Geography Exemplars
Level 1
AS90207 Describe a contemporary geographic issue and evaluate
courses of action (version 3)
The following examples of student work are in response to resource material available on
the TKI Geography website.
They have been designed to illustrate the type of response expected in relation to the
tasks as they appear in the resources for this achievement standard.
Task 1: Examine the geographic nature of a contemporary issue
The geographic nature of an issue relates to its effects on people and on the environment.
This case study is about the issue of how to manage sand dunes at a popular beach.
Describe how management of the sand dunes at New Brighton beach has effects on the
environment and on people. Include specific evidence (examples, information and facts)
from the resource material provided and from the field trip to support your answer.
Effects that management of the sand dunes has on the environment:
Achievement Criterion 1:
Achieved: Describe the geographic nature of a contemporary issue.
Commentary: to describe is defined in the explanatory notes as ‘to identify and outline’. In
the two example answers below, the effect on the environment and the effect on people
have been described.
Comment
An example of evidence at the Not
Achieved level. What has been done is
described but the effect this has on the
environment has not been outlined.
Exemplar answer
Pingao, spinifex and euphorbia have been planted
on the sand dunes and nylon fences have been
erected in front of them.
Evidence that meets the requirements of
the first achievement criterion. What is
being done is discussed and the
subsequent effect on the environment is
outlined.
The planting of pingao, spinifex and euphorbia
stabilises the narrow sand dunes at New Brighton
Beach and the nylon fences in front of the dunes
trap and stabilise sand on the seaward side of the
dunes which stops windblown sand from
smothering the dune vegetation behind. These
sand dunes then protect against wave action and
storms that can flood the land behind the dunes.
Effect on people described and specific
information is used.
The management scheme for the sand dunes at
New Brighton Beach affects people in two ways.
Firstly, the dune height means people cannot see
the ocean from their homes and this lowers the
enjoyment of living on the coast. Secondly, the
sand dunes protect their homes from storm waves
and the excesses of wind-blown sand.
Task 2: Describe viewpoints that relate to the issue
Achievement Criterion 2:
Achieved: Describe viewpoints that relate to the issue.
Merit: Describe, in detail, viewpoints that relate to the issue.
Excellence: Comprehensively examine viewpoints that relate to the issue.
Commentary: For Achieved, students need only identify and outline viewpoints. For Merit
students are required to describe, in detail, viewpoints. This involves outlining a viewpoint
with supporting evidence. The evidence for 2c may also be found in the chart for 2b. You
need to read 2b and 2c together.
Comment
Exemplar answer
1: Coastal Image Group
Not Achieved:
The viewpoint is identified but the outline
is below that expected for a level 1
response.
Low Achieved:
The viewpoint is identified and an
outline is provided.
High Achieved:
Viewpoint outlined with some good
They want the sand dunes lowered so people can
see the ocean.
The Coastal Image Group want the sand dunes to
be lowered to a height of 5.5 metres. They argue
that the current height restricts views of the ocean.
The Coastal Image Group want the sand dunes to
points made but there is no supporting
evidence provided.
Low Merit:
Viewpoint outlined with the use of
supporting evidence.
High Merit:
Viewpoint outlined with the use of
supporting evidence.
Excellence:
Answer contains supporting evidence
and use of a geographic idea – location.
be lowered to a height of 5.5 metres. They argue
that the current height restricts views of the ocean
from their homes and makes access through the
dunes to the beach difficult.
The Coastal Image Group argue that sand dunes
with a height of 5.5 metres will still provide
protection so long as they are planted with
vegetation such as pingao and spinifex. These
species will hold the dunes together and prevent
erosion of the dunes. Dunes at a lower height will
allow beachfront residents to see the ocean from
their homes.
The Coastal Image Group argue that the present
height of the sand dunes (currently 8 metres)
provides no extra benefit by way of protection than
sand dunes with a height of 5.5 metres. These
dunes, planted with pingao and spinifex will protect
the area behind from flooding as the dunes will be
less readily eroded by waves or by wind. These
plants are very effective at stabilising sand dunes.
Therefore, they argue the dunes could be lowered.
This will allow easier access to the beach and the
residents with seafront homes will be able to see
the ocean.
The dunes should be lowered to a height of 5.5
metres from their current height of 8 metres
demand the Coastal Image Group. Spinifex,
pingao and euphorbia are excellent plants at
stabilising sand dunes and therefore reduce the
likelihood of erosion. They bind the sand together
making it less likely to erode. The location of nylon
fences in front of the dunes will help protect them
by preventing windblown sand from smothering the
dune vegetation. The fences and dunes located
between the houses and the beach will protect the
houses from coastal erosion or inundation with
sand, depending on which process is operating at
the time.
(c) Give reasons why individuals and groups hold the views they do about the best way of
dealing with the management of the sand dunes at New Brighton. Include supporting
evidence from the resource materials and the field trip in your answer. Reference to
geographic ideas may help you answer e.g. culture and perception, change and
processes.
Comment
Achieved: The evidence addresses the
task but is general in nature. An outline
has been provided.
Merit: Uses evidence from the
resources to substantiate what people
think and the reasons for these views.
Excellence: Provides a detailed
outline of the various points of view and
uses supporting evidence from the
resources. Provides some own
evaluation of the viewpoints
demonstrating an understanding of the
topic. Shows understanding about the
idea of perception.
Exemplar answer
The residents of New Brighton are divided on the
issue of sand dune height. Those people who
want the Dunes lowered do so mainly because
they want to see the ocean from the front rooms of
their two-storey homes.. At present they cannot
see the beach over the top of the sand dunes..
