GCSE Geography Paper 2 - Mark Scheme Specimen - Marking and Level of Response

Sep 5, 2026

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Specimen assessment material for GCSE Geography Paper 2, focusing on challenges in the human environment. Provides examiner guidance on how mark schemes are developed through standardisation, how amendments are handled, and how unusual answers should be referred. Includes level of response marking instructions: determining the correct level using descriptors, deciding a mark with reference to standardisation exemplars, and applying a best-fit approach. Also outlines indicative content, credit rules, and SPaG assessment for designated questions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages31

Reading Time1 h 18 min

AccessFree to download

Mark scheme preparation and standardisation

Level of response marking instructions

Step 1: Determine a level

Step 2: Determine a mark

Indicative content and crediting rules

SPaG assessment criteria

Marking guidance for Question 1

Urban issues and challenges

SPECIMEN ASSESSMENT MATERIAL | GCSE
GEOGRAPHY
PAPER 2 CHALLENGES IN THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT | | --- | | Mark scheme
Specimen | Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of this mark [scheme are available from aqa.org.uk](scheme are available from aqa.org.uk) Level of response marking instructions Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level. Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme. Step 1 Determine a level Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the lower levels of the mark scheme. When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 2 with a small amount of level 3 material it would be placed in level 2 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 3 content. Step 2 Determine a mark Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example. You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate. Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a gu

FAQs

How is the mark scheme prepared and standardised for the exam?

The mark scheme is prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and reviewed with a panel of subject teachers. It includes amendments made at standardisation events where associates apply it in the same correct way.

What steps should examiners follow to apply a level of response mark scheme?

Read and annotate the answer, determine the appropriate level starting from the lowest, then use descriptor guidance and exemplars from standardisation materials to decide the mark within the level.

How are SPaG marks awarded in the mark scheme?

SPaG is assessed via indicated questions, with three marks available per question for high performance, two for intermediate performance, and one for threshold performance.

Sep 5, 2026

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