Edexcel GCE Geography unit 4: Geographical Research

Hey i'm doing pollution too. It says get a examples at a 'range of locations' my teacher suggested doing local, national and global but I was wondering if this would be too hard to try fit in specific transport, environment and 'other' case studies I was also thinking of doing MEDCs vs LEDCs but not sure which to choose and not sure if i'm looking too deeply into varying location! A bit stressed have you though about this bit yet?

I agree, the pre-release seems like a good one, causes and impacts are the easiest areas of the sylabus. The word 'diasaster' may also prove key here, such as: 'What are the factors that lead a tectonic hazard to become a disaster, and how do these impacts vary in scale in contrasting locations?'.

However, it may not be an open-ended question, it may mention a single factor, with 'discuss' at the end to lure people into the trap of only mentioning that factor, e.g: 'Tectonic hazards are more likely to become greater scale disasters in regions of the world close to plate boundaries. Discuss.'

All speculation mind be prepared for anything in this exam!

Hey I'm doing the tectonics one, is it best to revise some theory from 'what are tectonic hazards' and 'human impacts' section
and get three good case studies for both earthquakes and volcanoes?
Pretty confused tbh... i did one in January but didn't do as well so I would like some advice on writing reports!
Thank you in advance

Same here, being a geologist I did not do justice to the question in January, but I think it was the report which put me off!

I think I will need to work on the structure this time round.
Maybe by looking at key case studies which show a contrast in the human impacts and what factors controlled the varying impacts.

If you have any ideas then I would love to here them!

Thought I would join in here. I'm also doing tectonics Has anyone got any ideas on what the question may be. I'm hoping its something like 'discuss the different factors that determine the overall scale of impact from tectonic hazards and disasters' but I doubt it will be that simplistic!
So have you already done this exam before, if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, in Jan. I had everything sorted because it was on section 2: the physcial impacts: extrusive intrusive etc. And that's my fav stuff....I am a geologist and will be studying it in uni. But I think I messed up with the structure and ended up with a C with 4 marks of a B when I was expected an easy A

Well have to concentrate on this one now

Yeah same with the question thing. Being on section 3 I think they may go really specific like the frequency and impact trends where we would be expected to use the
Chris Parks model.

Whatever new info I get I will be glad to share it on here

Ah I see. Yeah, I'm not keen on how much the marks go on the structure and methodology. I just like to talk about the clear facts ha. But yup, onwards and upwards Oh cool, what uni are you wanting to go to?

Thanks, I'll keep tuned in. I found the discussions about the unit 3 pre release back in Jan on here really useful

Yeah I'm joined in those too, We have development gap unfortunately...hoping for Tech fix

Going to UCL for Earth Science if I can get the grades

You?

Hey, just a general question. In the mark scheme it emphasises the development of a 'clear focus' as an important aspect of the introduction. Does anyone know what this means/ how to go about it?

We were told you had to unpick the question, like explain exactly what you understand by the words in it so I'm doing periglacial environments - I would say that processes both in the active layer and on slopes create distinct landscapes (in more words obviously). Also it's a good idea to introduce how you're going to organise your report ie. the subsections and why you decided to do it like that.

Thought I would join in here. I'm also doing tectonics Has anyone got any ideas on what the question may be. I'm hoping its something like 'discuss the different factors that determine the overall scale of impact from tectonic hazards and disasters' but I doubt it will be that simplistic!
So have you already done this exam before, if you don't mind me asking?

Oh man, I did my first practice report yesterday and got 46/70, which isn't good I'm guessing D: Too much to write!!

Was thinking that for a secure 15 marks teacher recommends that we do a section on research and methodology. Like were we got our sources from and how we conducted the research.

Is it worth it?

Yes. Do a source evaluation section at the end where you say why you used a certain source and how valid/reliable it is. Will get you marks.

Hey,

Random but have you got any idea of possible questions? I am quite stuck at the moment, no going to college and all so help will be as much appreciated as needed!
Thanks

From looking at past questions and steers it seems to me that the actual question is just a rearrangement of the wording of the steer! One of my teachers thinks it will just be something like "how do the range of factors that make tectonic activity hazardous draw out the scale of impacts from such events?". My other teacher is convinced it will be related to development and to what extent it influences the scale of impacts.
Of course we can only make educated guesses here, but I think it will be broadly based on the human versus physical factors argument.