The geographical issue has a total mark allocation of 40 marks. This is 27% of the overall marks for the course assessment.

The geographical issue enables candidates to demonstrate the application of their skills, knowledge and understanding through undertaking independent research.

Candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate:

• critically evaluating a current complex geographical issue using a wide range of sources and viewpoints

• integrating a wide range of geographical skills

Setting, conducting and marking the geographical issue

In order to complete the geographical issue, candidates need to:

• justify their choice of a current complex geographical issue to critically evaluate

• undertake wider background reading from a wide range of sources relating to the geographical issue

• summarise a wide range of viewpoints on the complex geographical issue

• critically evaluate each of the viewpoints

• reach reasoned conclusions supported by a wide range of evidence

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to carry out a critical evaluation of a complex geographical issue by identifying viewpoints from a wide range of sources relating to the issue, and evaluating these viewpoints in a way that allows valid conclusion(s) to be drawn.

Teachers and lecturers should provide reasonable guidance on the types of issue which will enable candidates to meet all the requirements of this assessment. Teachers and lecturers may also guide candidates as to the likely availability and accessibility of resources for their chosen issue.

Candidates will work on their geographical issue with minimum support from the teacher or lecturer.

The geographical issue is managed by centres within SQA guidelines and is conducted under some supervision and control.

Evidence is submitted to SQA for external marking. All marking is quality assured by SQA.