this is the place to do it.