Evaluation

* Evaluation
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.
There are many ways that candidates can be encouraged to improve their skills of evaluation.
• When 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.