GEOGRAPHY-A-GEOGRAPHICAL-THEMES-J383 · Cambridge OCR GCSE (9–1)
GEOGRAPHY-A-GEOGRAPHICAL-THEMES-J383/11
Paper 1
Geography A Geographical Themes · June 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
167
185 min
Global and UK Urban Development & Case Studies
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
167
Duration
185 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
Marks are heavily concentrated in the extended response case-study questions, particularly the 12-mark questions on UK flooding events, tropical rainforests / drought adaptation, and the 8-mark questions evaluating fieldwork data collection and global urban challenges.
Strong performance here requires clear place-specific detail (the 'PLC' annotation in mark schemes) and a structured line of reasoning.
Additionally, a significant portion of marks is allocated to quantitative and graphical skills, such as calculating means, plotting dispersion graphs, completing cross-sections, and interpreting Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.
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.
Cartographic
Weight: 9100%Graphical & Practical Skills
Weight: 889%Numerical Fieldwork Methodology Study Skills Skills Skills Skills Skills Synthesis Logical Reasoning
Weight: 778%
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
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 74% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 67% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 52% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 44% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 26% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 16% 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
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.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.1
Min per mark: 1
Min per mark: 1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
People of the Planet
37 marks this session
Landscapes of the UK
32 marks this session
People of the UK
31 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
Landscapes of the UK
People of the Planet
Geographical Skills & Synoptic Themes
Geographical Fieldwork
People of the UK
Environmental threats to our Planet
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
J383/01: Living in the UK Today: J383/02: The World Around Us: J383/03: Geographical Skills:
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
People of the Planet
37 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLandscapes of the UK
32 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPeople of the UK
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
Marks are heavily concentrated in the extended response case-study questions, particularly the 12-mark questions on UK flooding events, tropical rainforests / drought adaptation, and the 8-mark questions evaluating fieldwork data collection and global urban challenges.
- 2Message
Strong performance here requires clear place-specific detail (the 'PLC' annotation in mark schemes) and a structured line of reasoning.
- 3Message
Additionally, a significant portion of marks is allocated to quantitative and graphical skills, such as calculating means, plotting dispersion graphs, completing cross-sections, and interpreting Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
Geography A Geographical Themes
Marks are heavily concentrated in the extended response case-study questions, particularly the 12-mark questions on UK flooding events, tropical rainforests / drought adaptation, and the 8-mark questions evaluating fieldwork data collection and global urban challenges. Strong per
Marks are heavily concentrated in the extended response case-study questions, particularly the 12-mark questions on UK flooding events, tropical rainforests / drought adaptation, and the 8-mark questions evaluating fieldwork data collection and global urban challenges.
Strong performance here requires clear place-specific detail (the 'PLC' annotation in mark schemes) and a structured line of reasoning.
Additionally, a significant portion of marks is allocated to quantitative and graphical skills, such as calculating means, plotting dispersion graphs, completing cross-sections, and interpreting Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.
- Total marks
- 167
- Duration
- 185 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
Marks are heavily concentrated in the extended response case-study questions, particularly the 12-mark questions on UK flooding events, tropical rainforests / drought adaptation, and the 8-mark questions evaluating fieldwork data collection and global urban challenges. Strong performance here requires clear place-specific detail (the 'PLC' annotation in mark schemes) and a structured line of reasoning. Additionally, a significant portion of marks is allocated to quantitative and graphical skills, such as calculating means, plotting dispersion graphs, completing cross-sections, and interpreting Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
J383/01: Living in the UK Today: J383/02: The World Around Us: J383/03: Geographical Skills:
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.
66% 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.
Short Explanation & Describe
(2-4 marks)
54·18·32%
Case Study Synoptic Essays
(12 marks + SPaG)
48·3·29%
Medium Tariff / Resource-linked
(6-8 marks)
47·7·28%
Multiple Choice / Short Identification
18·16·11%
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.
J383/01 Section A (
0.50 m/minJ383/01 Section B (
1.00 m/minJ383/02 Section A (
0.91 m/minJ383/02 Section B (
0.95 m/minJ383/03 Section B (
0.72 m/minTotal marks
92
Total time
112 min
Avg pace
0.82
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Coastal Defences & Engineering
85%85%
UK Climate Change Adaptations
78%78%
Polar Ecosystems Distribution
72%72%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Vague case-study details: Many candidates failed to reach Level 3 or 4 in the 12-mark questions because they provided generic descriptions rather than place-specific facts. For instance, in the UK flood event question, candidates need named locations (such as Warwick Road, Carlisle) and specific data (e.g., 300mm of rain).
- Incorrect command word response: In questions starting with Evaluate or To what extent do you agree, candidates often descriptive-listed rather than providing a balanced assessment with a concluding judgement.
- Skills application errors: On Paper 3, common mistakes included failing to complete the line YZ cross-section accurately or not recognizing direction from OS maps (e.g., confusing 'coming from' with 'going to' in wind rose interpretation).
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.