Exam Connection — OCR B and AQA Geography

🎯 Exam Connection — OCR B and AQA Geography

OCR B: Component 2 — Resource Reliance (Paper 2). Energy is one of the three main resource topics alongside food and water. Expect 4-mark, 6-mark, and 8-mark questions. Case studies (Nigeria as LIC/NEE, Germany or similar HIC) are essential.

AQA: Paper 2 — Challenges in the Human Environment, Section C (Resource Management). Similar question types and case study requirements.

Exam frequency: Very high — energy appears in every recent paper sitting, typically with both a specific case study question and a broader evaluate/assess question about energy strategies.

Typical Question Types:

• "Describe two features of energy insecurity." [4 marks] — Two clear points with development/evidence each. Use Germany (gas dependence) and Nigeria (40% no electricity) as evidence.
• "Explain how one country is managing its energy supply." [4 marks] — Pick Germany. Explain the Energiewende: feed-in tariffs → renewable investment → 50% electricity from renewables. One cause, explained mechanism, one outcome with evidence.
• "Explain why some countries face greater energy insecurity than others." [6 marks] — You need causes explained, with named evidence. Import dependence (Germany-Russia), fossil fuel dependence without distribution infrastructure (Nigeria), political instability/conflict affecting supply.
• "To what extent can renewable energy solve the problem of energy insecurity?" Evaluate. [8 marks] — This is the top-mark question. Requires both sides, case study evidence, and a supported judgement. See exam technique section below.

What Gets You to Level 3 (Top Marks):

• Named case studies with specific statistics — not "a European country" but "Germany, which imported 55% of its gas from Russia" or "Nigeria, which earns 80% of export revenue from oil yet has 40% of its population without electricity"
• Explaining mechanisms, not just stating facts — "because feed-in tariffs de-risked investment in renewables by guaranteeing a fixed income for 20 years, making it financially attractive for households and businesses to install solar panels" rather than "Germany built more solar"
• For evaluate questions: genuine argument on both sides, with a clear final judgement that is supported by evidence ("Overall, renewable energy can significantly reduce energy insecurity for electricity generation, as Germany's Energiewende demonstrates — but it cannot fully eliminate insecurity as long as heating and industry remain dependent on gas imports")
• Linking LIC/NEE case study to HIC case study in comparison — the contrast between Germany and Nigeria illustrates different types of energy insecurity (import dependence vs distribution failure)