question and answer

This Question and Answer focuses on the new-style fieldwork and research question in Unit 2 of Edexcel AS geography: Geographical Investigations. The question is in bold type and the student answers are in italics. Each student has taken a different approach to answering the question and the strengths and weaknesses of each are discussed. The examiner’s comments are the responsibility of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW and have neither been provided nor approved by the awarding body. Cameron Dunn writes here in a personal capacity.

Table 1 Question structure

For the Unit 2 Geographical Investigations examination candidates choose two options: Crowded Coasts or Extreme Weather and Unequal Spaces or Rebranding Places. This Question and Answer focuses on the Rebranding Places option and specifically on the fieldwork and research component. Each question has three components, as shown in Table 1, and these can appear in any order.

Each examination paper contains a 15-mark question (part b) that focuses on fieldwork and research. This is therefore an important area to work on, both in class and during your own revision. In 2009 this examination was 1 hour long but from January 2010 it will be 1 hour 15 minutes, giving candidates slightly more time to answer in depth.