How to Answer a 6-Mark Data Question (AQA A Level Geography): Revision Note

What is a 6-mark data question?

• This is usually a levelled response question, so each point you make doesn't equal a mark

• The 6-mark data question, one of two types of 6-marker, is the second question in each section of both Paper 1 and Paper 2

• You will answer three on each paper

  • These questions carry 18 of the 120 marks (15%)

• Questions with a calculation or plotting task can split the marks differently

  • For example, the June 2023 standard deviation questions gave 3 marks for the calculation and up to 3 marks for evaluation

• It asks you to work with a figure, such as a graph, map or table

• You have about 7–8 minutes, and it is a skills question, so all the evidence you need is in the figure

The question at a glance

Command phrases and assessment objectives

• These questions often use command phrases such as:

  • "analyse"

  • "interpret"

• Past paper questions include:

  • “Analyse the data shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b.” (Paper 1, June 2024)

  • “Using Figure 3a and Figure 3b, interpret the change in rainfall and vegetation patterns in central and north Africa.” (Paper 1, June 2024)

  • “Interpret the maps shown in Figure 3a and Figure 3b.” (Paper 2, June 2024)

  • “Analyse the information shown in Figure 11.” (Paper 1, June 2024)

• The question tests one assessment objective (AO):

  • AO3 (6 marks): what you can do with data, meaning using geographical skills to interpret and analyse data and evidence

Other forms of this question

• Some questions in this position ask you to do more than analyse:

  • “Complete Figure 3a by plotting the data for Southville shown in Figure 3b and analyse the data shown in the completed Figure 3a.” (Paper 2, June 2023)

  • “Complete the table and standard deviation calculation in Figure 5 and evaluate the usefulness of the technique in analysing this data.” (Paper 1, June 2023)

  • “To what extent does Figure 9 show that wildfires are increasing in intensity and severity?” (Paper 1, June 2023)

• These are still skills questions, so answer them using the figure

How much should I write?

• Spend about 1 minute reading the figure and about 6–7 minutes writing

• Aim for about 130–170 words

• Use the figure's data to support your points rather than listing every value

• You don't need to comment on everything in the figure to reach Level 2

How is a 6-mark data question marked?

• This is a levelled response question, so each point you make doesn't equal a mark

• The examiner reads your whole answer and decides which level it best fits

• The examiner then places it within that level's mark range

The two levels

Level 2 (4–6 marks)

• Clear analysis of the evidence in the figure

• Appropriate use of data to support your points

• Clear connections between different aspects of the data

Level 1 (1–3 marks)

• Basic analysis of the evidence in the figure

• Limited use of data

• Basic connections between different aspects of the data

What separates Level 1 from Level 2?

• Level 1 answers often copy values from the figure or describe one part at a time

• Level 2 answers start with the overall pattern and then use data to support it

• Level 2 answers also compare parts of the data, identify anomalies and use simple calculations

How to answer a 6-mark data question

Step 1

• Read the question carefully and highlight the command phrase

"Analyse the data shown in Figure 1."

• "Analyse" means that you need to break the data into its parts and show how they connect

Step 2

• Read the figure carefully and highlight the key information:

  • the title and any dates

  • the units, scale and key

  • whether any of the data is a projection

• In this example, the figure shows percentages, so differences between them are percentage points

Step 3

• Spend about 1 minute looking for patterns

• A 6-marker structure for this question could be:

  • overall pattern: most regions become more urban

  • comparison: the least urban regions change most

  • calculation: the gap between regions narrows

  • anomaly: Oceania falls between 1990 and 2018

Step 4

• Write your answer, opening with the overall pattern

• Support each point with data, using simple calculations where you can:

  • Copied: "Asia was 32% in 1990 and 50% in 2018"

  • Manipulated: "Asia rose by 18 percentage points between 1990 and 2018"

• Compare different parts of the data, and link the figures if there is more than one

• Identify any anomalies, but don't explain why they occur

• You don't need to reach a final judgement unless the question asks for one

What if?

• The figure looks complicated: take a minute to look carefully at the title, units and key, then look for one overall pattern

• You can't see a calculation to do: work out a simple difference or percentage between two values, because basic calculations show that you're working with the data

• You've started explaining why: stop and go back to what the figure shows, such as another comparison or an anomaly