MARK SCHEME – GCSE GEOGRAPHY – 8035/3 – JUNE
2023
AQA
GCSE
GEOGRAPHY
8035/3
Paper 3 Geographical Applications
Mark scheme
June 2023
1
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE GEOGRAPHY – 8035/3 – JUNE
2023
Point marked questions marking instructions
The mark scheme will state the correct answer or a range of possible answers, although these may not
be exhaustive. It may indicate how a second mark is awarded for a second point or developed idea. It
may give an indication of unacceptable answers. Each mark should be shown by placing a tick where
credit is given. The number of ticks must equal the mark awarded. Do not use crosses to indicate
answers that are incorrect.
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor is linked to the Assessment Objective(s) being addressed. The descriptor for the level shows
the average performance for the 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. You
should read the whole answer before awarding marks on levels response questions.
Step 1 Determine a level
Descriptors for the level indicate the different qualities that might be seen in the student’s answer for that
level. 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 2 with a small amount of Level 3 material it
would be placed in Level 2 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the Level 3
content. For instance, in a 9 mark question with three levels of response, an answer may demonstrate
thorough knowledge and understanding (AO1 and AO2) but fail to respond to command words such as
assess or evaluate (AO3). The script could still access Level 2 marks. Note that the mark scheme is not
progressive in the sense that students don’t have to fulfil all the requirements of Level 1 in order to
access Level 2.
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 also help. There will
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE GEOGRAPHY – 8035/3 – JUNE
2023
generally 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
2023
AQA
GCSE
GEOGRAPHY
8035/3
Paper 3 Geographical Applications
Mark scheme
June 2023
1
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE GEOGRAPHY – 8035/3 – JUNE
2023
Point marked questions marking instructions
The mark scheme will state the correct answer or a range of possible answers, although these may not
be exhaustive. It may indicate how a second mark is awarded for a second point or developed idea. It
may give an indication of unacceptable answers. Each mark should be shown by placing a tick where
credit is given. The number of ticks must equal the mark awarded. Do not use crosses to indicate
answers that are incorrect.
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor is linked to the Assessment Objective(s) being addressed. The descriptor for the level shows
the average performance for the 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. You
should read the whole answer before awarding marks on levels response questions.
Step 1 Determine a level
Descriptors for the level indicate the different qualities that might be seen in the student’s answer for that
level. 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 2 with a small amount of Level 3 material it
would be placed in Level 2 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the Level 3
content. For instance, in a 9 mark question with three levels of response, an answer may demonstrate
thorough knowledge and understanding (AO1 and AO2) but fail to respond to command words such as
assess or evaluate (AO3). The script could still access Level 2 marks. Note that the mark scheme is not
progressive in the sense that students don’t have to fulfil all the requirements of Level 1 in order to
access Level 2.
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 also help. There will
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE GEOGRAPHY – 8035/3 – JUNE
2023
generally 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
