Question 1

What Does Question 1 Look Like?

From the Global Politics Guide: The first question tests understanding of a source. This can be demonstrated, for example, by identifying the main political issue or viewpoint expressed in a particular written source or by describing the political information in a visual or table-based source.

Question 1 tests Assessment Objective 1 (AO1): Knowledge and Understanding, in particular, understanding of source material. The command terms you're likely to find in question 1 are: "identify" or "describe", though it is possible to also see "outline" or "define.

Question 1 can be asked with reference to an image, chart, graph, political cartoon, or excerpt of text. Historically, it has been a visual but that doesn't mean it couldn't be on the basis of a written component in the future. Don't count on Source 1 being of a particular type.

Constructing Your Response

SAMPLE QUESTION 1: With reference to Source A, identify three ways in which non-state actors can influence global politics.

You'll notice I have emphasized two components of this question (you won't find the typeface in question 1 emphasized like they are on the left on an exam). In writing your response, you must make note of something in the source or something that the source highlights more generally for each of your three points. This is the "reference to source A" part of the question.

Then, secondly, you need to connect whatever you have chosen to how "non-state actors can influence global politics". In others words, make sure you are actually answering the question that is being asked.

In the IB's markscheme below, I have highlighted how the photo is expected to be referenced as part of the way in which "non-state actors can influence global politics".

You'll also notice the first point is based on a "deduction" from the photo and the second and third points highlight something specific from the photo.

Whether you make a direct reference or draw an inference or deduce something from the photo, if you make a reasonable connection between the photo your point, you'll receive full points.

NOTE: Do use BOTH the image AND the text describing the image (located immediately above the image in our example) to develop your response. Both components constitute "Source A" and can be used.

What Is It Worth? How Long Should I Take? How Should I Structure My Response?

Marks: As noted at the bottom of the markscheme, students receive 1 mark for each point they make up to a maximum of 3 marks.

Length: 5 minutes

Structure:

  • Point form

  • Maximum of two lines for each point

  • Leave a line between each point so that it is clear that you have made three points.

  • While using quotes in this question is acceptable (if it is text-based), they should be kept short, no more than the 4-5 word range, and seamlessly incorporated into your response. Examiners want to see if you understand the text, not that you are good a plucking quotes that correlate to the question that has been asked. Keep your quotes to a minimum.

From the Markscheme

The following comes directly from the IB markscheme that is given to examiners when they grade this paper:

Answers may include:

• Non-state actors can help empower individuals and groups and provide opportunities for action. From the photo, it can be deduced that those represented are (1) from indigenous communities; (2) include many young people; and (3) are demonstrating in a non-standard way, in a non-standard place

• Non-state actors often address important global and regional issues in a direct and locally based way. The fact that the individuals in the photo are standing in the ocean brings home the importance of water. Candidates might add that unusual demonstrations of this type may become more mainstream in future

• Non-state actors can help to raise awareness through organized campaigning and publicity eg social media coverage (eg powerful visual images of the effects of climate change)

Other relevant points related to the ways non-state actors influence global politics can also be rewarded.

Award [1] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [3].

A Sample Response

This response received 3/3, though it doesn't follow exactly the format and structure I'd like to see, it is a reasonably good response.

From the Principal Examiner (The Subject Report)

Some candidates appeared to take a longer amount of time or write lengthier answers for question 1 than had been seen in previous years.

Candidates are advised to look closely at the wording of the question, in this case ‘ways in which non-state actors can influence global politics’ and provide three precise and succinct points [my emphasis added - in other words, make it short and sweet. Your answers don't need to be very long].