The feedback for the level 2 skills practice Geography exam 2013. Takapuna Grammar School Geography

1. 2.4 Skills Exam Feedback

2. Overall …..
Pretty disappointing considering how many of 2.1 and
2.3 were voided.
1 Excellence
7 Merits
Bunch of Achieved
Bunch of Not Achieved
Not too many voids – YAH there is hope!!!!

3. Question 1 Answers
a. 102 %
b. Any THREE of: tourism, fishing, retail, forestry, dairying,
horticulture or Port of Tauranga
c. Matakana Island
d. Kaimai Range
e. Follows along the coastline OR main roads (a) or
Linear or curved or peripheral pattern along coastline /
clustered around harbour (b)
(DID NOT accept „linear‟ or „clustered‟ or „peripheral‟)
f. Oblique
g. NW
h. Otumoetai
i. Maheka Point

4. Question 1 answers continued
j. Precis Map – two levels: understanding (u) and detailed (d)
1. Coastline : u – joins at both ends with general shape
d – mount shape, bend within circle
2. Tauranga Airport: u – runway only within specific area
d – boundary included
3. Oxidation ponds: u – within area
d – 2 ponds with shape within area
4. Kopukairua: u – within outer circle
d – within inner circle
5. Waikareao Estuary: u – estuary within limits, must be
shaded
d – not an option

5. Question 1 answers continued
k. 4.4 km (4.3 and 4.5 km accepted)
l. 831231 (+1 on 3rd and 6th digits accepted)
m. Understanding (tick) – recognition that harbour has large areas of
shallows OR sand / shingle, so channel needs to be clearly
marked for ships
In-depth (b) – recognition that harbour has large areas of
shallows AND sand/single, so channel needs to be clearly marked
for ships – some supporting evidence from map
n. Understanding (tick) – explains Tauranga City layout resulted
from its location – some evidence from map
In depth (b) – detailed explanation that T C‟s layout has resulted
from its location – detailed supporting evidence
Comprehensive (c) – comprehensive explanation that TC‟s
layout has resulted from its location – range of points
covered, detailed, supporting evidence from map, shows insight
and uses geographic terminology

6. Question 1 – mark allocation
N0: No response; no relevant evidence
N1: 5 of 18 at understanding level (5 ticks)
N2: 8 of 18 at understanding level (8 ticks)
A3: 11 of 18 at understanding level (11 ticks)
A4: 13 of 18 at understanding level (13 ticks)
M5: 3 of 7 at in-depth understanding level (b‟s) – one of
which must be (e), (m) or (n)
M6: 4 of 7 at in-depth understanding level (b‟s) – one of
which must be (e), (m) or (n)
E7: (j) at comprehensive understanding level (c‟s) plus
(e), (m), or (n) at in-depth level OR
(n) at comprehensive understanding level plus THREE
other responses at in-depth understanding level
E8: (j) and (n) at comprehensive understanding level

7. Question 2 - answers
Question (a)
Understanding: Four of the elements (a)
In depth understanding: Five of the elements (b)
Comprehensive understanding: Six of the elements (c)
ELEMENTS
1. Title (must include what it is, BOTH subjects and time
period)
2. All axes have even scales (vertical axes begin at 0)
3. Axes correctly labelled
4. TWO lines beginning at 1961
5. Lines identified
6. At least THREE correct for Tauranga
7. At least THREE correct for New Zealand

8. Question 2 answers continued
Question (b)
Understanding (a)
Comparison general: population growth of Tauranga is
much faster than for NZ; BOTH settings mentioned
In-depth (b)
Detailed comparisons of Tauranga and NZ growth; some
specific evidence
Comprehensive (c)
Detailed comparisons of Tauranga and NZ growth, including
future growth predictions; use of specific information

9. Question 2 continued
Question (c)
Understanding (a)
TWO differences stated; general evidence used
(1)Tauranga has more people in the 65 + age group
compared to NZ
(2)Tauranga has fewer in the 5-14 age group
In-depth (b)
TWO differences stated; specific evidence used
(1)Tauranga has more people in the 65 + age group at 17.4
% compared to NZ
(2)Tauranga has fewer in the 5-14 age group at 14.2 %

