A piece of cake? Exam Q.1a &1b

This resource is for the 2018-24 specification. Please visit the 2025 section of the website for up-to-date materials.

In this series of articles, we introduce you to the question types of the exam paper, and give you advice on how to write strong answers.

When you open your exam paper and read Questions 1a and 1b you might think they look so straightforward that there must be some trick, but no – they really are that easy. The examiners want absolutely everybody to be able to get these marks – we’ve heard them say so!

Here’s an example from the November 2020 Paper 12:

1 Study Sources 1 to 3. (a)  What percentage of China’s population use a bicycle, according to Source 1? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

Look at Source 1 in the “insert” (the separate paper with the sources) and you see:

Source 1 Over half of the world’s population use a bicycle. It is estimated that there are more than two billion bicycles being used around the world and by 2050 that number could be as high as five billion. In China 37 per cent of the population use a bicycle. In Japan bicycle use is even more common with 57 per cent of people using one.

Unless you’re really sleepy, you aren’t going to write “half” or “57%”, are you! The answer is easy to see: 37%.

Exam technique

To be a high-scoring student you want to move through these easy questions quickly to save time for the harder questions later, so don’t waste time writing more words than you need to:

In China 37 per cent of the population use a bicycle.

Just write:

37 per cent

or

37%

But like in maths, you must include the “%” because a number on its own is meaningless.

Moving onto Question 1b:

(b) Identify two benefits of travelling by bicycle, from Source 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

Look at the insert and you see:

No thinking required yet! Simply copy down the phrases from any two of the boxes and you’ll get the marks. You don’t need to write them in a full sentence, and you don’t need to put them in your own words. Is that hard to believe? Take a look at the mark scheme:

So now you know how to get off to a quick start and save time for the harder questions later in the exam.

Practice

The following practice questions come from the November 2021 Paper 11:

1 Study Sources 1 to 3. (a) Identify the trend in the number of students moving to a different country for university, from Source 1.  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1] (b) Identify two benefits of moving to a different country, from Source 2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

Source 2: Moving away for work or study It has become more popular for young people to move to another area of their country or go to a different country to work or study. Young people will gain skills that will improve their job prospects. Time spent away from home can be a positive, life-changing experience. Young people may develop a better understanding of other cultures, learn a different language and build their self-confidence. Young people are the future of the nation. Their experience is important for the country’s economy. When they return home they will help improve our links with other countries. However, if they do not return our country will lose a valuable resource.

[Hint – a “trend” is a direction of change over time. So which way is it going? – You only need one word for Q.1a!]

Post your answers in the comment section.