GEOGRAPHY-B-1GB0 · Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1)
GEOGRAPHY-B-1GB0/31
People and Environment Issues - Making Geographical Decisions
Geography B · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
252
270 min
Development Dynamics and Synoptic Energy Resource Management
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
252
Duration
270 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty.
It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning.
While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high mechanical precision, Paper 2 demanded localized fieldwork agility.
Paper 3 acted as the primary discriminator, demanding synoptic application regarding Ecuador's oil conflicts.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Mathematical /
Weight: 9100%Data & Graphical Analysis
Weight: 889%Graphical
Weight: 778%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 667%Fieldwork
Weight: 444%Critique
Weight: 333%Synoptic
Weight: 222%Decision
Weight: 111%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
Method marks
Failing to explicitly link mathematical working out on percentage calculations, costing easy method marks.
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
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 82% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 75% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 69% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 62% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 54% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 47% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 34% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 20% of maximum mark
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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Assess” questions.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.
Identify similarities and differences explicitly — paired sentences or a table helps.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.9
Min per mark: 1.6
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.4
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Development dynamics
34 marks this session
Consuming energy resources
31 marks this session
Hazardous Earth
30 marks this session
Challenges of an urbanising world
30 marks this session
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
Development dynamics
Consuming energy resources
Hazardous Earth
Challenges of an urbanising world
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: Global Geographical Issues:
Paper 2: UK Geographical Issues:
Paper 3: People and Environment Issues - Making Geographical Decisions:
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
Development dynamics
34 marks this session
Practise in RevuiConsuming energy resources
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiHazardous Earth
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiChallenges of an urbanising world
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty.
- 2Message
It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning.
- 3Message
While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high mechanical precision, Paper 2 demanded localized fieldwork agility.
- 4Message
Paper 3 acted as the primary discriminator, demanding synoptic application regarding Ecuador's oil conflicts.
- 5Method
Failing to explicitly link mathematical working out on percentage calculations, costing easy method marks.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Geography B
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty. It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning. While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high me
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty.
It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning.
While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high mechanical precision, Paper 2 demanded localized fieldwork agility.
- Total marks
- 252
- Duration
- 270 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty. It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning. While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high mechanical precision, Paper 2 demanded localized fieldwork agility. Paper 3 acted as the primary discriminator, demanding synoptic application regarding Ecuador's oil conflicts.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: Global Geographical Issues:
Paper 2: UK Geographical Issues:
Paper 3: People and Environment Issues - Making Geographical Decisions:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
76% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Explain
(2-4 marks)
94·32·37%
Assess / Evaluate
(8 marks)
88·11·35%
Short / Mathematical Calculation
31·18·12%
Justify Decision
(12 marks + SPaG)
16·1·6%
Multiple Choice / Binary
15·15·6%
SPaG
(Separate assessment)
8·2·3%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (
0.50 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.93 m/minPaper 1 Section C (
0.90 m/minPaper 2 Section A (
0.96 m/minPaper 2 Section B (
0.69 m/minPaper 2 Section C1
0.94 m/minPaper 2 Section C2
0.53 m/minPaper 3 Section A (
0.89 m/minPaper 3 Section B (
0.73 m/minPaper 3 Section C (
0.69 m/minPaper 3 Section D (
0.64 m/minTotal marks
178
Total time
229 min
Avg pace
0.78
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Tectonic Management Strategies (Volcano focus)
5%5%
UK Physical Landscape - River Landforms
4%4%
Executive Difficulty Verdict
The Summer 2024 series sits at a solid Grade 3 (Moderate) difficulty. It strikes an examiner-approved balance between accessible data-completing tasks and highly demanding synoptic reasoning. While Paper 1 tested core foundational theories (Rostow, Dependency Theory) with high mechanical precision, Paper 2 demanded localized fieldwork agility. Paper 3 acted as the primary discriminator, demanding synoptic application regarding Ecuador's oil conflicts.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Fieldwork Plan Critiques: In Paper 2, Section C, many students evaluated the logistical hurdles of the physical and human plans (such as private land keys or 120 km round-trips) but completely forgot to critique the suitability of the Enquiry Question itself.
- Renewable Impacts: In Paper 3, a common misconception was that renewable energy is entirely harmless. Stronger answers successfully explained localized environment damage such as flooding from HEP or bird collisions with wind turbines.
- Non-committal Decisions: In the synoptic Section D essay, candidates often wrote balanced views but failed to make a definitive, justified choice of one option, significantly lowering their score.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 64
- Weighting
- 25.4%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice, Identify / Calculate Value, Explain Physical / Action Reasons, Suggest Biome / Forest Loss Reasons, Assess (8 marks), Identify Communities / Unconventional Sources, Justify Decision (12 marks), SPaG
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.