AQA A-Level Geography Paper 1, June 2025: Question 2

Section B

Question 2 Hot desert systems and landscapes

Total

Qu Part Marking guidance

marks

02 1 Outline sources of sediment in hot deserts. 4

AO1=4

Point marked

Allow 1 mark per valid point with extra mark(s) for developed points (d).

For example:

Notes for answers

• Weathering processes such as exfoliation release sediment when

repeated heating and cooling causes layers of rock to break off (1).

• Mass movement such as a rockfall whereby weakened rock strata fail

and fall at great speed under gravity (1).

• Erosional processes such as the action of wind which has an abrasive

effect on the landscape (1).

• Wind itself can provide sediment transported in dust storms for

example, usually suspended in the air or via saltation (1).

• Water can provide sediment to new areas, transported in ephemeral or

episodic events (1).

– A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – –

The notes for answers are not exhaustive. Credit any valid points.

02 2 Using Figure 3, analyse the relationship between annual 6

precipitation and temperature in central Chile. AO3=6

AO3 – Responses should accurately analyse the temperature and

rainfall data, showing clear understanding of the relationships evident

between the two data sets.

Mark scheme

Level 2 (4–6 marks)

AO3 – Clear analysis of a geographical issue or question. Clear

connection(s) between different aspects of the data and evidence.

Level 1 (1–3 marks)

AO3 – Basic analysis of a geographical issue or question. Basic

connection(s) between different aspects of the data and evidence.

Notes for answers

AO3

• There is a general north to south decrease in temperature. There is

also a general west to east decrease in temperature. In a relatively

short space (around 120 km), eg just north of Valparaíso, the

temperature range is that of the full extent of the data set.

• Rainfall is a little more complex in terms of pattern. There is certainly a

north to south increase in rainfall, but also inland to the south (from

about 34°S) precipitation starts to increase west to east. The full

extent of this is seen in the far south around Los Ríos where 11

precipitation increases to 3000 mm pa. There is also an anomaly just

south of 40°S. Here coastal precipitation is also around 3000 mm,

significantly more than anywhere else in the data set.

• There is a general negative correlation between temperature and

precipitation. Where mean annual temperatures are at their highest

(13.6–16 °C) eg in the north inland from Coquimbo, precipitation levels

are at their lowest. However, even when moving inland, temperatures

drop significantly to between 0–5 °C but there is still very little rainfall,

ie between 0–100 mm per year.

– A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – –

Credit any other valid analysis.

02 3 Using Figure 4 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges in 6

responding to desertification. AO1=2

AO2=4

AO1 – Knowledge and understanding of the human responses to

desertification.

AO2 – Application of knowledge and understanding to assess the likely

challenges in the Sahel region.

Mark scheme

Level 2 (4–6 marks)

12 AO1 – Demonstrates clear knowledge and understanding of concepts,

processes, interactions and change.

AO2 – Applies knowledge and understanding to the novel situation

offering clear assessment drawn appropriately from the context provided.

Connections and relationships between different aspects of study are

evident with clear relevance.

Level 1 (1–3 marks)

AO1 – Demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of concepts,

processes, interactions and change.

AO2 – Applies limited knowledge and understanding to the novel

situation offering only basic assessment drawn from the context

provided. Connections and relationships between different aspects of

study are basic with limited relevance.

Notes for answers

AO1

• The changing extent and distribution of hot deserts over the last

10 000 years. The causes of desertification – climate change and

human impact; distribution of areas at risk; impact on ecosystems,

landscapes and populations. Predicted climate change and its

impacts; alternative possible futures for local populations.

• Case study at a local scale of a landscape where desertification has

occurred to illustrate and analyse key themes of desertification, causes

and impacts, implications for sustainable development. Evaluation of

human responses of resilience, mitigation and adaptation.

AO2

• One obvious challenge relates to the sheer scale of the project.

Spanning over 8000 km and covering at least a dozen countries, this

is a vast project. Co-ordinating communication and action across

such a vast area is no doubt an enormous challenge.

• Monitoring progress and holding individual countries to account is no

doubt extremely difficult.

• Furthermore, the progress made to date is of concern. Whilst

reforesting 15 million hectares by 2020 should be considered a huge

achievement, this had taken 12 years. With 85 million still to be

reforested there must be a huge acceleration or else the project will–A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY– –

risk not meeting its original aims.

• It is not clear why Ethiopia has made so much progress compared to 13

the other countries. Whilst all countries vary in size, it does suggest a

range of commitments. Some huge countries such as Chad and

Sudan do not even feature in the pie chart.

• Convincing locals of the need to give up grazing or agricultural land in

favour of planting forest will no doubt be another challenge. This may

require some compensation or other incentive and may account for

the lack of progress by some of these extremely low-income countries.

• Local challenges may also feature, eg where the land is so degraded

that trees cannot be planted, what action can be taken to restore this

type of land?

• Some may consider political instability and war as factors hindering

the development of the Great Green Wall.

– A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – –

Credit any other valid assessment.

02 4 To what extent do you agree that weathering is the most important 20

geomorphological process shaping desert landscapes? AO1=10

AO2=10

AO1 – Knowledge and understanding of the processes shaping deserts.

AO2 – Application of knowledge and understanding to a chosen case

study assessing the importance of different types of energy in that

location.

Notes for answers

AO1

• Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their

application to the development of desert landscapes – inputs, outputs,

energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative

feedback, dynamic equilibrium.

