Workshop 3: Preparing students for the
fieldwork examination questions
Garry Simmons, Head of Geography, Bethany School, Kent
The Purposes of Fieldwork
The ‘Planning to Exam’ sequence
Virtuous Sequence – This is the idea that the fieldwork and research process needs to be
‘closed’. This means fully written-up in a way suitable for the exam once the field day has
been completed. This should be a shared group activity to cover the work more quickly.
What are the options for follow up?
A range of
fieldwork
follow-up
options may be
appropriate in
order to better
prepare for the
exam. The
most important
activities are in
the light green
boxes
ACTIVITY 1 – METHODOLOGY WRITE-UP. Give a focus on the techniques and approaches used,
how the sites were selected, justification etc. Remember to include both fieldwork and research
ideas.
ACTIVITY 2 – PRESENTATION and ANALYSIS. Give a focus on the range of techniques used to
present the data and say why you used them. Also include a description of how and why data was
analysed (including qualitative, e.g. Annotation of photographs etc).
ACTIVITY 3 – RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS and EVALUATION. Give a focus on what you found, including
some locational detail. You should also give details of selected results, and provide an evaluative
framework, e.g. limitations, reliability of results etc.
Peer review of other modeled exam responses. Use highlighting, annotation etc to learn from
other peoples work. This could be linked to a mark scheme,
A fieldwork glossary...very useful to help with technical language in the exam. This could be linked
to a techniques matrix (see next slide).
A GIS / Google Earth map showing the locations visited as place marks.
Mock exam questions completed under timed conditions , linked to each of the three activities
above.
A PowerPoint presentation , to focus on giving a ‘virtual tour’ of the locations / and or findings.
How do the exam specifications compare?
Exam questions
Exam weighting
Edexcel
AQA
OCR
Unit 2 exam
Two fieldwork and
research questions worth
15 marks each.
Unit 2 exam
Section B: Asks a series of
questions about a fieldwork
investigation & research skills
Unit 4 exam
Section A: Answer 1
from 3 data-response
questions.
Unit 4A exam (optional).
Section A: Asks questions about
a fieldwork investigation.
Section B: Answer 2
extended writing
questions on fieldwork
and research skills and
techniques
9% of A Level
Section B: Asks a series of
questions based on stimulus
materials
7% of A level (Unit 2 exam)
20% of A level
20% of A Level (Unit 4A
optional exam)
Timing and level
40 minutes at AS only
30 minutes at AS (compulsory)
1 ½ hours at A2 only
1 ½ hours at A2 (optional)
Fieldwork only?
Fieldwork and research
(evenly balanced)
AS & A2: Fieldwork and
research questions
Fieldwork and research
Workshop Tasks (in groups)
a) Prepare a brief outline Scheme of Work to include pre-visit, fieldwork and follow up.
Lesson
e.g. Lesson1
Outline of tasks
e.g. Introduce the sites + virtual fieldwork
Homework Tasks
‘Close’ Fieldwork and research process
b) Prepare a two week brief revision Scheme of work in the run-up to the exam
Lesson
e.g. Lesson1
Outline of tasks
e.g. Look at past paper questions and formats
C) Choose from the following and produce a ‘fieldwork exam questions’ preparation sheet
Refer to your fieldwork – Discuss REAL fieldwork in REAL places
i.
Methodology follow-up revision A4 factsheet - Gives a focus on the techniques and approaches
used, how the sites were selected, justification etc. Remember to include both fieldwork and research ideas)
ii.
Presentation and Analysis follow-up A4 factsheet - Gives a focus on the range of techniques
used to present the data and say why you used them. Also include a description of how and why data was
analysed (including qualitative, e.g. Annotation of photographs etc).
iii.
Results, Conclusions and Evaluation revision A4 factsheet - Gives a focus on what you found,
including some locational detail. You should also give details of selected results, and provide an evaluative
framework, e.g. limitations, reliability of results etc).
iv.
Fieldwork glossary…very useful to help with technical language in the exam.
v.
Techniques matrix…This can be a useful way of reviewing and revising the topic of study.
Sharpens
terminology and fieldwork range.
vi.
Mock exam questions based on i, ii, iii above - Encourage Flexibility. Look at past questions.
Devise your own, think outside the box but base it on the specification.
vii.
Scaffold answers/language for learning for the above mock questions
viii.
Review of used sampling approaches – revision A4 factsheet
Example of Revision notes
Extract from a techniques matrix
AQA Unit 4 (A2) Fieldwork Skills