September 5 2010
Higher Geography Marking Guidelines
In Higher Geography the Course (external) assessment is based on an examination which consists of two papers. The papers are out of 100 marks each and are equally weighted.
Details of all aspects of both the Unit and Course Assessments can be found in the Conditions and Arrangements Document published in April 2004.
From 2005 Paper 1 changed the terminology of its constituent parts to Physical Environments (from Physical Core) and Human Environments (from Human Core), but with only minor changes in content. Paper 1 will consist of 6 questions, 4 compulsory and 2 optional with a possible marks range of 7 (14 from 2008) to 10 (20 from 2008) marks. The change from the former 8-question format with questions allocated 6 or 7 (12 to 14 from 2008) marks will not alter the marking principles applied in Higher Geography. The additional marks for some questions will address the issue that more able candidates were not being sufficiently challenged and will allow more headroom to be created in these questions. For full details of the changes visit the SQA website and read the Conditions and Arrangements document published in April 2004.
Paper 2 also changed its terminology to Environmental Interactions (from Applications), again with minor changes to content which will not affect marking principles.
From 2008 the papers will be marked out of a total of 200 (using full mark ticks). This will not affect marking principles. All mark allocations will be doubled i.e. a former 6 mark question will now be worth 12 marks.
When writing the questions for the two Higher Geography examination papers, setters ensure that there is a range of questions which appropriately sample the course content and outcomes.
This site for Higher Geography looks at the general marking principles involved in marking both Course assessment papers. It then looks in more detail at the division between Knowledge and Understanding-based questions and Enquiry Skills-based questions. Examples of both types of questions are then examined in more detail.
Knowledge and Understanding-based questions.
- These questions are normally worded ‘describe’ or ‘outline’ and seek information on the main features of content. The description may or may not be linked to a resource.
- In Paper 2 these questions require extended-responses in which candidates can demonstrate the integration and analysis of their geographical knowledge and understanding.
Enquiry Skills-based questions
These can be found in both Course Assessment papers. A range of geographical methods and techniques (GMTs) is included in the Paper 1 units of Physical Environments and Human Environments. Candidates should be able to use a variety of GMTs to interpret and explain geographical phenomena. The GMTs form part of the section on the site devoted to Enquiry Skills-based questions.
- Homepage
- Marking Principles
