MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
AQA
AS
GEOGRAPHY
7036/1
Paper 1 Physical geography and people and the environment
Mark scheme
June 2023
1
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
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 typical 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.
The notes for answers provide indicative content. Students’ responses may take a different approach in
relation to that which is typical or expected. It is important to stress that examiners must consider all a
student’s work and the extent to which this answered the question, irrespective of whether a response
follows an expected structure. If in doubt the examiner should contact their team leader for advice and
guidance.
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
Qu Part Marking guidance Total
marks
Section A
01 1 Which of the following describes the groundwater store? 1
C Water stored in the ground below the water table. AO1 = 1
01 2 Which of the following are all natural drivers of change in the water 1
cycle? AO1 = 1
A Causes of precipitation, cloud formation, seasonal changes
01 3 Outline the distribution of major stores of water. 3
AO1 = 3
Point marked
Award one mark for each valid point with additional mark(s) for
developed points (d). For example:
Notes for answers
Major stores of water include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere
and atmosphere (1) for identifying two or more of these stores.
The lithosphere store includes all liquid water in the rocks and soil as
groundwater and soil moisture (1) this accounts for about a 1/3 of fresh
water on earth (1d).
The hydrosphere includes all liquid water in and on the Earth’s surface,
including rivers, lakes, seas and oceans (1). Oceans account for
almost 97% of all water on Earth (1d).
The cryosphere store includes all water stored as ice in glaciers, ice
caps, ice sheets and as sea ice (1). Ice accounts for about 2/3 of all
fresh water on Earth (1d).
The atmosphere store includes water stored as water vapour and as
clouds (1). By volume the atmosphere is the smallest of the major
stores of water (1d).
The biosphere store includes water stored in living organisms (plants
and animals) (1).
If only 1 store is covered maximum of 2 marks.
The notes for answers are not exhaustive. Credit any valid points.
4
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
01 4 Figure 1 shows information about the cumulative emissions of carbon 6
dioxide (CO2) produced from burning fossil fuels and manufacture of AO3=6
cement between 2000 and 2017 for selected countries.
Analyse the information shown in Figure 1.
AO3 – There should be clear analysis of the changes to the emissions of the
carbon dioxide over time. There should be some analysis of differences in the
data for the different countries. There should also be data manipulation to
support the analysis.
Mark scheme
Level 2 (4–6 marks)
AO3 – Clear analysis of the quantitative evidence provided, which makes
appropriate use of data in support. Clear connection(s) between different
aspects of the data and evidence.
Level 1 (1–3 marks)
AO3 – Basic analysis of the quantitative evidence provided, which makes
limited use of data and evidence in support. Basic connection(s) between
different aspects of the data and evidence.
Notes for answers
AO3
All countries have increased the total amount of CO2 they have emitted.
Basic responses may support such a statement with evidence from the
graph without engaging with the logarithmic scale.
The total increase and rate of increase in emissions is lowest in the UK then
Germany. The UK’s total CO2 emissions have increased by just over 10%
and Germany’s by around 15%.
China and India have seen the most rapid increase in total emissions. The
total amount of CO2 emitted by India has more than doubled over the time
period, adding almost 30 billion tonnes to their total. Although visually
China’s line has a similar steepness to India’s the logarithmic scale shows
that the magnitude of increase in China’s emissions is significantly larger.
China almost triples the amount of CO2 it has emitted, adding almost
130 billion tonnes to its total.
China is now responsible for more CO2 emitted into the atmosphere than
India, Japan and the UK added together.
The total amount of CO2 emitted by the USA is significantly larger than all
other countries at all times shown. At the start of the period USA had
emitted about 20 billion more tonnes of CO2 than all the other countries
added together.
Even though the USA had increased its total emissions by about 30% (or
about a third), to almost 400 billion tonnes, China had narrowed the gap
significantly. In 2000 China had emitted about a ¼ of the CO2 of that emitted
by the USA, but in just 17 years it had added around 130 billion tonnes of
CO2, meaning it had now emitted just over ½ what America had.
Credit any other valid analysis.
