Stage 8

Evaluation

This is where the marks are. Don't just describe: judge.

Criterion E (Evaluation) is worth three marks. The difference between a level-5 and a level-7 commentary almost always comes down to this section. Description tells the examiner what happened. Evaluation tells them what it means, whether it worked, and why it might not have.

The tool for this is CLASPP. Use at least three of its six components to show multidimensional thinking.

CLASPP

Conclusion

Provide a final, definitive judgment on the policy's overall effectiveness. Don't sit on the fence: make a call.

Long-term vs Short-term

Distinguish between immediate impacts and delayed consequences. Effects that look good in the short run may not hold up over time, and vice versa.

Assumptions

Critique the theoretical assumptions. Does ceteris paribus hold? Are consumers actually rational? What happens to your model if they're not?

Stakeholders

Identify the winners and losers. Consumers, producers, workers, the government, third parties: who benefits and who doesn't?

Priorities

Determine which economic objective is most critical in this specific context. Efficiency? Equity? Growth? The answer shapes how you judge the policy.

Pros and Cons

Explicitly weigh the advantages of the policy against its disadvantages. Show you can see both sides before reaching a judgment.

Pick at least three. And don't just list them: develop each one properly. A sentence per point is not evaluation. Aim for a paragraph each, with reasoning anchored in the article.

What good evaluation sounds like

Compare these two:

Weak: "The sugar tax will reduce consumption of sugary drinks in the long run."

Strong: "While taxation theoretically incentivises consumers to reduce their consumption of sugary drinks in the long run, this assumes a significant price elasticity of demand. However, the article notes that sugar acts as an addictive agent: meaning demand may be relatively inelastic, and the tax may simply raise revenue without meaningfully changing behaviour. This limits the tax's effectiveness as a tool to correct the externality."

The strong version takes a point, challenges an assumption, anchors it in the article, and reaches a nuanced judgment. That's Criterion E marks.

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