GEOG4b - January 2010

[Victoria Ellis]

A space to discuss and share resources for the teaching of GEOG 4b for Jan 2010

[Emma Johns]

Under the ward map it makes suggestions to identify areas with high population density and 'where access to public open space and to routes that are attractive and safe for cycling and walking are comparitively difficult'.

I think the question will be something along the lines of 'what can be done in these areas?' as implied in the text below figure P3.

[Emma Johns]

Response from Ask-AQA re: mark allocations:

"The number of questions and the mark allocations for them will vary, to a certain extent, from paper to paper. The members of the Question Paper Evaluation Committee (QPEC), which has the final say on each paper, have tried to ensure a degree of consistency. However, the nature of the exercise means that there will be some variations between the different papers.

The papers that have been set so far all have about 6 separate questions. They all have some short answer quesstions with between 4 and 6 marks, some longer questions with between 8 and 12 marks, and at least 1 long question with 15 marks.

The short quesstions are usually data response questions which concentrate on extracting data from one particular map or table in the Advance Information Booklet. They are usually early questions on the paper.

The mid-length questions often refer to fieldwork and/or data collection, and some of them also ask candidates to synthesise information from a number of different parts of the AIB and from their own knowledge.

The 15 mark question(s) usually involves drawing some kind of conclusion from the issue evaluation exercise, and is usually the most synoptic element in the paper. It usually appears at the end of the paper.

My best advice to candidates preparing for the paper is:
*make sure that you know and understand everything in the AIB;
*think carefully about how the information in the AIB links to the concepts and ideas that have been studied through the 2 years of the geography course;
*think carefully about how the AIB links with case studies that you have done during the course;
*consider how the data in maps, diagrams, table, etc. might be manipulated and the types of presentation and analytic skills that might be required in questions;
*follow up any references to web sites that you are given in the AIB;
*think about the types of questions that might be asked and consider the general points that you might make in answers....but DO NOT over-prepare possible answers because you must be flexible and be prepared to respond to at least some unexpected emphases in questions."

Certainly helps in terms of advice to candidates and prep in lessons.

[Gavin Locke]

I am starting to teach t his today. Have a picture sheet to get some of the student'sideas and also a sheet on someo fthe key words / terms.

[Gavin Locke]

I agree. Doing this tomorrow. So what can be done in these areas? Any ideas?

[Gavin Locke]

Sorry. This wasmeant to be following Emma's comment on Page 3 regarding choropleth maps

[Fiona]

For info - I emailed ask AQA as wanted to check that pupils will not be reissued with the pre-released material in the actual exam. As I know with some exam boards in the past they have done

The response was as follows

'The centre will need to photocopy the paper and give this to the students to take into the exam with them. AQA does not issue extra copies to centres. Sorry, just one copy per student entered.'

Fiona

[Paula Brazier]

fyi the nice report is available as a hard copy for free - i ordered mine last week and they came today - will be issuing copies for highlighting / brainstorming.

[Anne Logie]

I got hard copies of Walking and Cycling links to schools Product Code 67RRLG02688 from DfT Publications: [e-mail]

[Gavin Locke]

I have tried to e-mail a few times but it always gets sent back to me as an invalid address. Any clues?

[Anne Logie]

try the website: www.publications.dft.gov.uk

[Claire Browning]

Thanks for everyones ideas I haven't taught pre-release before but I am reassured by the fact that I had similar thoughts/ideas after looking at it myself.

I was wondering if anyone had any more ideas about the field work aspect?

i agree that they could give them more data in the exam but will get mine to do a cloropleth map too.

Has anyone had any thoughts about realiablity of data and sources?

[Anne Logie]

P 36 in the above document has a section on methodology - surveys of road users. Possible fieldwork idea?