‘The opportunities presented by hot desert environments always outweigh the challenges for development.’ Discuss this statement. [9 marks]
AO1 (published assessment objective): Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas; select and synthesise evidence from different texts (English Language). For Literature: read, understand and respond to texts, maintaining a critical style, developing an informed personal response, and using textual references including quotations to support and illustrate interpretations. For Geography: demonstrate knowledge of locations, places, processes, environments and different scales. For History: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.
AO2 (published assessment objective): Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views (English). For Geography: demonstrate geographical understanding of concepts and how they are used in relation to places, environments and processes, and the interrelationships between places, environments and processes. For History: explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.
AO3 (published assessment objective): Compare writers' ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts (English Language). For Literature: show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written. For Geography: apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues to make judgements. For History: analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements.
Assessed against AO1, AO2, AO3 using Revision Robin's own level descriptors below. These are not the exam board's mark scheme. Every quotation in the feedback is checked against your answer before you see it, and a teacher's mark overrides ours.
| Level 3 · 7 to 9 | Detailed and accurate knowledge and understanding of the opportunities and challenges in hot desert environments. A thorough discussion is presented, drawing clear and well-supported conclusions based on detailed evidence from a named case study. The argument is balanced, addressing both opportunities and challenges with depth, and directly engaging with the 'always outweigh' aspect. Geographical terminology is used accurately and effectively. Ideas are communicated logically and coherently, with a well-developed and sustained line of reasoning. |
| Level 2 · 4 to 6 | Sound knowledge and understanding of some opportunities and challenges in hot desert environments. A discussion is presented, with some conclusions, but these may lack depth or be unbalanced. A named case study is used, but may not be fully integrated or detailed enough to support the argument consistently. Geographical terminology is used, generally accurately. Ideas are communicated with some structure and a clear line of reasoning, but this may not be consistently maintained. |
| Level 1 · 1 to 3 | Basic knowledge and understanding of a few opportunities or challenges in hot desert environments. A limited discussion is attempted, often descriptive with few or no conclusions. Case study information, if present, is basic or generic. Limited use of geographical terminology. Communication of ideas is basic and may lack clarity or logical structure. |