How to answer "Justify" questions
Justify means: Give evidence or reasons to SUPPORT a statement, decision or conclusion.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
AO3. · Also phrased as: give evidence for, support with reasons
What the examiner is looking for
- Use the specific evidence/data provided to back the claim.
- Link each piece of evidence to why it supports the conclusion.
How to structure your answer
- State the reason, then the evidence that supports it.
- Reference figures/results directly.
Worked example
Q: A student concludes that enzyme X works best at pH 7. Justify this conclusion using the graph. (2 marks)
Model answer: The rate of reaction is highest at pH 7 (peak of the curve) [1], and falls on either side, showing the enzyme is most active — its optimum — at pH 7 [1].
Common mistakes
- Giving an opinion with no evidence.
- Quoting evidence but not saying WHY it supports the conclusion.
Practise it
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