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AO3 (evaluation) is the weakest Assessment Objective across every paper and every question type
“Essay questions were generally structured well, but we are still seeing AO3 as the weakest AO across the board. Centres need to work with candidates to help them improve this aspect of their essays.”— 9PL0 Paper 1, June 2023
How to fix: AO3 is worth one-third of marks on every question. It must be present throughout the response as interim judgements after each paired argument — not saved for the conclusion. In essays, every paragraph should end with an evaluative sentence that weighs up the significance of the point made and connects it to your overall argument. In ideas questions, your AO3 must judge the DEGREE (extent) of agreement or disagreement, not whether strands agree or disagree in binary terms. Practice writing one evaluative sentence per paragraph before you attempt full essays.