5
2023
AQA
AS
GEOGRAPHY
7036/1
Paper 1 Physical geography and people and the environment
Mark scheme
June 2023
1
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
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 typical 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.
The notes for answers provide indicative content. Students’ responses may take a different approach in
relation to that which is typical or expected. It is important to stress that examiners must consider all a
student’s work and the extent to which this answered the question, irrespective of whether a response
follows an expected structure. If in doubt the examiner should contact their team leader for advice and
guidance.
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.
2
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
Qu Part Marking guidance Total
marks
Section A
01 1 Which of the following describes the groundwater store? 1
C Water stored in the ground below the water table. AO1 = 1
01 2 Which of the following are all natural drivers of change in the water 1
cycle? AO1 = 1
A Causes of precipitation, cloud formation, seasonal changes
01 3 Outline the distribution of major stores of water. 3
AO1 = 3
Point marked
Award one mark for each valid point with additional mark(s) for
developed points (d). For example:
Notes for answers
Major stores of water include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere
and atmosphere (1) for identifying two or more of these stores.
The lithosphere store includes all liquid water in the rocks and soil as
groundwater and soil moisture (1) this accounts for about a 1/3 of fresh
water on earth (1d).
The hydrosphere includes all liquid water in and on the Earth’s surface,
including rivers, lakes, seas and oceans (1). Oceans account for
almost 97% of all water on Earth (1d).
The cryosphere store includes all water stored as ice in glaciers, ice
caps, ice sheets and as sea ice (1). Ice accounts for about 2/3 of all
fresh water on Earth (1d).
The atmosphere store includes water stored as water vapour and as
clouds (1). By volume the atmosphere is the smallest of the major
stores of water (1d).
The biosphere store includes water stored in living organisms (plants
and animals) (1).
If only 1 store is covered maximum of 2 marks.
The notes for answers are not exhaustive. Credit any valid points.
4
, MARK SCHEME – AS GEOGRAPHY – 7036/1 – JUNE
2023
01 4 Figure 1 shows information about the cumulative emissions of carbon 6
dioxide (CO2) produced from burning fossil fuels and manufacture of AO3=6
cement between 2000 and 2017 for selected countries.
Analyse the information shown in Figure 1.
AO3 – There should be clear analysis of the changes to the emissions of the
carbon dioxide over time. There should be some analysis of differences in the
data for the different countries. There should also be data manipulation to
support the analysis.
Mark scheme
Level 2 (4–6 marks)
AO3 – Clear analysis of the quantitative evidence provided, which makes
appropriate use of data in support. Clear connection(s) between different
aspects of the data and evidence.
Level 1 (1–3 marks)
AO3 – Basic analysis of the quantitative evidence provided, which makes
limited use of data and evidence in support. Basic connection(s) between
different aspects of the data and evidence.
Notes for answers
AO3
All countries have increased the total amount of CO2 they have emitted.
Basic responses may support such a statement with evidence from the
graph without engaging with the logarithmic scale.
The total increase and rate of increase in emissions is lowest in the UK then
Germany. The UK’s total CO2 emissions have increased by just over 10%
and Germany’s by around 15%.
China and India have seen the most rapid increase in total emissions. The
total amount of CO2 emitted by India has more than doubled over the time
period, adding almost 30 billion tonnes to their total. Although visually
China’s line has a similar steepness to India’s the logarithmic scale shows
that the magnitude of increase in China’s emissions is significantly larger.
China almost triples the amount of CO2 it has emitted, adding almost
130 billion tonnes to its total.
China is now responsible for more CO2 emitted into the atmosphere than
India, Japan and the UK added together.
The total amount of CO2 emitted by the USA is significantly larger than all
other countries at all times shown. At the start of the period USA had
emitted about 20 billion more tonnes of CO2 than all the other countries
added together.
Even though the USA had increased its total emissions by about 30% (or
about a third), to almost 400 billion tonnes, China had narrowed the gap
significantly. In 2000 China had emitted about a ¼ of the CO2 of that emitted
by the USA, but in just 17 years it had added around 130 billion tonnes of
CO2, meaning it had now emitted just over ½ what America had.
Credit any other valid analysis.
5
