All exam insights

0460 · June 2024

Geography

Large numbers of candidates performed very well across the paper, showing good geographical knowledge and understanding throughout and handling the skills required with a high level of competence. Many candidates, while not performing consistently across all questions, made a sound attempt at most parts of their chosen questions.

16 pitfalls143 questions8 takeawaysView official report
Last reviewed: 2026-06-30Paraphrased for study purposes — not an official publication of the exam board.

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

No data available in official reports

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

Follow the rubric correctly by attempting only three questions. One must be chosen from each of Sections A, B and C.

2

Answer all parts of their chosen questions in the spaces provided, including questions which involve the completion of maps, diagrams or graphs, e.g. Question 4(a)(i).

3

Take careful note of and respond in the correct way to command words and words which indicate the focus and context of each question. It is particularly important to take note of words which are emboldened in the questions.

4

Be guided by the space provided in the answer booklet and the mark allocations of questions to write answers of an appropriate length.

5

Make clear and precise statements, always avoiding vague words or statements which should be qualified or elaborated.

6

Develop or link ideas when extended writing is required.

7

Interpret various types of source material, including graphs of different types to support their ideas. Accurate statistics (with units) should only be used if the question indicates that it is appropriate to do so.

8

Interpret photographs, diagrams and maps carefully, using them to support answers, if required.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

0460/11

Geographical Themes 11

Strongest: Q1(a)(i)(a)(iii), Q5(a)(i)(a)(ii), Q5(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q1(a)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(c)
Q2(a)(i)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(c)
Q3(a)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(c)
Q4(a)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(c)
Q5(a)(i)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(c)
Q6(a)(i)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(c)
StrongMixedWeak

0460/12

Geographical Themes 12

Strongest: Q1(a)(i)(a)(iii), Q3(a)(i)(a)(iv)Weakest: Q4(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(c)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(c)
Q3(a)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(c)
Q4(a)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(c)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(c)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(c)
StrongMixedWeak

0460/13

Geographical Themes 13

Q1(a)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q1(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q1(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q1(a)(i)(c)
Q2(a)(i)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q2(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q2(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q2(a)(i)(c)
Q3(a)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(c)
Q4(a)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q4(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q4(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q4(a)(i)(c)
Q5(a)(i)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q5(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q5(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q5(a)(i)(c)
Q6(a)(i)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iii)
Q6(a)(i)(a)(iv)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q6(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q6(a)(i)(c)
StrongMixedWeak

0460/21

Geographical Skills 21

Weakest: Q2
Q1(a)
Q1(a)(b)
Q1(a)(c)
Q1(a)(d)
Q1(a)(e)
Q2(a)
Q2
Q2(b)
Q2(c)
Q3(a)
Q3(a)(b)
Q3(a)(c)
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)
Q5(a)
Q5(a)(b)
Q5(a)(c)
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q6(a)(c)
StrongMixedWeak

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

No data available in official reports

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

No data available in official reports

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

No data available in official reports

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

No data available in official reports

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Coasts

25
38
63

Rivers

48
48

Urban settlements

40
40

Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision

35
35

Population dynamics

33
33

Weather

30
30

Tourism

30
30

Earthquakes and volcanoes

25
25

Difficulty trend

How session difficulty has shifted across recent years

202320242025
2023 June 2023 · 3.0/52024 June 2024 · 3.4/52025 June 2025 · 3.8/5

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

No data available in official reports

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    Follow the rubric correctly by attempting only three questions. One must be chosen from each of Sections A, B and C.

  • 2Message

    Answer all parts of their chosen questions in the spaces provided, including questions which involve the completion of maps, diagrams or graphs, e.g. Question 4(a)(i).

  • 3Message

    Take careful note of and respond in the correct way to command words and words which indicate the focus and context of each question. It is particularly important to take note of words which are emboldened in the questions.

  • 4Message

    Be guided by the space provided in the answer booklet and the mark allocations of questions to write answers of an appropriate length.

  • 5Message

    Make clear and precise statements, always avoiding vague words or statements which should be qualified or elaborated.

  • 6Message

    Develop or link ideas when extended writing is required.

  • 7Message

    Interpret various types of source material, including graphs of different types to support their ideas. Accurate statistics (with units) should only be used if the question indicates that it is appropriate to do so.

  • 8Message

    Interpret photographs, diagrams and maps carefully, using them to support answers, if required.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Geography

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education 0460 Geography June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 GEOGRAPHY Paper 0460/11 Geographical Themes 11 Key messages To perform well on this paper candidates should: • Follow the rubric correctly by

  • Follow the rubric correctly by attempting only three questions. One must be chosen from each of Sections A, B and C.

  • Answer all parts of their chosen questions in the spaces provided, including questions which involve the completion of maps, diagrams or graphs, e.g. Question 4(a)(i).

  • Take careful note of and respond in the correct way to command words and words which indicate the focus and context of each question. It is particularly important to take note of words which are emboldened in the questions.

Examiner insights

General comments

  • Large numbers of candidates performed very well across the paper, showing good geographical knowledge and understanding throughout and handling the skills required with a high level of competence.
  • Many candidates, while not performing consistently across all questions, made a sound attempt at most parts of their chosen questions.
  • As always, however, many were less competent in their overall performance, either in terms of interpreting the questions correctly or producing accurate answers.
  • Some candidates did not score marks consistently as they did not respond correctly to all command words (e.g.
  • ‘describe’ in Question 1(b)(ii) or ‘compare’ in Question 5(a)(iv), or key words/terms such as ‘natural environment’ in Question 5(c) or ‘globalisation’ in Question 6(c).