Discuss the ways in which the consumption of one or more resources can be reduced.

The main ways in which the consumption of resources can be reduced are by reducing demand (by changing pricing, access or availability), by changes in habits of recycling and reuse (government policy, civil society demand, education, fiscal incentives, legislation, change in societal values), by resource substitution, and conservation. The relative importance of these will depend on the resource (and location or locations) discussed.

Responses that arrive at a clear conclusion, after a sound discussion with a specific resource/resources referred to, are likely to be awarded band E or above.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

There were some really quite excellent discussions of the ways in which the consumption of one or more resources can be reduced. Fossil fuels, water and even fish stocks were included. At the top end, the work included sophisticated analysis of various methods of conservation, waste reduction, recycling and substitution. Candidates were able to illustrate their work with case studies at different scales and from various parts of the world. The weaker candidates often wrote very short answers with little knowledge and/or understanding and which were largely superficial or of only marginal relevance, usually in relation to alternative energies. These responses were characterized by having no examples or irrelevant examples and case studies with very little application. It was clear that important aspects of the question had been ignored.