0460 · Cambridge IGCSE
0460/43
Paper 4
Geography · June 2024 · Variant 3
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.0 / 5
195
285 min
Rivers and Hydrogeological Fieldwork
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
195
Duration
285 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
High-scoring candidates secured easy marks on straightforward visual interpretation questions—such as identifying population pyramid trends or completing divided bar graphs.
Significant marks are heavily weighted in the Level 3 Case Studies (worth 7 marks each in Paper 1) and the Fieldwork Hypothesis Evaluations (worth 4 marks each in Paper 4).
Success in these areas requires explicit place-specific details, factual statistics, and explicit data pairings to justify conclusions.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Data & Graphical Analysis
Weight: 7100%Graphical
Weight: 686%Interpretation
Weight: 571%Fieldwork Techniques Study Skills Skills Skills Recall
Weight: 457%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 83% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 72% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 61% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 41% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 33% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Complete” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.4
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Rivers
38 marks this session
Urban settlements
30 marks this session
Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision
25 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Coasts
Rivers
Urban settlements
Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision
Population dynamics
Weather
Tourism
Earthquakes and volcanoes
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 Geographical Themes (Option Choices):
Paper 2 Geographical Skills:
Paper 4 Alternative to Coursework:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Rivers
38 marks this session
Practise in RevuiUrban settlements
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSettlements (rural and urban) and service provision
25 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
High-scoring candidates secured easy marks on straightforward visual interpretation questions—such as identifying population pyramid trends or completing divided bar graphs.
- 2Message
Significant marks are heavily weighted in the Level 3 Case Studies (worth 7 marks each in Paper 1) and the Fieldwork Hypothesis Evaluations (worth 4 marks each in Paper 4).
- 3Message
Success in these areas requires explicit place-specific details, factual statistics, and explicit data pairings to justify conclusions.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Geography
High-scoring candidates secured easy marks on straightforward visual interpretation questions—such as identifying population pyramid trends or completing divided bar graphs. Significant marks are heavily weighted in the Level 3 Case Studies (worth 7 marks each in Paper 1) and the
High-scoring candidates secured easy marks on straightforward visual interpretation questions—such as identifying population pyramid trends or completing divided bar graphs.
Significant marks are heavily weighted in the Level 3 Case Studies (worth 7 marks each in Paper 1) and the Fieldwork Hypothesis Evaluations (worth 4 marks each in Paper 4).
Success in these areas requires explicit place-specific details, factual statistics, and explicit data pairings to justify conclusions.
- Total marks
- 195
- Duration
- 285 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.0 / 5
Session analysis
High-scoring candidates secured easy marks on straightforward visual interpretation questions—such as identifying population pyramid trends or completing divided bar graphs. Significant marks are heavily weighted in the Level 3 Case Studies (worth 7 marks each in Paper 1) and the Fieldwork Hypothesis Evaluations (worth 4 marks each in Paper 4). Success in these areas requires explicit place-specific details, factual statistics, and explicit data pairings to justify conclusions.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 Geographical Themes (Option Choices):
Paper 2 Geographical Skills:
Paper 4 Alternative to Coursework:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
79% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Structured
120·18·62%
Data & Map Interpretation
54·12·28%
Extended Writing / Case Studies
21·3·11%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Theme Choic…
0.71 m/minPaper 1 Theme Choic…
0.71 m/minPaper 1 Theme Choic…
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Mapwork Que…
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Compulsory …
0.67 m/minPaper 4 Fieldwork Q…
0.67 m/minTotal marks
170
Total time
250 min
Avg pace
0.68
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
5%5%
Development Dynamics
5%5%
Coasts Fieldwork
4%4%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Vague Locational Detail: In case studies (e.g., population policy or coastal management), candidates often named a country or region without providing authentic local details (such as specific town names, exact schemes, or local dates).
- Failing to Pair Data: In Paper 4, candidates frequently lost marks when evaluating whether a hypothesis was 'true' or 'false' by failing to provide paired numerical evidence from the provided resource sheets (e.g., contrasting the velocity of site 1 with site 4).
- Mapwork Coordinate Slip-ups: In Paper 2, simple errors in measuring compass bearings or estimating six-figure grid references cost capable students easy marks.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 60
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.