2. What do I have to do?
• 6 questions totalling 65
marks; each question 10-12
marks split into sub- parts
‘a’, ‘b’ etc
• 3 on World at Risk
• 3 on Going Global
• Maximum mark for a sub-
part 5-6 marks
• Quality of written
communication not
assessed
• You have around 1 hour to
complete Section A.
3. Question types: Objective Items
• There are a few - possibly totalling 5-6 marks (this has
been the case in previous exams)
• Often they will be linked to a resource and will be data
based. Read them carefully.
4. Questions types: Quick-fire 2 or 3-markers
• About 15 marks from 2-3
mark questions.
• These often focus on:
definitions / the meaning
of key terms
Listing factors , benefits,
costs etc..
Picking key information
from a resource.
• The approach should be
to use as few words as
possible ; there is no
need to spend time on
nicely structured writing
style.
5. Question types: Longer
• The majority of the Section A marks will come from
questions worth 4-6marks.
• These will be a little more open:
6. • Write to the mark
allocation - 5 marks
= 5 points etc.
• Don’t write too
much.
• There is evidence
from Examiners
Reports that some
candidates spent
too long on some
Section A 4-5 mark
questions.
7. Pitfalls 1: Resources
• Remember that Section A uses Stimulus resources –
there will be 6 of these (Figures), one for each
question.
• They will be a mixture of:
• Maps
• Graphs
• Data tables
• Photographs
• Diagrams / Cartoons
8. • Figures have a nasty
habit of tripping some
candidates up, usually
because they are
rushing and:
• Don’t bother to read
the Figure title
• Ignore or mis-read
keys, scales and axes
labels
• Ignore the resource
altogether
9. Being able to quickly work-
out what the information is
showing is critical.
10. Pitfalls 2: Command Words
• Describe and explain are sometimes confused leading
to answers which fail to score marks using the Section
A points mark schemes.
• Make sure you don’t drift into explanation when you
have been asked to describe:
11. Pitfalls 3: Key words
• Some key words and geographical terminology can cause
problems.
• In this past paper the word ecological caused a few difficulties
with many candidates not quite grasping its specific meaning:
12. Pitfalls 4: Range of reasons
• 4 and 5 mark questions require a range of points
• OR several extended points
• This candidate hasn’t quite grasped extended points
13. • Extended points = 2 marks rather than 1
• adding an example, additional facts, or more detailed
explanation.
14. Summary
• Timing – spend no more than 1 hour on section A
• Examine the resources carefully – look twice, answer
once.
• Move through the 1-3 mark questions quickly and
efficiently – do not spend long writing
• Spot the command words – especially the difference
between describe an explain
• Remember the mark allocation – 4/5 mark questions
require answers with a range of points to gain full
marks.
