Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseThese are the big ones. 'Discuss' and 'Evaluate' questions are usually worth 8–12 marks and they're where students either shine or struggle. The good news? Once you know the formula, they're actually quite manageable. These questions ask you to think deeply, consider more than one side and come to a conclusion. They reward students who can argue a point, not just list facts.
Key Definitions:
If you only write one side of the argument in a 'Discuss' or 'Evaluate' question, you cannot reach the top mark band no matter how detailed your points are. Always include both sides!
Students often mix these two up. They're similar, but there's a key difference in what the examiner expects from you.
You are expected to explore a topic from multiple angles. Think of it like a conversation you're presenting different viewpoints and ideas. You might look at advantages and disadvantages, or consider how different groups of people are affected.
Example trigger: "Discuss the ways in which a seaside resort could attract more visitors."
Here you'd explore marketing, facilities, accessibility, pricing covering a range of ideas with explanation and examples.
You are expected to make a judgement. You weigh up the evidence and decide how successful, effective, or worthwhile something is. It's not enough to just describe you must assess.
Example trigger: "Evaluate how successfully a named airline has responded to the needs of passengers with disabilities."
Here you'd look at what they do well, what they do poorly and then judge overall how effective their provision is.
Both 'Discuss' and 'Evaluate' questions need a clear structure. Without structure, even brilliant ideas get lost. Use this framework every time:
PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explain, Link. It's slightly different from PEE because it adds a linking sentence that connects your paragraph back to the question this is what separates a Level 2 answer from a Level 3.
Make a clear, relevant point that directly answers the question. Don't waffle get straight to it.
Example: "One way the hotel effectively meets the needs of families is by offering an all-inclusive package."
Support your point with a named example, statistic, or case study. Named examples are essential for top marks.
Example: "For instance, Club Med resorts offer childcare, kids' clubs and family dining as part of their all-inclusive offer."
Explain WHY this is significant and link it back to the question focus.
Example: "This reduces stress for parents and increases satisfaction, making the resort more effective at meeting family needs."
Club Med operates all-inclusive resorts in over 40 countries. Their family offering includes dedicated kids' clubs for children aged 4 months to 17 years, trained childcare staff, family-friendly mealtimes and activities for all ages. This makes them a strong named example for questions about meeting family needs. In 2023, Club Med reported that over 60% of their guests were families showing demand for this type of provision is huge.
The conclusion is where many students lose marks. A weak conclusion just repeats what you've already said. A strong conclusion makes a clear, justified judgement. For 'Evaluate' questions especially, the conclusion is critical it's where you actually answer the question.
Weak conclusion (avoid this):
"In conclusion, there are many ways the travel industry meets the needs of tourists and there are also some ways it does not."
❌ This says nothing. It doesn't make a judgement and won't score well.
Strong conclusion (aim for this):
"Overall, I would argue that the travel and tourism industry is moderately effective at meeting the needs of elderly tourists. While major airlines and hotel chains have made significant improvements such as British Airways' dedicated assistance service and accessible room designs smaller, independent operators often lack the resources to provide the same level of provision. Therefore, effectiveness depends heavily on the type and size of the operator."
✅ This makes a clear judgement, uses evidence and acknowledges nuance. This is Level 3 thinking.
Let's break down how a top student would approach this step by step.
Jot down a quick plan. Think: What are the needs of elderly tourists? What does the industry do well? What does it do badly? Who can I name as an example?
| Elderly Tourist Needs | Industry Does Well ✅ | Industry Could Improve ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible facilities | Many hotels offer ground-floor rooms, lifts, grab rails | Older, historic hotels may lack full accessibility |
| Slower pace of travel | Saga Holidays specialise in over-50s travel | Budget airlines prioritise speed over comfort |
| Medical support | Cruise ships carry medical staff onboard | Travel insurance for elderly tourists can be expensive |
| Clear information | Some operators offer printed brochures and phone booking | Increasing reliance on apps and digital-only booking |
Paragraph 1 (Positive point): "One way the travel industry effectively meets the needs of elderly tourists is through specialist operators. Saga Holidays, for example, exclusively targets the over-50s market and offers slower-paced itineraries, comprehensive travel insurance and accessible accommodation as standard. This is effective because it removes the need for elderly tourists to adapt mainstream holidays to their needs the product is designed specifically for them, increasing satisfaction and reducing stress."
