Low voter turnout in a democracy can have serious consequences for representation and political accountability.
This guide breaks down how to analyse the causes and effects of low voter turnout in a democracy, using the provided exam texts to build a high-scoring personal response that demonstrates analytical depth and critical reflection.
Why this matters on the exam
Tasks like this one are central to the English subject in Norwegian upper secondary school, especially for VG1 and VG2. They test your ability to engage with authentic texts on important social issues, a core component of the curriculum's focus on "Democracy and Citizenship". An examiner uses this task to assess not just your English language skills, but also your critical thinking and ability to construct a coherent argument based on evidence.
On past exams, similar tasks have required students to reflect on topics ranging from freedom of speech to the influence of social media on politics. What they all have in common is the requirement to use a set of source materials to inform a personal reflection. Here are three concrete reasons why mastering this type of task is crucial:
- Synthesizing Sources: The task explicitly states, "Using all the provided material". A top-grade response does not just list what each source says. It synthesizes them. For instance, you can connect Gerardo Berthin's warning about populism (Text A) directly to the widespread apathy depicted in the cartoon (Text C), arguing that the second condition creates the perfect breeding ground for the first.
- Demonstrating Reflection: The key phrase is "personal response where you reflect". This means going beyond summary. You must show the examiner you understand the implications of the sources. For example, instead of just stating that politicians listen more to voters (Text B), you could reflect on *which* social groups are often over-represented among voters (e.g., older, wealthier citizens) and what consequences this has for policy-making concerning youth or low-income families.
- Bridging Subject Knowledge: This topic connects directly to what you learn in *samfunnskunnskap* (social studies). While you must focus on the provided texts, an examiner will be impressed if you use concepts from social studies to enrich your analysis. Mentioning concepts like "democratic deficit" or "electoral mandate" shows that you can make interdisciplinary connections and possess a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Exploring issues like youth disengagement from voting shows you can think critically about specific demographics.
📋 Exam Question
Democracies are dependent on voting and democratic participation to ensure representation. However, many countries experience low participation rates in elections, and this is regarded as a democratic problem.
Read the material below.
Using all the provided material, write a personal response where you reflect on some of the consequences of low voter turn-out in a democracy.
Recommended length for this task is 175–300 words.
Text A
"[I]f existing democratic processes continue to fail them, young people may reject core values of democratic governance, such as consensus, dialogue, accountability, and inclusion. Populist authoritarians will amplify this dissatisfaction to their own selfish advantage." …