Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
Fieldwork assessment
The difference between AS and A2
Fotolia
David Redfern
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
What this presentation covers
The nature of investigative (fieldwork) skills at AS and A2
The requirements of the assessment of fieldwork at AS
The requirements of the assessment of fieldwork at A2
A summary of the progression from AS to A2.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
Investigative (fieldwork) skills at
AS and A2
These are the same for both levels:
Identifying aims, geographical questions and issues, and effective
approaches to enquiry.
Risk assessment and identification of strategies for minimising health
and safety risks.
Identifying, selecting and collecting quantitative and qualitative
evidence, including the use of appropriate sampling techniques, from
primary (including fieldwork) and secondary sources.
The processing, presentation, analysis and interpretation of
evidence.
Drawing conclusions and showing an awareness of the validity of those
conclusions including evaluation and further research opportunities.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
The starting point of the investigation
AS
A2
Describe the purpose of your
Explain the reasons why you
fieldwork enquiry.
selected this aim for investigation.
Describe the characteristic
Explain the importance of the
features of your study area.
choice of location for your
Draw an annotated sketch map
investigation in relation to your
showing its characteristics.
aim(s).
Describe the underlying theory,
Explain how the location of your
concept or issue which formed
the basis of your enquiry.
fieldwork was relevant to the
theory/concept/issue being
investigated.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
Health and safety and risk assessment
AS
A2
Describe the measures you
Justify the measures you
took to minimise the health
took to minimise the health
and safety risks involved in
and safety risks involved in
your investigation.
your investigation.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
Types of data and data collection
AS
Outline one method of primary
data collection used in the field in
your investigation
Describe a sampling technique
you used to collect data.
Outline how you obtained and
why you used secondary data in
your enquiry.
A2
Evaluate the suitability of this method
of primary data collection.
Justify how you made sure that the
data collected were as accurate and
reliable as possible.
Justify improvements you would
make to a method of data collection
that you used.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
Data presentation and analysis
AS
A2
Describe one method you used to
Assess the usefulness of one
present data collected in your
method of data presentation that you
fieldwork investigation.
used in your investigation.
With reference to one technique to
Describe one technique of data
present data in your enquiry,
analysis that you used and justify
justify the choice of this
its inclusion in your investigation.
technique.
Explain how far the data you
Describe advantages of a
collected made your analysis
technique used to analyse your
technique appropriate.
data.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
The outcomes of the investigation
AS
A2
Referring to your results, outline
Evaluate the usefulness of the
the main conclusions of your
conclusions reached in your
enquiry and suggest further areas
investigation and consider their
of research.
potential implications.
Summarise the main findings of
Evaluate the success of your
your fieldwork enquiry.
investigation.
Explain how your fieldwork
Discuss how your investigation
enquiry could have been
helped your understanding of
improved.
geographical theory.
Global
Digitalassessment
Divide
Fieldwork
at AS and A2
What is the essential difference
between AS and A2?
A2 assessment is more challenging than the AS equivalent. The questions have
to demonstrate elements of progression, ‘synopticity’ and ‘stretch and
challenge’.
Essentially, the differences between the two levels can be summarised as:
AS: assesses what you did on your fieldwork.
A2: assesses why you did what you did on your fieldwork.
In other words, questions at A2 are all evaluative.