A Level Example Essay Questions- AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas & OCR

Physical Geography:

Hazards:

Assess the extent to which tectonic mega-disasters only have regional significance.
To what extent are the impacts of a seismic event far greater than a volcanic event.
“The economic impact of tectonic hazards is far greater for LICs” Assess this viewpoint.
Assess the view that developed nations are more resilient to tectonic hazards than developing countries.
Assess the view that strategies to modify tectonic events (land use zoning/hard engineering) are always successful.
Evaluate the evidence for continental drift & plate tectonics.
For a multi hazards area evaluate the impact significance of tectonic hazards
‘The Disaster Response Curve (The Park Model) has contributed to improved understanding and therefore management of the impact of tectonic events.’ To what extent do you agree with this view?
Assess the significance of the PAR model in understanding the disaster risk of a seismic hazard.
“Geographical factors (population density, isolation, accessibility) are more important than governance to influence vulnerability” To what extent do you agree?
Discuss the view that the response to a tectonic hazard is more important than mitigation.
“The economic impacts of a hazard event (earthquake, eruption, storm, wildfire) will always outweigh the social and environmental impacts” To what extent do you agree?
“Forecasting the track of a tropical storm reduces the impacts”. How far do you agree with this view?
Assess the view that developed nations are more resilient to tropical storms than developing countries.
Evaluate human responses to wildfires (fatalism, prediction, adjustment/adaptation, mitigation, management, risk sharing)
“Human factors are more responsible for the development of wildfires than natural factors” Assess this view.
“Risk management of wildfires is always successful” To what extent do you agree?
‘Seismic activity offshore will always present a greater threat to people than seismic activity on land.’ To what extent do you agree with this view?
To what extent do shallow-focus earthquakes cause more impacts than deep-focus earthquakes.
“The type of eruption is the most significant factor in determining the impacts caused by volcanic activity” To what extent do you agree?

Coasts:

Assess the view that erosion processes are more important than transportation & deposition in creating coastal landscapes.
Assess the view that sub-aerial processes (weathering) are more important than erosional processes (wave action) in creating coastal landscapes.
“Traditional approaches (hard/soft engineering) to coastal flood and erosion risk are more effective than sustainable approaches (shoreline management/integrated coastal zone management)” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the relative importance of sub-aerial processes and marine processes in the creation of coastal landscapes.
Assess the significance of deposition in the creation of salt marshes and sand dunes.
To what extent is weathering responsible for mass movement events at the coast?
To what extent is future sea level change a risk for coastal communities.
“In the future storm surges will create more risk for people than eustatic sea level change” Assess this view.
“Future sea level change will pose a greater threat to developing countries than developed countries” To what extent do you agree?
Evaluate the view that hard engineering approaches to coastal management produce more winners than losers.
Evaluate the view that coastal management policies are mainly based on economic judgements.
Evaluate the view that rates of coastal recession are largely controlled by geological factors.
To what extent does isostatic sea level change pose problems for UK coastal communities in the future?
“Human activity is severely affecting the dynamic equilibrium of sediment flows” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Using a named contrasting coastal landscape beyond the UK, analyse how it presents risks and opportunities for human occupation and development.

Glaciated Landscapes:

Assess the view that erosion processes are more important than deposition in contributing to the formation of glacial landscapes.
Assess the view that erosion processes are more important than transportation & deposition in creating glacial landscapes.
To what extent are sub-aerial processes responsible for the creation of landforms in valley glaciated landscapes.
To what extent are warm based glaciers more effective at creating glaciated landscapes than cold based glaciers?
“Fluvioglacial processes are more impactful than glacial processes in creating distinctive landscapes” To what extent do you agree?
“Human activity is causing peri-glacial landscapes to be impacted forever” Assess this viewpoint.
“Human activity is severely affecting the mass balance of all glaciers” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the view that glaciated landscapes are more important economically than culturally or environmentally.
“Glaciated landscapes face greater threats from natural hazards ((avalanches and glacial outburst floods) than human activities (leisure and tourism, reservoir construction, urbanisation)” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the view that global warming is having a greater impact on glaciated landscapes than human activity.
“Periglacial landscapes play a more important role in the maintenance of natural systems (water and carbon cycles) than glaciated landscapes” To what extent do you agree?

