A-level

GEOGRAPHY

7037/2

Paper 2 Human Geography

Mark scheme

June 2021

Version: 1.0 Final Mark Scheme

*216A7037/2/MS*

Your text here 1

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MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – 7037/2 – JUNE 2021

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Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant

questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the

standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in

this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’

responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.

As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative

answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the

standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are

required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.

It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and

expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark

schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of

assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination

paper.

Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk

Copyright information

AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own

internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third

party even for internal use within the centre.

Copyright © 2021 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – 7037/2 – JUNE 2021

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Level of response marking instructions

Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The

descriptor for the level shows the typical performance for the level. There are marks in each level.

Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as

instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.

The notes for answers provide indicative content. Students’ responses may take a different approach in

relation to that which is typical or expected. It is important to stress that examiners must consider all a

student’s work and the extent to which this answered the question, irrespective of whether a response

follows an expected structure. If in doubt the examiner should contact their team leader for advice and

guidance.

Step 1 Determine a level

Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the

descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in

the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it

meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With

practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the

lower levels of the mark scheme.

When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in

small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If

the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit

approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within

the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be

placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.

Step 2 Determine a mark

Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate

marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an

answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This

answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer

with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then

use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.

You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and

assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.

Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be

exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points

mentioned in the indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.

An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.

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MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY – 7037/2 – JUNE 2021

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Section A

Qu Part Marking guidance Total

marks

01 1 Outline the spatial organisation of one transnational corporation

(TNC) you have studied.

Point marked

Allow 1 mark per valid point with extra mark(s) for developed points (d).

For example:

Notes for answers

Allow credit for specific knowledge and understanding of the spatial

organisation of any TNC. Max 3 marks if the TNC is not clearly identified.

If more than one TNC used, credit the best response.

• Apple is a global brand which has its main operations based across

North America, Europe and Asia (1). Its HQ and research centre is

based on its own campus – Apple Campus in Cupertino, California (1)

(d). Assembly is mainly outsourced to Foxconn who have bases across

China making use of a vast low-cost labour market (1). Foxconn has its

main production base in its own purpose-built city, Foxconn City in

Guangdong (1) (d).

• The Indian Tata group is a made of several different companies involved

in products as diverse as cars, coffee, steel and software (1). It

operates in over 80 countries with most of the headquarters based in

India (1). Over 60% of its revenue is accrued outside India (1).

• Nestle is the world’s biggest food company with its headquarters based

in Vevey, Switzerland (1). It has operations in 86 countries across the

world employing 328 000 people globally (1) (d). It is an umbrella

organisation, which has acquired or has stakes in many other brands

such as L’Oreal, Starbucks and Crosse and Blackwell (1). Nestle shows

evidence of vertical and horizontal integration (1) (d). Although a Swiss

company, nearly 45% of its sales occur in North America (1).

• The TNC has its headquarters in the home country with subsidiary

headquarters in three other continents where their operations are based

(1). Research and development is based in the home country near to

major universities (1) (d). This allows them to make use of the facilities

and attract a graduate labour force (1).

The notes for answers are not exhaustive. Credit any valid points.

4

AO1 = 4

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