National and global energy resources: explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources. WS 3.5

The idea

Energy resources are used in different proportions over time, and patterns emerge when you compare fuels, countries or decades. A trend is a consistent change, such as the rising share of renewables in UK electricity since 2010, while a pattern is a repeated relationship, such as wealthier countries using more energy per person. To explain rather than describe, link each change to a cause: cost, availability, government policy, technology, environmental concern or demand. For example, cheap North Sea gas in the 1990s reduced coal use, and carbon targets plus falling wind costs later increased renewables. Use data from graphs or tables, quote figures, and state whether the trend is rising, falling or levelling off. WS 3.5 means interpreting data to draw conclusions, so always connect the evidence to the reason.

What earns the marks

• Identify the trend from data, stating direction and approximate magnitude, for example renewable electricity rising from about 7% in 2010 to over 40% in 2020.
• Link each trend to a cause such as cost, availability, policy, technology, environmental concern or changing demand.
• Compare patterns between resources or countries, for example fossil fuels dominating transport while electricity generation shifts to renewables.
• Use specific data points from a graph or table to support the explanation rather than making general statements.
• Explain a consequence of the trend, such as reduced carbon dioxide emissions or increased energy security.
• Recognise that trends can change direction, for example coal use falling then rising briefly when gas prices spike.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Describing the graph instead of explaining it.

  Put it right: Add a cause, such as government subsidies or falling turbine costs.

• Treating all energy resources as interchangeable.

  Put it right: Check whether total demand also rose.

• Ignoring units or scale.

  Put it right: Quote the actual values and percentage-point change.

Exam tips

• Read the graph axes and key before writing, then quote at least two specific figures in your answer.
• Use comparative connectives such as 'whereas', 'however' and 'therefore' to show the relationship between evidence and cause.
• If asked to explain, always give a because clause linking the trend to a reason, not just a description of the line.