Short Answer Questions (1–4 marks)

Short answer questions make up a significant proportion of every Edexcel B Geography paper. While individual questions may only be worth 1–4 marks, they add up quickly — collectively, short answer questions account for more than half of the total marks available. Getting these right consistently is one of the most efficient ways to improve your grade.

This lesson covers the techniques for answering short answer questions accurately and efficiently, with worked examples for every common question type.

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The One Point Per Mark Rule

The most important principle for short answer questions is: one clear, relevant point per mark available.

Marks Available	Points Needed	Response Length
1 mark	1 clear point	One word, phrase or sentence
2 marks	2 clear points	1–3 sentences
3 marks	3 clear points	3–5 sentences
4 marks	2 developed points or 4 brief points	4–8 sentences

This does not mean every mark requires a separate sentence, but each mark requires a distinct, creditworthy piece of information or reasoning.

Exam Tip: Look at the number of lines provided for your answer. If 2 lines are given for a 2-mark question, you need two concise points. If 6 lines are given, the examiner expects more detailed answers. The space provided is a strong clue about how much to write.

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State / Name / Give Questions (1 mark)

These are the simplest questions in the exam. They require a brief, factual answer.

Example 1: "Name the atmospheric circulation cell located between 0° and 30° latitude." (1 mark)

Answer: The Hadley Cell.

Example 2: "Give one example of a primary data collection method used in river fieldwork." (1 mark)

Answer: Measuring river velocity using a flow meter.

Technique

• Give one clear answer
• Do not waste time explaining or justifying
• If the question says "give one example," give exactly one — giving two does not earn extra marks and wastes time
• Use correct geographical terminology

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Describe Questions (2–4 marks)

"Describe" questions ask you to say what you see in a resource (map, graph, photograph, data table) or what a process involves. You must use data from the resource to support your description.

Describing Data from a Graph

Example: "Describe the changes in river velocity shown in Figure 4." (3 marks)

Figure 4 data: Site 1: 0.2 m/s, Site 2: 0.3 m/s, Site 3: 0.25 m/s, Site 4: 0.5 m/s, Site 5: 0.65 m/s, Site 6: 0.9 m/s

Answer: "River velocity generally increases downstream, from 0.2 m/s at Site 1 to 0.9 m/s at Site 6. The increase is gradual between Sites 1 and 3 but becomes much steeper between Sites 4 and 6. Site 3 is a slight anomaly, showing a small decrease from Site 2 (0.25 m/s compared to 0.3 m/s)."

Why this scores 3/3: It identifies the general trend (1 mark), uses specific data (1 mark), and notes an anomaly (1 mark).

Describing a Photograph

Example: "Describe the evidence of coastal erosion shown in Photograph B." (3 marks)

Answer: "The photograph shows a steep, exposed cliff face with bare rock visible, suggesting recent collapse. At the base of the cliff, there is a wave-cut notch being undercut by wave action. Fallen rocks and debris are scattered on the beach below the cliff, indicating a recent rockfall or landslide."

Describing a Distribution on a Map

Example: "Describe the distribution of tropical cyclones shown in Figure 2." (4 marks)

Answer: "Tropical cyclones are concentrated between approximately 5° and 30° latitude in both hemispheres. They form over warm ocean areas, particularly the western Pacific, the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico, and the northern Indian Ocean. There are no tropical cyclones at the equator itself (between 5°N and 5°S) because the Coriolis effect is too weak to initiate rotation. The highest density of cyclone tracks is in the western Pacific Ocean, where they are called typhoons."

Exam Tip: For describe questions about maps, always use compass directions and name specific places or regions. For graphs, always quote numbers with correct units. For photographs, work systematically from foreground to background or from one side to the other.

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Using Data from Resources

Many short answer questions require you to extract and use information from resources provided in the exam paper.

Reading Data Tables

Example: "Using Table 1, calculate the range of annual rainfall values." (2 marks)

City	Annual Rainfall (mm)
London	602
Manchester	869
Edinburgh	708
Cardiff	1,152
Plymouth	999

Answer: "Range = highest value - lowest value = 1,152 - 602 = 550 mm (1 mark for method, 1 mark for correct answer with units)."

Reading Graphs

When reading values from graphs:

1. Use a ruler to read values accurately from the axes
2. State the units
3. If the question asks for a trend, describe the direction of change and quote start and end values

Cross-Referencing Resources

Some questions ask you to use two or more resources together:

Example: "Using Figure 3 and Table 2, suggest why Location X has a higher flood risk than Location Y." (4 marks)