Question and answer: Borders and globalisation

Borders and globalisation

This Question and Answer considers a sequence of three questions in the style of the Pearson Edexcel A-level specification. They are from optional Topic 8B Migration, identity and sovereignty and consider issues of sovereignty, conflict and globalisation. The questions test Assessment Objectives 1 and 2 while focusing on national borders, globalisation and migration. Many of the themes are covered in other specifications (see Box 1, below), although question styles and marks do vary. The exam comments are the responsibility of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW and have neither been provided nor approved by the examination board. The answers given are not the only possible answers

Figure 1 The question demand ramp

The sequence of three questions considered here is typical of subquestion sequences found within topics on A-level exam papers. It has a considerable ‘demand ramp’ in terms of question demand and the time that needs to be spent on each sub-question (see Figure 1, below). Ideally, you should only spend 5 minutes on the 4-mark question 1, but 26 minutes on the 20-mark question 3.

The notion of this demand ramp may seem obvious, given that the questions progress from 4 marks, to 8 marks and finally 20 marks. Nevertheless, it is very important to start your exams with detailed knowledge of sub-question progression. You need to plan your time and thinking effort to match the different demand of questions. If you spend twice as much time and effort on a 4-mark question as you should, then inevitably less time will be available for a later 20-mark question.