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Unlock This CourseMost students write their mock answers, hand them in and then barely look at the feedback. That's a huge mistake. The marking process is where the real learning happens. When you understand why you lost marks, you can stop making the same mistakes in the real exam.
This session is all about being honest with yourself. You're going to look at real mark scheme thinking, compare it to your own answers and figure out exactly what needs to change. Think of it like a football manager watching match footage you can't improve what you don't analyse.
Key Definitions:
Examiners are not trying to catch you out. They are looking for reasons to give you marks. But they can only reward what is clearly written. Vague, general answers get low marks even if you "kind of knew" the answer. Be specific. Use data. Name places. Use the right vocabulary.
Different question types are marked in different ways. Understanding this is one of the most powerful exam skills you can develop.
These are marked using a point-based system. You get one mark per correct, distinct point. For 2-mark questions, you need two separate points. For 4-mark questions, you typically need two developed points a point plus an explanation or example for each.
Common mistake: Writing the same idea twice in different words. That only earns one mark, not two.
These use level-based marking. The examiner reads your whole answer and decides which level it fits. Level 1 = basic, undeveloped ideas. Level 2 = clear explanation with some development. Level 3 = detailed, well-structured answer with specific examples and evaluation.
Key insight: You don't earn marks line by line. One brilliant paragraph can push you into Level 3. One vague paragraph won't drag you down if the rest is strong.
For 6 and 8-mark questions, examiners use level descriptors to decide your mark. Here's what each level actually means in practice:
Simple, general statements with little or no development. No specific examples. Could apply to almost any destination. Often just repeats the question back.
Example: "The destination could use marketing to attract more tourists."
Marks: 1–2 out of 6, or 1–3 out of 8.
Points are explained with some development. Some use of geographical terminology. May include a named example but it's not fully applied to the scenario.
Example: "The destination could use social media marketing to reach younger tourists, which could increase visitor numbers."
Marks: 3–4 out of 6, or 4–5 out of 8.
Well-developed points with specific named examples. Answers are clearly linked to the scenario. For 8-mark questions, there is also evaluation weighing up strengths and weaknesses or reaching a conclusion.
Example: "Queenstown could use Instagram campaigns targeting 18–35 adventure tourists, as data shows this group already makes up 42% of visitors, meaning the strategy builds on existing demand."
Marks: 5–6 out of 6, or 6–8 out of 8.
To reach Level 3, your answer must be specific to the scenario. Generic answers ones that could be about any destination are capped at Level 2. Always refer back to the data, the place name and the context given in the question.
Let's look at how to actually mark a mock answer. We'll use a question based on a typical Paper 2 scenario about a coastal destination facing overtourism.
Question (6 marks): "Suggest how the local government could manage tourism more sustainably at this destination."
The scenario described a busy coastal resort in Southeast Asia with overcrowded beaches, damage to coral reefs and local residents complaining about noise and litter.
"The government could introduce rules to stop people damaging the coral. They could also put up signs telling tourists to be careful. Another idea is to limit the number of tourists allowed on the beach each day. This would help protect the environment. They could also build more hotels so more tourists can come and spend money."
"One strategy the government could use is a carrying capacity limit setting a maximum number of visitors allowed on the beach or at coral reef sites each day. This is a hard management strategy that directly reduces physical damage to the reef ecosystem. For example, the Thai government used this approach at Maya Bay, closing it entirely from 2018 to 2022 to allow coral recovery. A second strategy is to introduce an eco-tax on tourists, where a small fee is charged per visitor and the money is reinvested into conservation projects. This ensures tourism generates income for the environment rather than just for businesses. However, some local businesses may oppose this if they feel it discourages tourists from visiting."
After looking at hundreds of mock answers, certain mistakes come up again and again. Here are the big ones and how to fix them.
Students write general answers without referring to the figures, graphs, or text provided. The examiner cannot reward you for ignoring the stimulus material.
Fix: In every answer, quote at least one piece of data from the figure. Use phrases like "According to Figure 1..." or "The data shows that 65% of visitors are aged 18–34, which suggests..."
Students write a long list of points but don't develop any of them. This is a Level 1 approach and wastes your time.
Fix: Use the P-E-E structure. Make your Point, Explain why it matters, give an Example. Two well-developed points beat five undeveloped ones every time.
For 8-mark questions, students often describe strategies without weighing them up. Description alone is capped at Level 2.
Fix: Always include a sentence that starts with "However..." or "On the other hand..." or "This strategy may be limited because..." Show that you understand nothing is perfect.
Students write "a destination I have studied" without naming it, or name a place but give no specific facts. This earns very few marks.
Fix: Know 3–4 case studies really well. Be able to name specific strategies, dates, statistics and outcomes. Vague references to "a country in Asia" are not enough.
"Describe" means say what you see no explanation needed. "Explain" means give reasons. "Suggest" means offer ideas and justify them. "Assess" means weigh up evidence and reach a judgement. If you "explain" when the question says "describe," you waste time. If you "describe" when it says "assess," you lose marks. Always check the command word first.
Case studies are worth a lot in Paper 2. But students often use them badly. Here's how to use them properly, using Costa Rica as an example.
"Costa Rica is a good example of sustainable tourism. They protect their rainforests and many tourists visit each year."
This earns almost nothing. It's too vague. Any student who's heard of Costa Rica could write this.
"Costa Rica is a strong example of sustainable tourism management. The country has designated over 25% of its land as protected national parks and reserves, limiting tourist access to fragile ecosystems. Its certification scheme the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) rates hotels and tour operators on environmental performance, encouraging businesses to reduce waste and energy use. This has helped Costa Rica attract high-spending ecotourists while protecting biodiversity. However, rapid growth in visitor numbers over 3 million per year has put pressure on infrastructure in popular areas like Monteverde, showing that even well-managed destinations face sustainability challenges."
This earns full marks. It includes: specific facts (25% protected land), named schemes (CST), visitor numbers (3 million), a specific place (Monteverde) and evaluation (challenges remain).
Use this grid every time you mark your own mock work. Be honest it only helps if you're truthful with yourself.
Getting feedback is only useful if you do something with it. Here's a simple three-step process to turn your mock marking into real exam improvement.
Look at all your mock answers. Where did you consistently lose marks? Was it always the 8-mark question? Was it always because you didn't use data? Was it because your case studies were vague? Find your pattern that's your priority to fix.
Don't just read the model answer and move on. Rewrite your weakest answer from scratch, using the feedback. This is the single most effective revision technique for Paper 2. Writing it again forces you to actually understand what a better answer looks like.
If vague case studies are your weakness, spend 10 minutes building a revision card for each of your key case studies. Include: the place name, the problem, the strategies used, specific statistics and one limitation. You only need 4–5 case studies done really well to cover almost any Paper 2 question.