The Challenge of Resource Management

OCR

GCSE

This study area necessitates a critical evaluation of the global distribution, consumption, and management of fundamental resources: food, water, and energy. Candidates must analyze the disparity between resource surplus and deficit regions, linking these inequalities to physical geography (climate, geology) and human factors (politics, technology). The core focus lies in assessing strategies to secure supply while mitigating environmental degradation. Mastery requires understanding the shift from resource exploitation to sustainable management, applying theoretical frameworks like Malthusian catastrophe versus Boserupian innovation to contemporary geopolitical conflicts and development indicators.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award marks for precise definitions of key terms such as 'food security', 'water deficit', and 'energy mix'.
Credit responses that explicitly link human factors (population growth, industrialization) to physical constraints (climate, geology) when explaining supply issues.
Candidates must evaluate the sustainability of resource management strategies, distinguishing between short-term relief and long-term security.
High-level responses must integrate specific case study detail (e.g., a specific dam project or agricultural scheme) rather than relying on generic descriptions.

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"You have identified the correct trend, now use specific figures from the graph to support your point."
"Your explanation of the environmental impact is generic; specify the process (e.g., eutrophication, greenhouse effect)."
"To reach the top level, you must weigh the economic benefits against the social costs, rather than listing them separately."
"Include specific place names and statistics to move this from a general theory response to a case study response."

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award marks for precise definitions of key terms such as 'food security', 'water deficit', and 'energy mix'.
Credit responses that explicitly link human factors (population growth, industrialization) to physical constraints (climate, geology) when explaining supply issues.
Candidates must evaluate the sustainability of resource management strategies, distinguishing between short-term relief and long-term security.
High-level responses must integrate specific case study detail (e.g., a specific dam project or agricultural scheme) rather than relying on generic descriptions.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡When analyzing choropleth maps, look for anomalies in the data patterns, not just the general trend.
💡In 8-mark 'CASE STUDY' questions, ensure at least 30% of the answer contains place-specific facts (names, dates, statistics) to access Level 3.
💡Use the 'PEEL' structure (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) for 'Explain' questions to ensure the chain of reasoning is fully credited.
💡Distinguish clearly between 'technological fixes' (e.g., desalination, GM crops) and 'sustainable management' (e.g., water conservation, organic farming).

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing 'consumption' with 'production' when analyzing global trade patterns.
Stating that renewable energy is 'free' or 'has no environmental impact' without acknowledging manufacturing costs or visual pollution.
Failing to distinguish between 'water stress' (economic or physical scarcity) and simple lack of rainfall.
Providing narrative descriptions of a case study without applying it to the specific demands of the question (e.g., social vs. environmental impacts).

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Describe

Explain

Assess

Evaluate

To what extent

Calculate

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic