Pearson Edexcel GCSE In Geography A (1GA0)

Mark Scheme (Results) Summer 2024 Pearson Edexcel GCSE In Geography A (1GA0) Paper 03: Geographical Investigations: Fieldwork and UK Challenges Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at or . Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help you and your students at: Summer 2024 Question Paper Log Number P75519A Publications Code 1GA0_03_2406_MS All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Ltd 2024 General Marking Guidance • All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last. • Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions. • Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception of where the grade boundaries may lie. • There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used appropriately. • All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme. • Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited. • When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted. • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an alternative response. Question Number Answer Mark 1(a) (i) Award 1 mark for identification of the equipment and a further mark for describing how the method is used, up to a maximum of 2 marks. Using a metre stick / ruler (1) the students record the measurement by placing it onto the bottom of the riverbed and recording the reading (1) / and split the width of the river into ten equal points (1) Accept any other appropriate response. (2) Question number Answer Mark 1(a) (ii) Award 1 mark for a disadvantage and a further mark for development of the disadvantage, up to a maximum of 2 marks. When placing the metre stick to the bottom of the riverbed the ruler might be touching a stone / not the river bed (1) this could have resulted in an inaccurate reading of the true river channel depth (1). When trying to read the depth on the metre stick the flow of the water might push up against the ruler (1) this may have resulted in an inaccurate reading of the true river channel depth (1). Do not accept: a general ‘not accurate’ in isolation. Accept any other appropriate response. (2) Question number Answer Mark 1(b) (i) Award 1 mark for each correctly plotted point. (2) Question Number Answer Mark 1(b) (ii) Award 1 mark for correct answer and a further mark for the correct working out, up to a maximum of 2 marks. The working mark should be awarded for either writing out the process of calculating mean 0.80 + 1.50 + 4.00 + 6.00 + 6.50 + 7.5 / 6 (1) Or 26.3 / 6 (1) 4.4 (1) (2) Question Number Answer Mark 1(b) (iii) Award 1 mark for each correct answer, up to a maximum of 2 marks. B the river width increases overall between site 1 and site 6 D the river depth decreases between site 2 and site 3 (2) Question number Indicative content 1(c) AO3 (4 marks)/AO4 (4 marks) This question requires candidates to draw on evidence from their own fieldwork investigation to evaluate the following statement. My fieldwork data supported the expected changes to river discharge downstream (width, depth, and velocity). Candidates should consider the positive and negatives of their data. Therefore, examiners should expect to see evidence of this through candidates making specific references to their own river fieldwork. For level 3, candidates should provide evidence of evaluation related to answering the statement and to achieve full marks should provide a conclusion. Candidates may demonstrate AO3 and AO4 through the following examples: • There is evidence of the candidate’s own fieldwork investigation presentation technique(s) used with clear links to the data collection methods. For example, candidates might draw on specific evidence of the data collection methods relating to and not only the following; - Collection survey sites - Equipment – measuring tape, flow meter, floats, metre rulers - Data gathered - Fieldwork enquiry question / hypotheses / key questions (AO4.1d – communicating findings) • There is evidence of consideration in relation to the appropriateness and complexity of completing certain fieldwork methods relating to their accuracy and reliability. For example, candidates may refer to the following in their response; - For my river investigation, I was aiming to find out if the width and depth increased downstream as expected by the Bradshaw Model for the River Conwy. I gathered data by measuring the width using a measuring tape from bank to bank and the depth by using a metre ruler from the river bed to the water surface at intervals along the channel. My data supported what expected to happen with the width and depth increasing downstream across my three survey sites. However, there were occasions at the second site where the depth varied this was due to issues trying to access the river bed. (AO3.1d – making judgements) Level Mark Descriptor 0 No acceptable response. Level 1 1–3 ● Attempts to apply understanding to deconstruct information but understanding and connections are flawed. An unbalanced or incomplete argument that provides limited synthesis of understanding. Judgements are supported by limited evidence. (AO3) ● Few aspects of the enquiry process are supported by the use of geographical skills to obtain information, which has limited relevance and accuracy. Communicates generic fieldwork findings and uses limited relevant geographical terminology. (AO4) Level 2 4–6 ● Applies understanding to deconstruct information and provide some logical connections between concepts. An imbalanced argument that synthesises mostly relevant understanding but not entirely coherently, leading to judgements that are supported by evidence occasionally. (AO3) ● Some aspects of the enquiry process are supported by the use of geographical skills. Communicates fieldwork findings with some clarity, using relevant geographical terminology occasionally. (AO4) Level 3 7–8 ● Applies understanding to deconstruct information and provide logical connections between concepts throughout. A balanced, well-developed argument that synthesises relevant understanding coherently, leading to judgements that are supported by evidence throughout. (AO3) ● All aspects of the enquiry process are supported by the use of geographical skills. Communicates enquiry- specific fieldwork findings with clarity, and uses relevant geographical terminology consistently. (AO4) Question Number Answer Mark 2(a) (i) Award 1 mark for identification of the equipment and a further mark for describing how the method is used, up to a maximum of 2 marks. Collect a grab sample at different locations along the beach (1) and use a grain chart size card (1) Collect a grab sample at different locations (1) and use callipers to measure the pebbles (1). Using the Power’s of Roundness Index (1) plus development (1) Quadrats (1) plus development (1) Sediment sieve (1) plus development (1) Accept any other appropriate response. (2) Question number Answer Mark 2(a) (ii) Award 1 mark for a disadvantage and a further mark for development of the disadvantage, up to a maximum of 2 marks. When selecting the grab sample the person chosen might change which could alter the number of pebbles collected (1) resulting in smaller / larger samples across survey sites (1). Subjectivity of making judgements about sediment size (1) plus development (1) Do not accept: a general ‘not accurate’ in isolation. Accept any other appropriate response. (2) Question number Answer Mark