AQA A-level GEOGRAPHY Paper 1 MARK SCHEME 2023: Physical
Geography
SPECIMEN MATERIAL
A-level
GEOGRAPHY
PAPER 1
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Mark scheme
Specimen material
v1.1
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Section A
Question 1 Water and carbon cycles
01 1 Explain the concept of dynamic equilibrium in relation to the 4
water cycle.
AO1=4
Allow 1 mark per valid point with extra mark(s) for developed points
(d).
AO1
Dynamic equilibrium refers to the tendency towards a natural
state of balance within the hydrological cycle (1).
The cycle is a closed system as no water enters or leaves the
system; it is simply recycled around the system (d) (1).
The drainage basin element of the hydrological cycle is an open
system where the inputs and outputs can change (d) (1).
The dynamic equilibrium is easily upset by extreme events such
as storms or droughts (1).
Human activity can also cause disruption to the dynamic
equilibrium, eg by modifying the drainage basin (1).
This causes disruption or interference to the dynamic equilibrium
and is evidenced through flooding for example (1).
Such events and processes cause sudden changes in the state of
the system and disrupt or interfere with dynamic equilibrium as is
the case with flooding (1).
4
Geography
SPECIMEN MATERIAL
A-level
GEOGRAPHY
PAPER 1
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Mark scheme
Specimen material
v1.1
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – PAPER 1 – SPECIMEN MATERIAL
Section A
Question 1 Water and carbon cycles
01 1 Explain the concept of dynamic equilibrium in relation to the 4
water cycle.
AO1=4
Allow 1 mark per valid point with extra mark(s) for developed points
(d).
AO1
Dynamic equilibrium refers to the tendency towards a natural
state of balance within the hydrological cycle (1).
The cycle is a closed system as no water enters or leaves the
system; it is simply recycled around the system (d) (1).
The drainage basin element of the hydrological cycle is an open
system where the inputs and outputs can change (d) (1).
The dynamic equilibrium is easily upset by extreme events such
as storms or droughts (1).
Human activity can also cause disruption to the dynamic
equilibrium, eg by modifying the drainage basin (1).
This causes disruption or interference to the dynamic equilibrium
and is evidenced through flooding for example (1).
Such events and processes cause sudden changes in the state of
the system and disrupt or interfere with dynamic equilibrium as is
the case with flooding (1).
4
