| Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 18M.1.bp.5 |
| Level | SL and HL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | |
| Command term | To what extent | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
To what extent do the most successful poverty reduction strategies focus on wealth creation and gender equality?
Markscheme
Refer to Paper 1 Section B markbands (available under the "Resources" tab) when marking this question.
Candidates can agree or disagree with the statement but need to be able to support their position. It is also possible that responses may agree with one part of the statement and not another. Either of these approaches is acceptable. Poverty reduction is open to interpretation and responses could distinguish between absolute and relative poverty. There are varied ways of tackling this question.
Responses should make use of examples but responses that focus on describing gender equality and wealth creation initiatives and not focusing on their effectiveness as a tool to reduce poverty will be self-limiting.
Wealth creation could explore the success or lack of success of remittances, financial aid, micro credit schemes, trade and market access and debt relief in helping to reduce poverty. This can be addressed on any scale and it is not necessary that all are addressed. This list is also not exclusive, as the guide allows for any strategy to be explored that reduces poverty. These could all be addressed with a gender twist.
Gender equality could explore the success or lack of success of the MDGs, which focused on equity, education and maternal health. Credit responses that explore the extent to which affirmative action policies, such as improving women’s access to markets (including labour, land and credit) and decision-making (from domestic to national) , are successful in the reduction of poverty.
The most successful strategies tend to be multifaceted, focusing on more than one aspect of poverty reduction and recognizing that the effects on gender equality may be indirect.
For band D expect some description of how wealth creation and gender equality can help/not help to successfully reduce poverty. This need not be balanced.
For band E expect either some explanation of how wealth creation and gender equality can help/not help to successfully reduce poverty or some evaluation of the extent of their success using examples.
For band F expect both.
Marks should be allocated according to Paper 1 Section B markbands
