OCR A-Level Geography Geographical debates (03), June 2025: Question 6

6 Examine how the formation of landforms within ONE 12 Indicative content

landscape system you have studied can be modified by AO1 AO1 – 6 marks

x6 Knowledge and understanding of formation of

climate change (coastal, glaciated or dryland). AO2

x6 landforms in ONE landscape system and climate

Level 4 (10-12 marks) change could potentially include:

Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and understanding of • Climate change – majority of students likely to

formation of landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change focus on warming climate, credit discussions on

(AO1). influences of colder climate.

• Both negative + positive modifications relevant.

Demonstrates comprehensive application of knowledge and • Increase in surface, atmospheric, and oceanic

understanding to provide clear, developed and convincing analysis temperatures leading to:

that is fully accurate of how formation of landforms in ONE landscape o Unpredictable rainfall patterns affecting

system can be modified by climate change (AO2). rates of weathering, erosion and deposition.

o Slower / more rapid formation depending on

This will be shown by including well-developed ideas about how landform / landscape chosen.

formation of landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change. • Coastal or Glaciated (inc tundra) or Dryland

landscapes.

There are clear and explicit attempts to make appropriate synoptic For each landscape system, formation of

links between content from different parts of the course of study. landforms across a variety of scales occurs e.g.

o Coastal: bays, cliffs, beaches, stacks

Level 3 (7-9 marks) o Glaciated: corries, troughs, moraines, striations

Demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of formation o Dryland: wadis, canyons, dunes, ventifacts

of landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change (AO1). AO2 – 6 marks

Application of knowledge and understanding to analyse

Demonstrates thorough application of knowledge and understanding how formation of landforms in ONE landscape system

to provide clear and developed analysis that shows accuracy of how can be modified by climate change could potentially

formation of landforms in ONE landscape system can be modified by include:

climate change (AO2). • Coastal landscapes

o ↑ temperatures → ↑ rates of evapotranspiration

This will be shown by including well-developed ideas either formation → ↑ intensity + frequency of storms, ↑ erosion

of landforms in ONE landscape system or climate change and e.g. wave pounding and abrasion → ↑

developed ideas for the other focus. erosional landforms developing e.g. shore

platforms; cliff retreat

There are clear attempts to make synoptic links between the content o As sea levels rise so erosion rates ↑ → ↑

from different parts of the course of study, but these are not always erosion of depositional landforms e.g.

appropriate. beaches; mud flats + salt marshes

o ↑ temperatures → ↑ chemical weathering as

Level 2 (4-6 marks) rates of chemical weathering accelerates. Sea

Demonstrates reasonable knowledge and understanding ofMark Schemeformation water becoming more acidicJune 2025affecting[Type here]

of landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change16 (AO1). carbonate rocks in particular.

o ↓ freeze thaw weathering in some locations as

Demonstrates reasonable application of knowledge and global temperatures rise → slower

understanding to provide sound analysis that shows some accuracy of development e.g. cliff faces + scree slopes

how formation of landforms in ONE landscape system can be modified o ↑ temperatures →negative impacts on coral

by climate change (AO2). reefs (bleaching episodes)

o Climate change → changes in hydrological

This will be shown by including developed ideas about either cycle → sea level (eustatic) + isostatic

formation of landforms in ONE landscape system or climate change adjustments → landforms of submergence or

and simple ideas for the other focus. emergence

• Glaciated landscapes

There are some attempts to make synoptic links between content from o ↑ temperatures, ↑ ablation, ↓ development

different parts of the course of study, but these are not always relevant. erosional landforms e.g. corries, and ↑

development depositional landforms e.g.

Level 1 (1-3 marks) moraines, drumlins

Demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of formation of o ↑ temperatures = ↑ freeze thaw and frost

landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change (AO1). shattering as temperatures rise to around

freezing → ↑ load for glaciers + meltwater → ↑

Demonstrates basic application of knowledge and understanding to erosion but also deposition e.g.

provide simple analysis that shows limited accuracy of how formation fluvioglacial/glaciofluvial.

of landforms in ONE landscape system can be modified by climate o ↑ temperatures → impacts on periglacial

change (AO2). locations e.g. thawing of permafrost; reduction

in intensity of frost heave but ↑ in freeze-thaw

This will be shown by including simple ideas about formation of cycles → active scree formation

landforms in ONE landscape system and climate change. • Dryland landscapes

There are limited attempts to make synoptic links between content o ↑ temperatures → ↑ rates of evapotranspiration

from different parts of the course of study. → ↑ frequency of droughts → ↑ impact wind

erosion e.g. ↑ impact on deflation and desert

0 marks pavements

No response or no response worthy of credit. o Water shortages → ↓ water erosion → slower

development of canyons

o ↑ temperatures, ↑ rates of evapotranspiration,

↑ frequency of droughts → ↓ impact of river

erosion e.g. development of wadis

NB If the response does not have one of the landscape

systems identified in the Spec. (coastal, glaciated,

dryland), MAX top L1. Credit is for AO1, climate change.

NB Responses must make clear the link between