Paper 1 - Decision Making Exercise
Paper 1 is a decision making exercise. This will involve making some sort of decision (yes, really...) rather than using so much case study material. In lots of ways this paper often seems easier - but you have to know how to go about answering it to maximise your mark.
We know in advance the topic for your DME paper. This means you can prepare for the DME in advance - you know what the paper's going to be about. It will be your first exam - so you don't need to look at other units in your last minute revision. It is still useful to know some basic case studies for the unit. You won't need them in quite the same way but we do credit case study marks still if you use the material sensibly to support what you're saying
How to Pass Paper One
It's useful to think about how to answer Paper 1 effectively. There are a few key things you can do to improve your chances of a higher mark.
Download the How to Pass Paper 1 guide to help you to get these things right when it really counts.
By the way, I've been an examiner for Paper One. So assume that I know what I'm on about here, OK?
2010 DME Topic
The topic for 2010 is:
Paper 1 will investigate the relationship between economic development and the demand for energy.
It will examine the issue of limited energy supply and energy infrastructure in the developing world. It will consider how reliable and affordable energy can play an important part in creating economic opportunities in some of the poorest parts of the world. The paper will then consider the importance of sustainable strategies to increase energy security and the issues associated with a proposed large-scale energy project in a part of the developing world.”
This breaks down, for me, into 4 bits:
- the link between energy use and development - and maybe consider other development indicators
- how energy supplies can help promote development
- the importance of sustainable growth - make sure you understand what sustainable means in this context
- the impacts of a located large-scale energy project - maybe something like a dam
This is basically unit 9 and unit 10 - so there won't be very much about these units on Paper 2.
Think about this - this is development and energy, in 'some of the poorest parts of the world' yes? So there will almost certainly be no OS mapwork on this paper. Expect that on Paper 2 this year...
Revision Files
If you haven't already got them, it's worth downloading the revision files for the Development and Resources units: