Wednesday 10 August 2011

Answering part d in IB Economics Paper 3 (HL)





What makes the difference?


On very short responses (a half page or less) it is difficult to get above level 1 purely because insufficient points can be explained and there is little possibility of applying theory sufficiently to explain a point to L2 .

Mostly candidates manage to analyse (ie explain a point by applying theory) but are not able to evaluate (i.e. giving an informed judgement based on or linked to material in the text L3). Candidate's often restate material in the text that can appear as though they are answering the question; however, unless they are applying economic theory to explain their answer then often all that they are doing is restating the text.

Often candidate's will also state an answer rather than develop an answer. For example "The government stimulus package will fix the recession". While this may be true, it is stated rather than developed by applying theory. A good response would say something like "the government's stimulus package of X billion euro will stimulate household consumption and possibly investment if it is also targeted at firms. An increase in consumption and investment will result in an increase in AD and thus increase GDP Blah blah blah ..... This is an example of L2 where the candidate is analysing or evaluating economic theory.

To go the next level the candidate needs to continue on saying things like "the problem with stimulating the economy with the X billion euro stimulus package is that the government is likely to incur a budget deficit. Persistent budget deficits lead to increasing indebtedness and if sustained can undermine international confidence in both the government and the economy and their capacity to repay the debt". This can lead to ....".

Thursday 4 August 2011

What is Evaluation?


As we all know evaluation skills are high order thinking skills and play a vital role in making a grade difference. While writing commentaries or attemtping extended response questions or answering data response questions, proper evaluation done will decide whether a student will fall in the top level category or not. Here is a brief expalantion of what is actually expected from a student
Evaluation occurs when a judgment is made. It is the weighing or measuring of factors followed by an attempt to give relative weight to those factors. Questions that begin “evaluate”, “assess”,“critically assess”, “discuss” or “to what extent” require candidates to show their skills of evaluation in order to reach the highest achievement levels.
Invites candidates to make an appraisal of a situation. Candidates should weigh the nature of the evidence available and discuss the convincing aspects of an argument as well as its implications and limitations, and the less convincing elements within an argument. For example:
Evaluate alternative policies designed to reduce inflation.
There are many ways that candidates can be encouraged to improve their skills of evaluation.
  • What factors such as causes, consequences or remedies are asked for, candidates should attempt to identify the most important ones and then to justify the reason for the choice.
  • When advantages and disadvantages are asked for, candidates should attempt to identify the most important advantage (or disadvantage) and then justify the reason for the choice.
  • When strategies are asked for, candidates should attempt to assess the short term and long term implications.
  • When data is offered, candidates may question its validity, in terms of whether it is appropriate, whether it is reliable, or whether it is still relevant.
  • When summarizing a theory, candidates may question its validity, in terms of whether it is appropriate, whether it is reliable, or whether it is still relevant.
I hope this post helps!!