Water & Carbon:

“Water budgets are significantly affected by the activities of people” How far do you agree with this view?
Assess the impact of human activity on river regimes/hydrographs?
“Human activity is more responsible for drought risk than physical factors” Discuss.
Assess the view that the impacts of drought on ecosystem functioning (wetlands/forest stress) means resilience is unachievable.
“Human activity is the sole cause of areas of water deficit” How far do you agree?
With increasing levels of development then water insecurity is always the outcome” Assess this viewpoint.
To what extent are sustainable supplies of water in areas of water deficit achievable?
“Human factors are more responsible for flood risk than physical factors” Discuss
“Flood events cause more environmental impacts than socio-economic impacts” To what extent do you agree?
To what extent does climate change impact on stores and flows within the hydrological cycle?
“The hydrosphere is the most important store within the water cycle” Assess this viewpoint.
“The hydrosphere is the most important store for humans” To what extent do you agree?
Examine the significance of evaporation within the water cycle.
‘Reducing deforestation is the most effective global management strategy to protect the water cycle as a regulator of the Earth’s climate.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Examine the importance of afforestation on the water cycle.
Assess the impact of energy security/demand on the extraction of unconventional fossil fuels.
“Deforestation has a greater impact on the carbon cycle than the release of fossil fuels” How far do you agree?
How far is energy security responsible for change within the carbon cycle?
Assess the view that once started feedback loops within the carbon cycle can never be reversed.
Evaluate the success of energy players in securing pathways and energy supplies.
Assess the role of radical technologies in reducing global carbon emissions.
“The atmosphere is the most important store within the carbon cycle” Assess this viewpoint.
To what extent are natural variations within the carbon cycle significant?
“Deforestation has had a greater impact upon the carbon cycle than other human activities” Discuss this view.
“Deforestation impacts the carbon cycle greater than the water cycle” To what extent do you agree?
“Natural changes over time have a greater impact on the carbon cycle than human activity” Discuss.
Assess the relative importance of photosynthesis and ocean sequestration on the carbon cycle.
Examine how seasonal changes impact the water and carbon cycles in the Arctic tundra.
Examine the importance of photosynthesis within the carbon cycle.
Examine the importance of the atmosphere within the water and carbon cycles.
Assess the view that terrestrial photosynthesis is more important than ocean photosynthesis.
“Switching to renewable fuels is the only way to guarantee energy security” Discuss this viewpoint.
“The level of development is the most significant factor in the ability to access energy resources” To what extent do you agree?

Ecosystems:

Assess the relative importance of inputs, outputs, stores and transfers of energy and materials within ecosystems.
“The use of ecosystems for human populations can never be sustainable” Discuss this viewpoint.
“Changes to climate are more important than changes to vegetation, soils and topography within an ecosystem” Analyse this view.
Assess the view that human activity has a greater impact on the Savanna grassland biome than natural factors.
Assess the relative importance of climate and soil moisture budget in the adaptations by flora and fauna within a savanna grassland biome.
Assess the success of conservation strategies in a local ecosystem you have studied.
Assess the importance of local factors (agriculture, urban change, the planned and unplanned introduction of new species) in ecological development and change.
Assess the challenges and opportunities in the sustainable development of a local ecosystem you have studied.
To what extent is the human impact detrimental on the nature and properties of a local ecosystem.

Human Geography:

Globalisation:

Assess the role of trade blocs in accelerating globalisation.
Assess the role of IGOs in the development of globalisation.
“Globalisation means that the whole world is a switched on” How far do you agree?
“TNCs are responsible for the global shift of industry” How far do you agree?
“International migration will always cause tensions within communities” How far do you agree?
“International migration caused by increased globalisation is always positive” Assess this viewpoint.
“The development of global culture is always positive” How far do you agree?
Assess the importance of special economic zones in increasing rates of globalisation.
To what extent do you agree that social tensions outweigh political tensions caused by globalisation?
Evaluate the role of international organisations in the acceleration of globalisation
Assess the impact of ICT in contributing to a shrinking world.
Assess the role of free trade in the acceleration of globalisation.
Evaluate the role of FDI in the globalisation of new global regions.
“The unequal flows of people, money, ideas and technology within global systems will always lead to inequalities, conflicts and injustices for people and places.” To what extent do you agree?
“Trade agreements are the most important factor in a globalising world” Assess this viewpoint.
Evaluate the factors that affect the trade in one food commodity.
Evaluate the factors that affect the trade in one manufacturing product.
“The consequences of globalisation on people across the globe is always negative” Assess this viewpoint.
Evaluate the role of UN in the post-1945 era in promoting growth and stability.

