WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry The PPT is designed to: Look back  taking lessons from the 2013 moderation exercise, but also to Look forward  given that the ‘Enquiry’ for 2014 is assessed through similar, but strengthened criteria

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO 1 – Knowledge & Understanding – Looking back to 2013  Generally this AO was assessed accurately, but some generosity was shown in giving L L4 requires candidates to give detailed conclusions fully consistent with the evidence from their investigation and linked to the hypothesis or enquiry question.

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding – Looking ahead to work submitted for the 2014 moderation, given that some centres awarded L4 with some generosity The strengthened spec has similar criteria.....  L4 requires candidates to recall and select info which is detailed and specific to the place.  L4 requires that candidates reach conclusions that are substantiated and consistent with the evidence included in the investigation.

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO2 – Application – Looking back to 2013 This is perhaps the weakest aspect of work submitted across the cohort.  Centres tend to be generous in awarding L3 (the highest level in 2013), even when candidates have only offered fleeting references to wider geographical study that underpins the Enquiry. To award L3 we needed to see where candidates had cross referenced to geographical ideas / concepts / theories / other locations....and contextualised their findings to ask wider geographical questions

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO2 – Application - Looking back to 2013 Application at L3 Links to wider geography – a Quality of Life task!

AO2 – Application – Looking ahead to work submitted for the 2014 moderation, given that some centres awarded L3 with some generosity The strengthened spec has similar strands within the criteria, but now has 4 levels of response.....

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO3 – Skills – Looking back to 2013 Some outstanding work was seen where candidates were able to show highly developed skills using a wide range of techniques in collecting / selecting / processing / primary and secondary data. They showed sophistication in evaluating methodology (validity / limitations) as examples of L4. However, it was noticeable that a growing number of centres submitted work (from across their cohort) where ‘skills responses’ were limited but still highly rewarded.  Typically, the range of techniques employed in data collection was unsophisticated, leaving little room for individuality.  In presenting data, the same, limited range of techniques was utilised across the cohort. Evaluation methodology was often simplistic in the extreme!

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO3 – Skills – Looking ahead to  Skills marks will account for almost half the 50 marks available.  There is now greater emphasis, at the higher levels, on candidates showing independence in shaping the enquiry and employing techniques to present and utilise selected data.  Critical evaluation and further development is further emphasised.

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry AO3 Skills – Looking ahead to 2014 When the task is being developed, knowledge of the assessment criteria is essential, not least in Level

WJEC Geog GCSE Spec B – Marking the Fieldwork Enquiry Annotation Looking back and looking forward  Mark the work using the published mark scheme or grid.  If you use the grid – use highlighters. Note the page number within the report.  Mark the evidence in the report in the margin e.g. AO2 L3. This simple annotation helps the moderator.  In larger centres please moderate within the department.