IB Geography Higher Level Extension Paper Overview of the paper The extension paper acts as a differentiator and will

be more challenging than the other units. It is based on the issue of global interactions and has a very broad perspective. You are expected to see globalisation as a two-way process whereby cultural traits and commodities may be adopted, adapted or resisted by societies. You need to consider the process in a critical manner and question received wisdom on this issue. Your answers in the exam need to be well-structured, balanced and use examples effectively to support an argument. This paper is worth 20% of your overall grade. The exam will be one hour long and you will need to answer one question out of three. Each question is worth 25 marks and is broken into two sections. Part A is a 10 mark answer and will be levels marked. This should take approximately 20 minutes to answer. Part B is a 15 mark answer and will be a more challenging question where you are expected to produce an essay style response. This should take approximately 35 minutes to answer. See the next pages for details on the mark scheme.

Section A level descriptors

Level descripto r A

Knowledge/ understanding AO1 No relevant knowledge, or inappropriate

Application/ analysis AO2 The question has been completely misinterpreted or omitted

Skills AO4 None appropriate

Marks 0 10 0

Little relevant knowledge and/or understanding Some relevant knowledge and understanding Generally accurate knowledge and understanding

Important aspects of the question are ignored Answer partially addresses the question Answer is developed and covers most aspects of the question Well-developed answer that covers most or all aspects of the question

Little attempt at organization of material Some indication of structure or organization Appropriate structure with generally appropriate terminology Well-structured response with sound terminology

13

46

78

Accurate, relevant knowledge and understanding

910

Section B Level Descriptors

Level descripto r A

Knowledge/ understanding AO1 No relevant knowledge, or inappropriate

Application/ analysis AO2 The question has been completely misinterpreted or omitted Important aspects of the question are ignored Answer partially addresses the question Answer is developed and covers most aspects of the question

Synthesis/ evaluation AO3 No synthesis/ evaluation

Skills AO4

Marks 0 15

None appropriate

Little relevant knowledge and/or understanding Some relevant knowledge and understanding

Little attempt at synthesis/ evaluation

Little attempt at organization of material

14

Basic synthesis/ basic or unsubstantiate d evaluation Synthesis that may be partially undeveloped/ evaluation that may be partially unsubstantiate d Clear, developed synthesis/clear, substantiated evaluation

Some indication of structure or organization Appropriate structure with generally appropriate terminology

58

Generally accurate knowledge and understanding

912

Accurate, relevant knowledge and understanding

Well-developed answer that covers most or all aspects of the question

Well-structured response with sound terminology

1315

IB Advice on Producing Essay Answers for the 15 mark question

Higher Level Paper 3 Guidelines for writing essays

1 . Interpreting the title Look carefully at the essay title and carry out the following: Underline the key words in the title. Use the L.I.S.T. checklist below to ensure that you give the essay title its broadest interpretation. L LOCATION (spatial context): poor/rich countries; rural/urban areas; tropical/temperate; land/air/sea; marine/terrestrial/atmospheric I ISSUES (factors): positive/negative, advantages/disadvantages, costs/benefits, human/physical, environmental, social, cultural, demographic, political, economic, geographic S SCALE: global, regional, international, national, sub-national, local T TIME: long-term/medium-term/short-term; past/present/future; contemporary/recent/current Some of the items in the L.I.S.T. may not be relevant to the essay. 2 . Planning Planning ensures that: ideas can be presented in a logical sequence new points can be added to the plan while writing the essay responses are well structured and can access the highest markbands content is relevant and the focus remains on the essay title.

3 .

Structure Introduction the first sentence should make an impact define terms if necessary outline the general direction of the essay Develop its subject clearly use clear English and write concisely limit each sentence to one or two points have clear self-contained paragraphs have a recognizable connection between paragraphs

Come to an effective conclusion again try to finish with a sentence / sentences that make an impact provide an overview of the response which links back to the title do not introduce new ideas at this stage Throughout the essay: use a wide vocabulary use appropriate geographic terminology write legibly in dark blue or black ink avoid note form and/or lists (bullet points).