Superpowers:

Assess the role of superpowers and emerging powers in the increasing gap in development.
Assess the importance of international alliances on the role of a superpower.
“By the year 2100 China will be the only superpower” How far do you agree?
“A multi-polar world will inevitably create military and economic tensions.” Assess this viewpoint.
Evaluate the role of resource demand on political spheres of influence.
“Economic restructuring will negatively impact on the global dominance of the Western world” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the importance of the Middle East in creating Cultural, political, economic and environmental tensions.
Assess the role of middle-class consumption in emerging superpowers on global tensions.
“Tensions over the acquisition of physical resources can never be solved” Discuss this viewpoint.
“The future supply of vital energy sources will inevitably lead to conflict between superpowers” Assess this viewpoint.

Regenerating Places:

“Re-imaging of a place is always a benefit for the local population”, assess this view.
To what extent is rebranding an effective method of regenerating a place?
Assess the relative importance of stakeholders in the regeneration process.
For named examples, evaluate the importance of place identity in regeneration schemes.
For named examples, assess how regeneration impacts upon the lived experience of a place.
How far is regeneration reliant upon international influences?
Assess the impact of economic restructuring in the need for regeneration.
“Past connections are more important in shaping a place than present connections” To what extent do you agree?
“Successful urban regeneration is based upon improved lived experience” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the relative importance of economic and social changes on your chosen place and how these have influenced people’s identity.
Assess why social factors vary from place to place.
Evaluate how stakeholders judge the success of urban regeneration.
Evaluate how stakeholders judge the success of rural regeneration.
“Successful urban regeneration is based upon improved lived experience” To what extent do you agree?
“National regeneration strategies are more effective than local regeneration strategies to improve economic function.” Discuss.
Assess the role of employment trends on levels of deprivation.

Diverse Places:

Evaluate the role of social clustering in creating cultural diversity in cities.
For a local and contrasting place. Evaluate the role of regional and national influences in shaping the characteristics of these places.
Evaluate the role of lived experience on the perception of urban places.
Evaluate the extent that rural areas are idyllic?
Evaluate the view that quantitative data is more useful than qualitative data when underlying the lived experience of urban places.
Evaluate the view that suburban life is always more desirable compared to life in the inner city.
Evaluate the view that managing change in diverse urban/rural communities can only be successful when involving local residents.

Changing Places:

“Physical factors are more important than human factors when determining the character of a place” Assess this viewpoint.
“A place can be defined by its representation in the media more effectively than through experience” Assess this viewpoint.
To what extent are endogenous factors more important in shaping a place than exogenous factors?
Assess the relative importance in flows of people, resources, money and investment in shaping a place.
To what extent are attachments to places the most important factor influencing lived experience?

Migration, Sovereignty & Identity:

Evaluate the importance of conflict on global migration.
Evaluate the view that migration is predominantly the result of economic circumstances.
Evaluate the view that the consequences of migration are always greater for the destination country.
Evaluate the view that cultural identity and nationalism are not always constrained by international borders.
Evaluate the success of UN intervention in issues of sovereignty.
Evaluate the role of IGOs in the westernisation of global trade.
Evaluate the impact of political tensions created by the benefits of globalisation.
Evaluate the role of migration on the cultural and ethnic composition of nation states.
Evaluate the impact of migration policies on international migration.
Evaluate the relative importance of economic and political factors on patterns of international migration.
Evaluate the view that a nations level of isolation has a significant impact on its ethnic cultural and linguistic unity.
Evaluate the view that national borders are often the reason for problems of sovereignty and legitimacy.
Evaluate the role of contested borders on areas of conflict and population movements.
Evaluate the view that the UN has been successful in its role of global governance.
Evaluate the relative importance of IGOs and trade blocs in controlling World Trade and finance.
Evaluate the view that global borrowing and trade rules have only benefited HICs.
To what extent do migration policies influence rates of international migration?
Assess the economic impacts of migration on a named EDC.
To what extent are South-South corridors now equal in magnitude to those in South-North corridors?
To what extent have changes in national immigration and emigration policies taken place in the 21st century?
With reference to a named EDC evaluate the impacts of migration on social inequality and political stability.

