Geography
H481/03: Geographical debates
Advanced GCE
Mark Scheme for Autumn 2021
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
,OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of
qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications
include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals, Cambridge Technicals,
Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in
areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills.
It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the
needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is
invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and
support, which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society.
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements
of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by examiners. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before marking
commenced.
All examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in
candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills
demonstrated.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the report
on the examination.
© OCR 2021
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
,1. Annotations
Annotation Meaning
Highlight
Off page comment
Omission mark
Unclear or Indicates material for which there is no credit
Rubric error placed at start of response not being counted
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Synoptic link
Development of a point
Significant amount of material which doesn’t answer the question
Used to denote that points had been seen and noted but mostly where credit was given
No place specific detail
Highlighting an issue e.g. irrelevant paragraph. Use in conjunction with another stamp e.g. or
Blank page
Evaluation
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, 2. Subject Specific Marking Instructions
INTRODUCTION
Your first task as an Examiner is to become thoroughly familiar with the material on which the examination depends. This material includes:
• the specification, especially the assessment objectives
• the question paper and its rubrics
• the mark scheme.
You should ensure that you have copies of these materials.
You should ensure also that you are familiar with the administrative procedures related to the marking process. These are set out in the OCR booklet
Instructions for Examiners. If you are examining for the first time, please read carefully Appendix 5 Introduction to Script Marking: Notes for New
Examiners.
Please ask for help or guidance whenever you need it. Your first point of contact is your Team Leader.
USING THE MARK SCHEME
Please study this Mark Scheme carefully. The Mark Scheme is an integral part of the process that begins with the setting of the question paper and ends
with the awarding of grades. Question papers and Mark Schemes are developed in association with each other so that issues of differentiation and positive
achievement can be addressed from the very start.
This Mark Scheme is a working document; it is not exhaustive; it does not provide ‘correct’ answers. The Mark Scheme can only provide ‘best guesses’
about how the question will work out, and it is subject to revision after we have looked at a wide range of scripts.
Please read carefully all the scripts in your allocation and make every effort to look positively for achievement throughout the ability range. Always be
prepared to use the full range of marks.
LEVELS OF RESPONSE QUESTIONS:
The indicative content indicates the expected parameters for candidates’ answers, but be prepared to recognise and credit unexpected approaches where
they show relevance.
Using ‘best-fit’, decide first which set of level descriptors best describes the overall quality of the answer. Once the level is located, adjust the mark
concentrating on features of the answer which make it stronger or weaker following the guidelines for refinement.
Highest mark: If clear evidence of all the qualities in the level descriptors is shown, the HIGHEST Mark should be awarded.
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