AS LEVEL GEOGRAPHY: Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER 2: Geographical Debates. All
Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR H081/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The AS Level Geography May 2025 Geographical Debates Paper (OCR H081/02) combines the full
official examination paper with its complete mark scheme to provide a clear and focused revision
resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of contemporary geographical issues, debates, and
challenges, requiring analysis of evidence, evaluation of contrasting perspectives, and application of
geographical theory and concepts. By presenting each question alongside its marking criteria, the resource
offers guidance on analytical depth, structured argumentation, and the evaluative skills needed for higher-
band responses. This integrated format supports targeted revision, enhances critical thinking, and equips
students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the May 2026 OCR AS Level Geography
Geographical Debates examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Choose one topic and answer all the parts of the question in your chosen topic.
Climate Change
1
(a) Explain how two geoengineering strategies might reduce the risks of climate change. [4]
(b) Examine how past climate reveals periods of icehouse Earth. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 1, which shows the decreasing extent of Arctic sea ice.
(i) With reference to Fig. 1, describe the changes in extent of Arctic sea ice shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 1, suggest possible reasons for changes in the extent of Arctic sea ice.
[6]
(d) ‘The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides the most significant human response
to climate change.’
Discuss. [12]
Disease Dilemmas
2
(a) Explain how nature has provided conditions for two different medicines used to treat disease. [4]
(b) Examine how international organisations respond to the diffusion of disease. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 2, which shows diabetes prevalence among adults, ages 20–79, in Africa, 2021.
(i) With reference to Fig. 2, describe the spatial pattern of diabetes prevalence in Africa. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 2, suggest possible reasons for the variation in diabetes prevalence in
Africa. [6]
(d) ‘Human factors affect the spread of disease following a natural hazard more than environmental
factors.’
Discuss in the context of one country. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25
, 3
Exploring Oceans
3
(a) Explain two impacts on indigenous peoples resulting from changes in extent of sea ice in the
Arctic region. [4]
(b) Examine how pollution can spread around the globe via oceanic circulation. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 3, which shows the distribution of USA naval strongholds in the Indo-Pacific region,
2023.
(i) With reference to Fig. 3, describe the distribution of USA naval strongholds shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 3, suggest possible reasons for the distribution of USA naval strongholds.
[6]
(d) ‘Effective management is the key to sustainable use of biological resources within oceans.’
Discuss in the context of one renewable biological resource within oceans. [12]
Future of Food
4
(a) Explain two ways that globalisation can influence the food industry. [4]
(b) Examine the role of agribusiness in influencing the global food system. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 4, which shows the Global Hunger Index for countries of Africa, 2023.
(i) With reference to Fig. 4, describe the spatial pattern of the Global Hunger Index shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 4, suggest possible reasons for variation in the Global Hunger Index. [6]
(d) ‘Risks to food security in dryland areas are influenced mainly by worsening factors.’
Discuss in the context of one dryland area. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
Hazardous Earth
5
(a) Explain the fossil evidence for continental drift. [4]
(b) Examine how fossil records provide evidence for theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
[6]
(c) Study Fig. 5, which shows plates and plate boundaries in the southeast Pacific.
(i) With reference to Fig. 5, describe the pattern of plates and plate boundaries in the southeast
Pacific. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 5, suggest possible reasons for features and processes associated
with the convergent plate boundaries shown. [6]
(d) ‘Mitigation against vulnerability is the only effective strategy to manage hazards from volcanic
activity.’
Discuss. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25
Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR H081/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The AS Level Geography May 2025 Geographical Debates Paper (OCR H081/02) combines the full
official examination paper with its complete mark scheme to provide a clear and focused revision
resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of contemporary geographical issues, debates, and
challenges, requiring analysis of evidence, evaluation of contrasting perspectives, and application of
geographical theory and concepts. By presenting each question alongside its marking criteria, the resource
offers guidance on analytical depth, structured argumentation, and the evaluative skills needed for higher-
band responses. This integrated format supports targeted revision, enhances critical thinking, and equips
students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the May 2026 OCR AS Level Geography
Geographical Debates examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Choose one topic and answer all the parts of the question in your chosen topic.
Climate Change
1
(a) Explain how two geoengineering strategies might reduce the risks of climate change. [4]
(b) Examine how past climate reveals periods of icehouse Earth. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 1, which shows the decreasing extent of Arctic sea ice.
(i) With reference to Fig. 1, describe the changes in extent of Arctic sea ice shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 1, suggest possible reasons for changes in the extent of Arctic sea ice.
[6]
(d) ‘The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides the most significant human response
to climate change.’
Discuss. [12]
Disease Dilemmas
2
(a) Explain how nature has provided conditions for two different medicines used to treat disease. [4]
(b) Examine how international organisations respond to the diffusion of disease. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 2, which shows diabetes prevalence among adults, ages 20–79, in Africa, 2021.
(i) With reference to Fig. 2, describe the spatial pattern of diabetes prevalence in Africa. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 2, suggest possible reasons for the variation in diabetes prevalence in
Africa. [6]
(d) ‘Human factors affect the spread of disease following a natural hazard more than environmental
factors.’
Discuss in the context of one country. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25
, 3
Exploring Oceans
3
(a) Explain two impacts on indigenous peoples resulting from changes in extent of sea ice in the
Arctic region. [4]
(b) Examine how pollution can spread around the globe via oceanic circulation. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 3, which shows the distribution of USA naval strongholds in the Indo-Pacific region,
2023.
(i) With reference to Fig. 3, describe the distribution of USA naval strongholds shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 3, suggest possible reasons for the distribution of USA naval strongholds.
[6]
(d) ‘Effective management is the key to sustainable use of biological resources within oceans.’
Discuss in the context of one renewable biological resource within oceans. [12]
Future of Food
4
(a) Explain two ways that globalisation can influence the food industry. [4]
(b) Examine the role of agribusiness in influencing the global food system. [6]
(c) Study Fig. 4, which shows the Global Hunger Index for countries of Africa, 2023.
(i) With reference to Fig. 4, describe the spatial pattern of the Global Hunger Index shown. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 4, suggest possible reasons for variation in the Global Hunger Index. [6]
(d) ‘Risks to food security in dryland areas are influenced mainly by worsening factors.’
Discuss in the context of one dryland area. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
Hazardous Earth
5
(a) Explain the fossil evidence for continental drift. [4]
(b) Examine how fossil records provide evidence for theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
[6]
(c) Study Fig. 5, which shows plates and plate boundaries in the southeast Pacific.
(i) With reference to Fig. 5, describe the pattern of plates and plate boundaries in the southeast
Pacific. [4]
(ii) Using evidence from Fig. 5, suggest possible reasons for features and processes associated
with the convergent plate boundaries shown. [6]
(d) ‘Mitigation against vulnerability is the only effective strategy to manage hazards from volcanic
activity.’
Discuss. [12]
© OCR 2025 H081/02 Jun25