They all feel that they should do something about
the sand dunes at the beach. Some of them are
worried about the costs of some schemes and the
effects they will have on the beach and on them.
There is concern about the potential cost if during
bad storms the dunes give way and do not prevent
flooding of their homes.
All of the residents of New Brighton Beach have
the same idea – to protect the dune system so that
storms do not take away their homes. There are
differences in the method of achieving this. Some
don’t want to have the dunes lowered to 5.5
metres while others do want them lowered from
the present 8 metres.
The people who want the dunes lowered to 5.5
metres do so because of the benefits they will
derive from lowered dunes. They will be able to
see the beach from their homes, which will
increase the value of their properties immediately.
They argue a dune height of 5.5 metres is
sufficient and this height has worked well
elsewhere. Opponents of this scheme argue that
lowering the dunes increases the chances of them
failing in storms and does not provide a high
enough buffer from wind blown sand. They see the
value of their homes being lowered if people
perceive there is a risk of flooding or that sand
inundation will require them to spend time
sweeping sand from their property.
Achievement Criterion 3
Achieved: Evaluate courses of action and make a recommendation.
Merit: Evaluate courses of action and make a justified recommendation:
Excellence: Comprehensively evaluate courses of action and make a fully justified
recommendation.
Commentary: Two strengths and two weaknesses have been provided and each contains
references to the resource materials. This provides further elaboration to the statements
and strengthens the arguments for why specific measures have strengths and
weaknesses.
Comment
Achieved and Merit:
This is an example of an evaluation that
meets the requirements of this criterion.
Two strengths have been outlined. To
achieve, two weaknesses with a similar
standard of answer would have to be
provided.
Excellence
This is an example of an answer that
would contribute towards a
comprehensive evaluation. It makes a
judgement and uses supporting
evidence. The strengths would have to
be of a similar standard also for
Excellence to be considered.
Exemplar answer
Strengths:
(i)
Keeping to the current management plan
means the height of the dunes will remain
at 8 metres. This scheme has proved to
be successful in achieving a naturalised
coastal defence system
(ii)
This scheme has a cost of only $37,000,
compared to $1,379,000 of lowering the
dunes, making it extremely cost effective.
Weaknesses
(i)
This scheme is not likely to get support
from the local residents as they would like
to see the dunes lowered to a height of 5.5
metres from their present height of 8
metres. They argue that at this height any
hazards from storms would still be
mitigated and consequently there is no
justified reason for keeping the height at 8
metres.
(ii)
The height of the dunes at 8 metres
restricts access to the beach. A network of
tracks is needed to provide access to the
beach otherwise people will have to climb
over the dunes. This will require fences
and board-walks in order to keep people
off the dune vegetation. This is an
unnecessary cost and does nothing to
enhance the aesthetic value of the
beachfront.
c) Name which course of action you consider the best.
Selected course of action: Current Management regime.
d) State why the course of action selected above is the best and why this course of action
is better than the other two. Refer to all three possible courses of action in your
answer. Include supporting evidence from the resource materials and the field trip to
support your answer.
Comment
Achieved:
Makes a recommendation only.
Low Merit:
A justified recommendation whereby the
recommendation is justified using
supporting evidence and/or arguments.
High Merit:
Even though there are references to two
other courses of action there is not a
direct comparison with either of them.
The addition of these sentences to the
Merit answer above does not make this
a fully justified recommendation.
Exemplar answer
I believe the best choice of action is Option 1. The
height of the sand dunes should be left at 8 metres
and the dunes should be planted with pingao and
spinifex.
I believe the best choice of action to take is the
current management plan (option 1) that requires
the height of the sand dunes to remain at 8 metres
and for the dunes to be planted with native binding
plants such as spinifex and pingao. The Council is
entrusted to ensure the coastal residences are
protected from flooding. At present there is a lack
of information about whether sand dunes at 5.5
metres will offer the protection needed whereas
the sand dune height of 8 metres has provided
protection.
The other two options involve lowering the sand
dunes to 5.5 metres. This is not advisable as at
this height it has not been proven to protect
against erosion.
Excellence:
A fully justified recommendation
where the chosen course of action,
keeping the height at 8 metres and
with landscaping of the sand dunes,
is shown as the best course of action.
It is also compared to the two other
courses of action and the
argument/evidence outlines why the
chosen course of action is better than
I believe the best choice of action to take is the
current management plan (option 1) that requires
the height of the sand dunes to remain at 8 metres
and for the dunes to be planted with native binding
plants such as spinifex and pingao. The Council is
entrusted to ensure the coastal residences are
protected from flooding. At present there is a lack
of information about whether sand dunes at 5.5
metres will offer the protection needed. Until such
these other two alternatives.
time the dunes should remain at 8 metres. We
could see on the trip that the beach front has a
natural appearance to it. The dunes, planted with
native vegetation give a natural appearance to a
beach next to a large city.
Option 1 is better than Option 2 because the cost
of lowering the dunes but keeping the current
landscaping (option 2) has a cost of $423,000
which is much higher than option 1. While the
dune height of 5.5 metres will please some local
residents as they will have ocean views from their
properties, other residents will be wary of potential
risks from flooding during storms. A height of 5.5
metres has not been tested as sufficient.
Option 3 consists of lowering the dunes to 5.5
metres, building a retaining wall and pathway,
viewing areas, parking, and amenity planting. The
total cost of this option is $1,379,000 which is far
too expensive considering it has not yet been
established that a dune height of 5.5 metres is
sufficient. All the man-made structures will detract
from the natural appearance of the dunes and
beach. The cost and the destruction of the natural
look of the beach means this option is not
satisfactory compared to option 1.