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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.
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.
These are the simplest questions in the exam. They require a brief, factual answer.
Answer: The Hadley Cell.
Answer: Measuring river velocity using a flow meter.
"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.
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).
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."
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.
Many short answer questions require you to extract and use information from resources provided in the exam paper.
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)."
When reading values from graphs:
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)
For this type of question:
Short "explain" questions require you to give reasons using geographical knowledge. The key technique is chains of reasoning — linking causes to effects.
A chain of reasoning links points together logically:
Weak answer (1 mark): "Pebble size decreases downstream because of erosion."
Strong answer (3 marks): "Pebble size decreases downstream because of the process of attrition — as pebbles are transported by the river, they collide with each other and the riverbed, causing them to break into smaller fragments. Over many kilometres, this repeated collision gradually reduces the size of the pebbles. Additionally, abrasion smooths the pebble surfaces, further reducing their overall dimensions."
The strong answer earns more marks because it:
Exam Tip: For explain questions, use the word "because" to ensure you are giving reasons, not just describing. If your answer does not contain "because," "due to," "as a result of" or "this means that," you are probably describing rather than explaining.
| Calculation | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge | Cross-sectional area × mean velocity | 2.5 m² × 0.8 m/s = 2.0 m³/s |
| Range | Highest value - lowest value | 45 - 12 = 33 |
| Mean | Sum of values / number of values | (3 + 5 + 7) / 3 = 5 |
| Percentage | (Part / whole) × 100 | (25 / 200) × 100 = 12.5% |
| Percentage change | ((New - old) / old) × 100 | ((150 - 120) / 120) × 100 = 25% |
| Distance from map | Measured distance × scale factor | 4 cm × 500 m/cm = 2,000 m |
| Gradient | Height change / horizontal distance | 50 m / 500 m = 1:10 |
Always show your working and include units in your answer. You may score marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
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