Unit 3

Warning!• Be very careful not to mix up cause and consequence

• If you do, you will answer the wrong question

• Here is an example:

Consequences•Increasing reliance on imported gas and oil.•Using less domestic coal. •Slightly improved domestic renewable situation.

Causes•Rising population and growing economy.•Low cost of gas / dash for gas•Gas helps meet pollution reduction targets

See example answer at the end

of your notes

Brush up your interpretation skills

• World map: the danger here is only referring to one part e.g. ‘Africa’, or seeing a ‘north south divide’ as the only pattern

• Graph: axes need to be studied. What does the graph show? Are there any trends? Don’t refer to only 1 part of the graph, try to mention all of it.

• Data table: often only a few parts of the table are referred to; try to give an overview as well as some detail.

• Diagram: these often contain text; read it carefully and use it. Try to make reference to most parts of the diagram.

•Need to refer to all 4 parts of the key.•Refer to areas where the is no water

scarcity, as well as where there is!•There is no north-south divide here!

•Note this is only for the developing world.•Refer to all 3 lines.

•The trends are different for each.

Look for patterns e.g. marine usually lower.Spot anomalies e.g. South America very high

considering development level.Refer to columns and rows and several regions.

•Read the text carefully – look for key words.•Refer to all parts i.e. all 3 scenarios.

•Use it, but don’t copy it!

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What make a good data stimulus answer?

• Firstly, you need to interpret the question correctly

• Take this example:

• Many candidates actually answered this question:

Describe the changes to global electricity consumption.

• Or this one:

Explain the changes to global electricity consumption.

• Both of these are simpler tasks than the actual question

• To answer the actual question you must focus on explaining environmental consequences (impacts) of the changes

• This is a much narrower, more detailed task than the two ‘wrong’ versions of the question

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• Secondly, you should focus on using most of the Figure in your answer

• Try to see any ‘hidden’ structure or pattern in the Figure.

• In this example the 9 energy sources can actually be grouped into 3 broad types:

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)

Nuclear

Renewables (other, wind, solar, biomass, HEP

• Spotting this makes the trends easier to see, and could be used to structure your answer.

• Thirdly, don’t just use the Figure

• You need to use examples (not big case studies) to back up your points

• This gives your answer depth

Refer to most of the energy types (not just

1 or 2)

Refer to the trends i.e. different time periods

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Timings

• Part A • Part B

Part A

• Remember 40 mins each for part A:

– 5 reading and planning

– 15 writing A (10 marks) – 1 ¾ page

– 20 writing B (15 marks) - 2 ½ pages

Have a go …

• Study Figure 1.

• (a) Using Figure 1, explain the physical and economic factors that contribute to uncertainty over oil production in the future.

• (10)

• June 14

water

• Study Figure 2.

• (a) Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, suggest the physical and human factors that might help to explain the global pattern of water stress.

• (10)

• June 13