10. Question 2 answers continued
Question (c)
Comprehensive (c)
TWO differences stated using specific evidence for BOTH
subjects within answer
(1)Tauranga has more people in the 65 + age group at 17.4
% compared with the rest of NZ at 14.1 %
(2)Tauranga has fewer in the 5-14 age group at 14.2 %
compared with the rest of NZ at 15.5 %
The differences stated needed to be 65 + age group
and 5 – 14 age group – NOT other age groups as they
differences between Tauranga and NZ were not big in
other age groups

11. Question 2 answers continued
Question (d)
Understanding (a)
Brief explanation of climate being a reason why people would
choose to live there
In-depth (b)
Explanation of climate being a reason why people would
choose to liver there; some specific evidence used
Comprehensive (c)
Detailed explanation of climate being a reason why people
would choose to live there; use of specific evidence integrated
throughout

12. Question 2 – mark allocation
N0: No response; no relevant evidence
N1: ONE or more parts have relevance but are insufficiently
correct
N2: 1 of 4 at understanding level (a’s)
A3: 2 of 4 at understanding level (a’s)
A4: 3 of 4 at understanding level (a’s)
M5: 2 of 4 at in-depth understanding level (b’s)
M6: 3 of 4 at in-depth understanding level (b’s)
E7: 2 of 4 at comprehensive understanding level (c’s)
E8: 3 of 4 at comprehensive understanding level (c’s)

13. Question 3 (a) (i)
UNDERSTANDING (a’s)
Explanation of characteristics of the natural environment. Some
supporting evidence used.
IN-DEPTH (b’s)
Detailed explanation of characteristics of the natural environment.
Detailed supporting evidence used.
COMPREHENSIVE (c’s)
Comprehensive explanation of the characteristics of the natural
environment. Need to use geographic terminology
Needed 2 or more characteristics

14. Question 3 (a) (ii)
UNDERSTANDING (a’s)
Explanation of characteristics of the cultural environment. Some
supporting evidence used.
IN-DEPTH (b’s)
Detailed explanation of characteristics of the cultural environment.
Detailed supporting evidence used.
COMPREHENSIVE (c’s)
Comprehensive explanation of the characteristics of the cultural
environment. Need to use geographic terminology
Needed 2 or more characteristics

15. Question 3 (b)
UNDERSTANDING (a’s)
Explanation of CHANGE to the natural OR cultural
environment. Some supporting evidence used.
IN-DEPTH (b’s)
Detailed explanation of CHANGE to the natural OR cultural
environment. Reference made to how landscape will be
changed in the future. Detailed supporting evidence.
COMPREHENSIVE (c’s)
Comprehensive explanation of CHANGE to natural AND cultural
environment. Reference made to how landscape will be
changed in future. Range of points covered using geographic
terminology

16. Question 3
N0: No response; no relevant evidence
N1: ONE or more parts have relevance but are insufficiently
correct
N2: 1 of 3 at understanding level (a’s)
A3: 2 of 3 at understanding level (a’s)
A4: ALL 3 at understanding level (a’s)
M5: 2 of 3 at in-depth understanding level (b’s)
M6: ALL 3 at in-depth understanding level (b’s)
E7: 2 of 3 at comprehensive understanding level (c’s)
E8: ALL 3 at comprehensive understanding level (c’s)

17. Overall Comments Q1
 Generally well done
 Precis Map generally lacked accuracy
 Specifics not used from Resource Booklet for „in-depth‟
answers
 Pattern stated as „peripheral‟ or „clustered‟ or „linear‟
BUT not described “i.e. around the coastline”

18. Overall Comments Q2
 Generally not well done AT ALL
 Graph was generally terrible
 When data needs to be plotted with two different
scales USE a y axis (on the left of the graph) and
an x axis (on the right of the graph)
 For question c state the obvious TWO differences
 For question d USE THE RESOURCE BOOKLET

19. Overall Comments Q3
 Generally well done
 Parts a and b – needed to talk about characteristics
(plural) so climate AND beaches OR Port AND other
industries
 Part c – good explanations of cultural changed BUT
natural changes often not explained at all. Question
asked for both natural AND cultural