Paragraph 2 (Negative/counter point): "However, not all areas of the industry are as well adapted. Budget airlines such as Ryanair have faced criticism for inadequate provision for elderly and less mobile passengers. Whilst they are legally required to provide wheelchair assistance, the process can be slow and undignified and the digital-only booking system can be difficult for older travellers who are less confident online. This suggests that effectiveness varies significantly depending on the type of operator."
Conclusion: "Overall, the travel industry's effectiveness in meeting elderly tourist needs is inconsistent. Specialist operators like Saga perform very well, but mainstream budget operators often fall short. As the UK's population ages, there is a growing commercial incentive for the industry to improve but currently, provision is patchy rather than universal."
A 'Discuss' question at 8 marks needs at least two well-developed points with evidence, plus a conclusion. You don't need as much depth as a 10–12 mark question, but you still need balance.
Emirates is globally recognised for outstanding customer service. All cabin crew complete a minimum of 7 weeks' intensive training at the Emirates Aviation College in Dubai. This covers safety, language skills, cultural awareness and customer care. The result? Emirates has won the Skytrax World's Best Airline award multiple times. This is a powerful named example for any question about training, customer service, or meeting diverse tourist needs.
One of the biggest mistakes students make is spending too long on short questions and running out of time for the big ones. Here's a simple guide:
| Question Type | Marks | Suggested Time | What's Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Describe / State | 2–4 marks | 4–6 minutes | Short, factual points |
| Explain | 4–6 marks | 8–10 minutes | Points with reasons |
| Discuss | 8 marks | 12–15 minutes | Balanced argument + conclusion |
| Evaluate | 10–12 marks | 15–20 minutes | Detailed balanced argument + strong justified conclusion |
For 'Discuss' and 'Evaluate' questions, examiners use level descriptors rather than marking individual points. This means:
You can write a lot and still only reach Level 2 if you don't balance your argument or conclude properly!
This is a brilliant case study for 'Evaluate' or 'Discuss' questions about business success, customer service, or meeting tourist needs.
Thomas Cook collapsed in September 2019, stranding over 150,000 UK tourists abroad. Contributing factors included poor customer service responses to complaints, failure to adapt to online booking trends and a lack of investment in staff training. This is a powerful example of what happens when a business fails to meet customer needs effectively.
Use this when: evaluating the consequences of poor customer service or business failure.
TUI responded to changing customer needs by investing heavily in digital services, staff training and personalised holiday packages. They introduced the TUI app for real-time customer support and expanded their accessible holiday range. TUI remains one of the world's largest travel companies with over 19 million customers annually.
Use this when: discussing effective customer service, digital adaptation, or meeting diverse tourist needs.
Using the right language signals to the examiner that you're thinking at a higher level. Try to include some of these phrases in your 'Discuss' and 'Evaluate' answers:
Have a go at these yourself using everything you've learned in this session. Remember: plan first, use PEEL, balance your argument and always conclude.
"Discuss the extent to which online booking technology has improved the travel experience for tourists."
Hints: Think about convenience, 24/7 access, price comparison sites (e.g. Skyscanner), but also digital exclusion, data security concerns and the loss of personal service.
"Evaluate how effectively a named travel and tourism organisation meets the needs of tourists from different cultural backgrounds."
Hints: Name a real organisation (e.g. Emirates, Marriott Hotels, Disneyland Paris). Consider language support, halal/kosher food options, prayer facilities, cultural sensitivity training. What do they do well? Where do they fall short?