AO1 v. AO2 (2)

Understanding the difference between the AOs.

In response to requests…. Here is a human question (Changing places) to parallel my previous Substack.

A reminder: for A level Geography, there are two key Assessment Objectives (AOs):

AO1: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of places, environments, concepts, processes, interactions and change, at a variety of scales.

AO2: apply knowledge and understanding in different contexts to interpret, analyse, and evaluate geographical information and issues.

Knowing how to separate and use these two AOs is fundamental in answering examination questions. Consider the data stimulus question below. It is written to match a generic style across the Boards, though the mark allocation may vary.

The weighting of the AOs here is 4 marks @ AO1 and 4 marks @ AO2. Total 8 marks.

Students have approximately 10 minutes to answer this question. You will see an answer to the question given below in two formats:

a.       Without AO indications – normal font.

b.       With AO indications. AO1 is in italics; AO2 is in bold.

[AO1 is recognizing the agencies, and their role, as well as for understanding information given on the maps. AO2 is any form of assessment.]

Study Fig. 2, which shows OS 1:25,000 map extracts of an area in the rural-urban fringe of Ipswich for 1955 and 2015.

Using Fig. 2 assess the roles of different agencies that may have been involved in driving economic change in this area. (8 marks)

Figure 2

Answer 1

Between 1955 and 2015, a new dual-carriageway, the A14 was built to run into Ipswich from the rural-urban fringe. This is likely to make it much faster for people to travel into the centre of Ipswich than before due to the resulting improvement in infrastructure. This is likely to have driven economic change since it will have become increasingly possible for workers to commute into the town, where they will be able to earn higher incomes than before, leading to a multiplier effect on a local scale. This construction project was likely overseen by Highways England public sector organisation responsible for the road networks within the country. The organisation is funded by the Government which suggests that the UK state had a large role to play in driving economic change in the area as without the initial funding for the investment, it could not and would not have taken place.

Furthermore, there have been significant housing developments to the East of Sproughton over the 60-year period. This is likely to have led to economic change since the population of Sproughton will have likely increased over time and thus led to a greater demand for goods and services produced within the town. This is likely to have led to more local stores setting up and thus increasing the incomes of all those within the town. This development project will have undoubtedly involved a number of Local Council town planners along with architects in order to oversee the construction. The exact positioning of the housing is likely to have been coordinated by the council so as to have the maximum economic impact. In addition to this, since the new housing located very near to the River Gipping, it is likely that the Environment Agency will have been involved to prevent damage to this water system as a consequence of the development.

Answer 2

Between 1955 and 2015, a new dual-carriageway, the A14 was built to run into Ipswich from the rural-urban fringe. This is likely to make it much faster for people to travel into the centre of Ipswich than before due to the resulting improvement in infrastructure. This is likely to have driven economic change since it will have become increasingly possible for workers to commute into the town, where they will be able to earn higher incomes than before, leading to a multiplier effect on a local scale. This construction project was likely overseen by Highways England public sector organisation responsible for the road networks within the country. The organisation is funded by the Government which suggests that the UK state had a large role to play in driving economic change in the area as without the initial funding for the investment, it could not and would not have taken place.

Furthermore, there have been significant housing developments to the East of Sproughton over the 60-year period. This is likely to have led to economic change since the population of Sproughton will have likely increased over time and thus led to a greater demand for goods and services produced within the town. This is likely to have led to more local stores setting up and thus increasing the incomes of all those within the town. This development project will have undoubtedly involved a number of Local Council town planners along with architects in order to oversee the construction. The exact positioning of the housing is likely to have been coordinated by the council so as to have the maximum economic impact. In addition to this, since the new housing located very near to the River Gipping, it is likely that the Environment Agency will have been involved to prevent damage to this water system as a consequence of the development.