Topic 9 · Case Study & Internal Assessment

Chapter 1 · Case Study skills

📋 Reference · always available

Released early

Booklet released ~8 months BEFORE the exam. Start day it's released — your single biggest Paper 3 lever.

4-stage method

READ booklet twice → GLOSSARY every term → RESEARCH 3-5 sources per term → DRILL timed prompts.

Glossary

Define EVERY technical term precisely. ~30 terms per case study. Examiners reward precise vocabulary.

Research depth

3-5 reputable sources per term (vendor whitepapers, peer-reviewed, industry analysis) — Wikipedia alone fails.

Practise

Timed mock answers on predicted prompts. Review with teacher. Identifies weak topics.

Verb table

State (fact) · Identify (pick) · Define (precise meaning) · Describe (account) · Outline (key features) · Explain (reasons) · Distinguish (differences) · Discuss (balanced argument) · Evaluate (judgement w/ evidence).

Apply, don't just define

ALWAYS anchor each paragraph to the case-study scenario by NAME (the booklet's actors, systems, sites). Abstract-only answers score ~50% lower.

Common failure mode

Cramming weeks before. Paper 3 rewards months of structured prep — there is no shortcut.

Time budget

~15 hours total over 8 months. ~1 read + 3 glossary + 6 research + 5 drill.