For the task, candidates will be given a context within which they should answer the question. For example, they may be asked to imagine that they are a particular person, or have a particular role. Alternatively, they could be given a set of guidelines, which should form the basis for all of their answers. In some cases, they may even be told that they represent a certain body with a specific 'mission statement'. It is important that they empathise with this role, whatever it may be.

Candidates should remember that they:
· must treat the paper as a whole exercise, with all the questions being linked;
· must demonstrate familiarity with the data/information;
· must refer to maps and diagrams that are provided in an accurate and relevant manner;
· should draw and label their own maps and diagrams, if relevant;
· will be asked to identify problems/issues/conflicts;
· will be asked to consider a variety of proposals;
· will be asked to make a decision, and justify that decision.

As in other forms of examination it is important that candidates answer the question(s) asked, and keep a firm eve on the time. Appropriate use of the mark allocation will give an indication of the amount of time to be spent on each aspect of the DME. By their nature, the decision-making element and subsequent justification come at the end, and so it is vital that candidates leave enough time to complete the task thoroughly.

When making the final decision, they should make sure they consider all or some of the following points:
· short term and long term effects of the proposal;
· local/regional/national considerations;
· spatial impacts of each proposal;
· social, economic and environmental impacts;
· costs and benefits of each proposal;
· the effects of each proposal on different groups of people in the area.

Finally, candidates will be asked to justify their decision. This must include a strong piece of writing in favour of the chosen option(s), but may also include explanations of why the other options were rejected. They should try to avoid repetition, but make brief references back to the previous sections of the answer. They should develop the points made earlier in the context of the final decision and in the context of the role they have assumed. They should be logical, use the evidence accumulated from the rest of the exercise, and remember that the paper was conceived as a single, complete task.