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New GCSE Geography Specification A Commentary

Script A Task 4 - Water on the Land Investigate changes in the cross profile(s) of a river.
Geographical Understanding The candidate identifies and defines nine key terms, concepts and processes. This is too many to maintain effectively throughout the entire investigation and four or five would have been easier to manage. In situations such as this we aim to track 4 or 5 key terms throughout the investigation. In this case the candidate uses many of the terms in their methodology and when interpreting their results. Some terms appear beyond the interpretations, but the candidate did not help to maximise the mark range as they failed to provide a clear Conclusions section. Location evidence was clear. Marks Awarded = 9 marks

Methodology The work was teacher-directed with no planning carried out by the student, therefore no marks at Level 3 can be considered. The investigation is designed to test one hypothesis (as required by the Specification) and the work is given a context. The three data collection methods are clearly described and diagrams are used to help with this part of the report. Six data collection sites were used and the date and conditions were recorded. Marks Awarded = 8 marks

Presentation There is a wide range of basic presentation techniques used within this investigation. The candidate lists the same data three times on successive pages and presents this information in three different ways. Only one of these presentation techniques can earn credit otherwise candidates could use just one set of data many times over and gain all of the presentation marks. The graph referred to as a scatter is simply a line graph, but it does work and could earn some credit at Level 1. The bar graph is better but the radar graph lacks clarity. Altogether there are five presentation techniques that, combined, take the candidate to the top of Level 2. The located cross-sections of the river channel are accurate and the vertical scales have not been exaggerated to show depth. This is an example of a more complex skill and earns marks at Level 3. Marks Awarded = 10 marks

Interpretation All of the Level 2 requirements are present, although the conclusions are distributed throughout the interpretations section and it would have been better if the candidate had included a separate conclusions page. The data have been used effectively and some quite detailed analysis has been carried out. Links between data sets have been identified. The validity of some conclusions statements has been strengthened by reference to the data. Marks Awarded = 10 marks
Geography A Script A Commentary Autumn 10/Spring 11

Evaluation The candidate has addressed issues relating to the methods used within the Methodology table and offered suggestions for improvements. Some of this information is repeated in the Evaluation section and candidates should aim to cover such material just once within their investigation. The accuracy of the results is also addressed. In the final part of the investigation the candidate does indicate how their conclusion could be made more valid. Marks Awarded = 9 marks

Total = 46/60

Geography A Script A Commentary Autumn 10/Spring 11