Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)

SPaG marks might seem like a small part of the exam, but they can make a real difference to your grade. Across the three Edexcel B papers, up to 12 marks are allocated to the quality of your written communication. These are marks that require no additional geographical knowledge — only careful, accurate writing. This lesson explains exactly how SPaG marks are awarded and provides practical strategies for maximising them.

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How SPaG Is Assessed in Geography

Where SPaG Marks Appear

Paper	SPaG Marks	Where They Are Assessed
Paper 1	4 marks	Within the highest-mark extended writing question
Paper 2	4 marks	Within the highest-mark extended writing question
Paper 3	4 marks	Within the decision-making question
Total	12 marks

The SPaG Mark Scheme

Level	Marks	Descriptor
High	3–4	Spelling is consistently accurate, including specialist terminology. Punctuation is used correctly and effectively. Grammar is used correctly with a range of sentence structures. Meaning is always clear.
Intermediate	2	Spelling is mostly accurate; some errors with specialist terms. Punctuation is mostly correct. Grammar is mostly correct with some variety in sentence structure. Meaning is clear.
Threshold	1	Spelling, punctuation and grammar have significant errors. Meaning is sometimes unclear.
No marks	0	SPaG is so poor that meaning is not communicated.

Exam Tip: SPaG marks are free marks — they test writing quality, not geography. Spending 2 minutes at the end of each extended answer checking your SPaG could earn you up to 12 extra marks across the three papers. That is equivalent to an entire short answer question section.

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Using Geographical Terminology Correctly

Using correct specialist vocabulary demonstrates your understanding and earns SPaG marks. Conversely, misspelling key terms suggests weak knowledge and costs marks.

Commonly Misspelled Geography Terms

Correct Spelling	Common Errors	Tip for Remembering
erosion	errosion, erotion	E-R-O-S-I-O-N (7 letters, one R)
attrition	attrittion, attrision	Two T's, then R-I-T-I-O-N
abrasion	abrasian, abbrasion	One B, then R-A-S-I-O-N
hydraulic	hydralic, hydrolic	H-Y-D-R-A-U-L-I-C (not "hydro")
deposition	depostion, deposision	D-E-P-O-S-I-T-I-O-N (think "deposit" + "ion")
urbanisation	urbanization	British spelling uses S not Z
environment	enviroment	E-N-V-I-R-O-N-M-E-N-T (the "N" before "M" is often missed)
government	goverment	G-O-V-E-R-N-M-E-N-T (the "N" before "M")
sustainability	sustainablity	S-U-S-T-A-I-N-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y
infrastructure	infastructure	I-N-F-R-A-S-T-R-U-C-T-U-R-E (INFRA not INFA)
vegetation	vegitation	V-E-G-E-T-A-T-I-O-N (think "vegetable")
correlation	corelation	Two R's: C-O-R-R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N
precipitation	preciptation	P-R-E-C-I-P-I-T-A-T-I-O-N
development	developement	No E between "develop" and "ment"
accommodation	accomodation	Two C's AND two M's
Mediterranean	Mediteranean	Two R's: M-E-D-I-T-E-R-R-A-N-E-A-N
deforestation	deforistation	D-E-F-O-R-E-S-T-A-T-I-O-N (think "forest")
desertification	dessertification	One S (desert), not two (dessert)
deindustrialisation	de-industralisation	D-E-I-N-D-U-S-T-R-I-A-L-I-S-A-T-I-O-N
quaternary	quarternary	Q-U-A-T-E-R-N-A-R-Y (no second R after "quate")

Subject-Specific Vocabulary to Use

Using the correct terminology shows command of the subject:

Instead of...	Use...
"The river wears away the rock"	"The river erodes the rock through hydraulic action and abrasion"
"Stuff is dropped by the river"	"Sediment is deposited when the river loses energy"
"The population is getting older"	"The UK has an ageing population with an increasing dependency ratio"
"Poor countries"	"Low-income countries (LICs) or least developed countries (LDCs)"
"Rich countries"	"High-income countries (HICs)"
"Shanty towns"	"Informal settlements"
"The weather is changing"	"There is evidence of anthropogenic climate change"

Exam Tip: Create flashcards for the 20 most commonly misspelled geography terms. Test yourself repeatedly until you can spell them all correctly without thinking. These terms will appear in almost every extended writing answer you write.

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Paragraph Structure

Good paragraph structure is essential for high SPaG marks and for clarity of argument.

How to Paragraph Your Answers

Each paragraph should:

1. Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea
2. Contain supporting evidence (data, examples, case studies)
3. Include explanation that develops the point
4. End with a link to the question or transition to the next paragraph

When to Start a New Paragraph

Start a new paragraph when you:

• Move to a new point or argument
• Switch from one side of an argument to the other
• Begin your conclusion or judgement
• Change topic within a question

Common Paragraph Mistakes