Health & Human Rights:

Evaluate the impact of levels of deprivation on variations in health and life expectancy in HICs.
Evaluate the importance of water supply and sanitation on health and life expectancy in the developing world.
Evaluate the view that levels of deprivation are more important than lifestyle choice in levels of health within HICs.
Evaluate the extent that democracy leads to improved human rights.
Evaluate the view that improvements in gender equality is the most successful outcome of geopolitical interventions (health, life expectancy, freedom of speech & education
Evaluate the view that improvements in environmental quality, health, life expectancy and human rights are more effective than economic growth in achieving significant goals for development.
Assess the role of intervention in solving human rights conflict within a nation.
Assess the role of intervention in solving human rights issues.
Evaluate the strategies organisations use to solve human rights in areas of conflict.
Assess the role of economic factors in influencing the erosion of human rights.

Power and Borders:

Assess the role of intervention in solving conflict within a nation.
Assess the role of intervention in solving conflict between nations
Evaluate the strategies organisations use in an area of conflict.
Assess the role of economic factors in influencing the erosion of sovereignty and loss of territorial integrity.

Disease Dilemmas:

Using a named example, assess the significance of a hazard event in the outbreak and spread of disease.
“Human factors are more significant than environmental factors in the outbreak and spread of a disease caused by a natural hazard” Using a named example discuss this view.
Assess the relative importance of temperature and seasonal variation in the prevalence of disease.
Evaluate the view that as countries develop economically the frequency of communicable diseases decreases, while the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases rises.
“Diseases of poverty have a greater impact than diseases of affluence” To what extent do you agree?

Population:

“Global mobility is the main cause for the spread of communicable disease” Assess this viewpoint.
“Non-communicable disease can never successfully be mitigated against” Assess this viewpoint.
Evaluate the success of the role of international agencies and NGOs in promoting health and combating disease at the global scale.
“Future global population growth makes a Malthusian catastrophe inevitable.” To what extent do you agree?
Assess the view that global warming will lead to an increase in global health issues.
“HICs are better equipped at preventing disease than LICs”. Discuss
Assess the relative importance of water and air quality for human health.
Evaluate the link between health and economic/social development.
Assess the role of development on population numbers and densities.
“Climate is the biggest factor that influences food security,” Discuss.
Assess the view that human factors are more influential in food production than climate and soils.
Assess the view that social factors have the greatest political impacts from migration than economic factors.
Using a named example, evaluate the character, scale, patterns of change, relevant environmental and socio-economic factors and implications for the society from patterns of population change.

Urbanisation:

To what extent does economic inequality lead to social segregation?
Assess the relative importance of incineration and landfill approaches to waste disposal in a named urban area.
Assess the possibility of the concept of the post-modern western city.
Evaluate the role of deindustrialisation, decentralisation, and the rise of the service economy on urban areas in HICs.
Evaluate the importance of factors that create the urban heat island effect.
Assess the view that rates of pollution in urban areas increase with increasing levels of development.
Evaluate the success of river restoration and conservation in damaged urban catchments.
Evaluate the success of strategies to manage atmospheric pollution, water pollution and dereliction.
To what extent can modern cities be truly sustainable?
Assess the extent that the rise of the mega city possess the greatest threat to urban populations.

Future of Food:

To what extent do fair trade organisations impact the global food system?
Assess the view that without agribusiness there would be no global food system?
To what extent do you agree that improving food security from large-scale technological techniques is more effective than small-scale bottom up and appropriate approaches?
To what extent is climate change impacting the food security of indigenous farming techniques in an extreme environment, such as the Arctic?
“Human actions in dryland areas such as desertification have a greater impact on food security than physical actions”. Assess this viewpoint.
Evaluate the physical conditions required for growing food (air, climate, soil and water).
Assess the view that health issues associated with food surpluses and poor diet are more significant than the increased use of chemicals and pesticides and food shortages.