AS short, structured exam questions

Interpreting keywords
Certain keywords appear frequently in AS exam questions and candidates often get
confused about what the examiner is looking for in their answer.
Factors vs. processes (usually in 6 mark questions
!une "#$$% Explain how two natural processes influence cirque formation.&6'
!anuary "#$$% Suggest how two natural processes are shaping this valley. &6'
(ay "##)% Show how two physical factors influence coastal erosion. &6'
Factors
(which could relate to une !"## question$
*rocesses
(relating to une !"## question$
%ce thickness
Cirque orientation
&emperature fluctuations
'ock type or structure
'ates of accumulation
Abrasion
(lucking
)ree*e+thaw weathering
,eposition (to form lip$
Factors
(relating to -ay !"". question$
*rocesses
(which could relate to -ay !"". question$
'ock type
'ock structure (e.g. discordant$
/ave si*e 0 energy
)etch
/ind speed
1each width
Sea level change
Abrasion
/ave pounding 0 hydraulic action
Attrition
Solution
)ree*e thaw weathering
/etting and drying cycles
-ass movements (e.g. slumping$
2ote that in all of these questions3 you are asked for two factors or processes so...
Always make sure that you choose two distinct factors or processes which allow
you to expand your ideas in two different ways rather than repeating ideas.
o e.g. cirque orientation and rock type are a better pair than ice thickness
and rates o+ accumulation
/rite two separate paragraphs or3 simply add a 4#5 and 4!5 in your answer3 to make it
clear to the examiner what your two factors 0 processes are.
6ou can get four marks if you expand one factor 0 process fully so your two factors 0
processes do not have to be equally important 0 developed.
,uman activities - land use
!anuary "#$#% %dentify the +our different types of human activity taking place at locations
A to . on )ig. # (an 7S map extract$. &/'
!anuary "##)% /ith reference to one or more located examples3 explain how coastal
areas can provide opportunities for human activities. &)'
!anuary "##)% Suggest two ways in which human activity makes cold environments
ecologically vulnerable. &6'
(ay "#$#% /ith reference to one or more located river basins3 explain why differing land
uses may conflict. &)'
%n this type of question3 4human activity5 (used far more often than 4land use5$ refers to the
examples given in each of your unit summaries3 namely8
&ransportation
%ndustry 0 industrial development
'esidential 0 housing
'ecreation 0 leisure 0 tourism
'esource extraction 0 exploitation (e.g. mining3 water supply$
Energy development
Conservation
&he anuary !"". Cold Environments question could also refer to human induced climate
change (not an activity but certainly a way in which humans can create vulnerability$.
2ote that in the anuary !"#" map based question (or a similar photo based 9 mark
question$3 you can list your answer but you must give the human activity not :ust the
evidence. i.e.
A ; transportation ( :etty 0 docks$
1 ; industry (steel works$
C ; etc.
0emem1er that your +our human activities must 1e di++erent2
3ther keywords commonly used (and their meaning
4eyword (eaning - advice
%dentify Can often be stated 0 named as a list e.g. A ;
,escribe Say what you see< .o not explain2
=se the sources > quote figures from graphs3 quote names
from maps3 use descriptive words too<
7utline ?ike describe but can 1e 1rie+er3 focussing on the 4main5
features 0 characteristics.
Explain @ive the cause 0 why something happens. =se the words
41ecause5 or 4due to5 in your answer and you will<
Suggest reasons As for 4explain5 but the reasons can 1e less certain > so
long as your ideas are sensible you will get credit.
)eatures 0 characteristics
(of vegetation 0 climate$
e.g. seasonal temperature3 low precipitation levels3
precipitation falls as snow3 needles3 dark leaves etc.
?andforms &he word 7C' use for landscape +eatures like corries3 A+
shaped valleys3 headlands etc.
(attern ?ook for trends3 clear changes in graphs 0 tables.
,istribution =sually linked to a map resource > describe where things
are. =se keywords3 named locations3 compass directions
etc.
e.g. 4linear 0 clustered along the west coast of )rance5
Ecologically vulnerable 0
easily damaged 0 fragile
=sually linked to Cold Environments ecosystems.
'eferring to flooding3 4vulnerable5 simply means 4at risk5.
Buman activity 0 land use See previous page
%nfluence Bow one thing a++ects another e.g. relief affects land use.
)actors &hings which in+luence something happening
(see previous page$.
(rocesses 5ou must know and understand all o+ these different
keywords. e.g. longshore drift3 plucking3 attrition etc.
(see previous page$.
,evelopment 'elates to many of the human activities e.g. industrial
development3 BE( development3 deforestation3 growth of
tourist resorts etc.
7pportunities ,ow man can use the natural environment for
advantage - positive 1ene+it.
Challenges .i++iculties presented by an environment (e.g. extreme
cold3 permafrost3 flooding3 rapid coastal erosion etc.$ or a
situation (see conflicts$.
Conflicts .isagreements - di++erences that arise 1etween groups
when they want to use the environment in different ways.
e.g. &A(S > oil exploration vs. conservation
Sustainability 6ou must learn the de+inition<
Effects 0 impacts &hings that occur due to a previous event
(positive or negative$
e.g. loss of habitats3 multiplier effect etc.
Social 'elating to people. e.g. illness3 loss of culture etc.
Economic 'elating to money 0 1usiness 0 the economy 0 trade etc.
Environmental 0 physical 0
natural
&he natural environment 0 relating to natural factors.
e.g. loss of habitats3 soil erosion3 visual pollution etc.
Buman -an+made 0 relating to people.