Geography
Please see the examples of responses to an exam question from your Yr 9 Living World topic
Notice how, to reach higher grades, students need to make full use of any source material (like photographs or maps) and need to link what they see to their wider understanding of the subject.
Using your own judgement, real-world examples and key words are all important ingredients to reaching high grades at Geography GCSE
Grade 3
Students who regularly getting L1 with their extended answers
This student recieved L1 3/9 marks
Notice how the Grade 3 response makes use of the figure by saying "As shown" and uses connectives like "this is because" in their answer to develop their points with some explanation.
Do you regularly use connectives in your work?
"This is because"
"This means that"
Grade 5
Students regularly getting L2 in extended answers
This student received L2 5/9 marks here
This grade 5 response again uses the figure 11 in their answer, but also links what they see to their case study of the Amazon Rainforest that they studied in class, this is making a link to their wider learning. Also, notice how the student has a second paragraph that challenges the question and provides an alternative argument or point of view and this is supported with their knowledge of Brazil.
Are you able to give advantages and disadvantages to a geographical issue?
"One positive is..."
"One Negative impact is..."
Grade 7
Students regularly getting L3 in extended answers
This student got L3 9/9 for this answer
Students in the higher grades of 7+ will be able to not only make links to their knowledge, but also remember specific detail about their case studies (Here for example the student discusses Sacha Lodge as a real life ecotourist resort in the Amazon Rainforest). They have included real data on how much of the forest has been protected and can quote the area as part of their argument. Again this student has offered both positive and negative impacts of activities, which again shows that they understand that there are two sides in this geographical issue.
Do you often offer an argument or judgement in your answers with statements like...
"The most important factor is"
"This is more significant because"
"It could be argued"
"Others may disagree because"