• Geomorphological processes: weathering, mass movement, erosion,

transportation and deposition.

• Distinctively arid geomorphological processes: weathering (thermal

fracture, exfoliation, chemical weathering, block and granular

disintegration).

• The role of wind – erosion: deflation and abrasion; transportation;

suspension, saltation, surface creep, deposition.

• Sources of water: exogenous, endoreic and ephemeral; the episodic

role of water; sheet flooding, channel flash flooding.

• Origin and development of landforms of mid and low latitude deserts:

aeolian – deflation hollows, desert pavements, ventifacts, yardangs,

zeugen, barchans and sief dunes; water – wadis, bahadas, pediments,

playas, inselbergs.

AO2

• The direction of the response will depend upon the choice of

supporting material.

• Weathering processes such as mechanical, chemical, frost shattering

and thermal fracture are clearly important in the breakdown of desert

rocks. Desert pavements are clearly a product of weathering, but

more sophisticated answers should note that other processes have a

role in fully exposing these weathered surfaces. Expect to see

reference to the role of wind and water.

• Other landforms associated with weathering may also feature. The

inselberg Uluru (Australia), is a product of weathering but also erosion

of surrounding softer younger sedimentary rocks leaving this 350-

metre-tall 3 km long rock protruding from the landscape. There should

also be recognition that these features developed in very different

climatic conditions to that found today. The predominant theory is that

chemical weathering was the dominant process shaping this landform.

• Those who focus on landscapes dominated by erosional features such

as yardangs, ventifacts or zeugen are more likely to suggest that

erosion is the dominant natural process shaping the landscape.

However, even here there should be– some recognition that weatheringA-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY– –

as well as deflation will almost certainly have played some role.

• Those considering the development of landscapes shaped by water

(episodic, endoreic and ephemeral) will most likely focus on erosion

and deposition as the most dominant processes. Badlands are likely

to feature in such responses as will the role of the Colorado River in

creating the mesas and buttes of the Grand Canyon landscape. Even

here though, weathering continues to shape the landscape, though it

would be hard to argue that it is the dominant process.

• Finally, those considering the sandy desert landscape and the

development of seif and barchan dunes, will no doubt conclude that

wind transport is the dominant process. However, the sand must have

been supplied as a result of erosion and weathering processes.

Without this supply of material, there would be no landscape.

• Whatever the approach there should be some acknowledgement that

weathering processes are significant in the formation in most if not all

desert landscapes.

– A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – –

Any conclusion is acceptable, though should relate to preceding content.

Marking grid for Question 02.4

Level/ Criteria/Descriptor

Mark

Range

Level 4 • Detailed evaluative conclusion that is rational and firmly based on knowledge and

(16–20 understanding which is applied to the context of the question. Interpretations are

marks) comprehensive, sound and coherent (AO2).

• Detailed, coherent and relevant analysis and evaluation in the application of

knowledge and understanding throughout (AO2).

• Full evidence of links between knowledge and understanding to the application of

knowledge and understanding in different contexts (AO2).

• Detailed, highly relevant and appropriate knowledge and understanding of place(s)

and environments used throughout (AO1).

• Full and accurate knowledge and understanding of key concepts, processes and

interactions and change throughout (AO1).

• Detailed awareness of scale and temporal change which is well integrated where

appropriate (AO1).

Level 3 • Clear evaluative conclusion that is based on knowledge and understanding which is

(11–15 applied to the context of the question. Interpretations are generally clear and

marks) support the response in most aspects (AO2).

• Generally clear, coherent and relevant analysis and evaluation in the application of

knowledge and understanding (AO2).

• Generally clear evidence of links between knowledge and understanding to the

application of knowledge and understanding in different contexts (AO2).

• Generally clear and relevant knowledge and understanding of place(s) and

environments (AO1).

• Generally clear and accurate knowledge and understanding of key concepts,

processes and interactions and change (AO1).

• Generally clear awareness of scale and temporal change which is integrated where

appropriate (AO1).

Level 2 • Some sense of an evaluative conclusion partially based upon knowledge and

(6–10 understanding which is applied to the context of the question (AO2). Interpretations

marks) are partial but do support the response in places.

• Some partially relevant analysis and evaluation in the application of knowledge and

16 understanding (AO2).

• Some evidence of links between knowledge and understanding to the application of

knowledge and understanding in different contexts (AO2).

• Some relevant knowledge and understanding of place(s) and environments which is

partially relevant (AO1).

• Some knowledge and understanding of key concepts, processes and interactions

and change. There may be a few inaccuracies (AO1).

• Some awareness of scale and temporal change which is sometimes integrated

where appropriate. There may be a few inaccuracies (AO1).

Level 1 • Very limited and/or unsupported evaluative conclusion that is loosely based upon

(1–5 knowledge and understanding which is applied to the context of the question.

marks) Interpretation is basic (AO2).

• Very limited analysis and evaluation in the application of knowledge and

understanding. This lacks clarity and coherence (AO2).

• Very limited and rarely logical evidence of links between knowledge and

understanding to the application of knowledge and understanding in different

contexts (AO2). – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – –

• Very limited relevant knowledge and understanding of place(s) and environments

(AO1).

• Isolated knowledge and understanding of key concepts, processes and interactions 17

and change. There may be a number of inaccuracies (AO1).

• Very limited awareness of scale and temporal change which is rarely integrated

where appropriate. There may be a number of inaccuracies (AO1).

Level 0 • Nothing worthy of credit.

(0 marks)