Glaciation: Causes, landform and threats

This Question and Answer looks at a sequence of questions in the style of the Edexcel A-level specification: the optional Topic 2A Glaciated Landscapes and Change. They consider causes of climate change in the past, glacial landforms and the management of existing glaciated landscapes today. The questions test both Assessment Objectives 1 and 2 in a typical sequence that includes data stimulus, extended writing and evaluative essay-style questions. Many of the themes are covered in other specifications (see Box 1), 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

Table 1 Question sequence and Assessment Objectives

Before considering the individual questions, it is useful to stand back and look at the Assessment Objectives that are being tested by the three questions. This is shown in Table 1. Most of the available marks are awarded for Assessment Objective 2 (AO2). This is defined as ‘applying knowledge and understanding in different contexts to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues’.

For other specifications, this Question and Answer could be used as a class discussion activity or as homework, bearing in mind differences in themes and question styles: