“The world is far too dependent on oil.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Candidates are expected to consider the importance of oil in today’s world as the major source of energy as well as its significance for geo-politics. Responses are also expected to consider the changing importance of other energy sources. 

Most responses are likely to focus on the finite/non-renewable nature of oil stocks and argue that the use of renewable resources is urgently needed in order to guarantee sufficient energy availability for the future and to mitigate the adverse effects of dependence on oil, especially its adverse environmental impacts such as pollution and global climate change. It is anticipated that more than one non-renewable resource would be considered, but the discussion of non-renewable sources need not be balanced for this approach to reach the highest markbands, provided any examples given are valid and well developed.

Some candidates may argue (correctly) that the world’s oil reserves are currently as high or higher than they have ever been, and that therefore there is less pressing need to develop alternatives than supporters of renewable energy sources advocate. To reach the highest markbands such an approach would need to be well-balanced (taking into account environmental impacts, especially) as well as well-evidenced, with reference to newly discovered deposits being added to reserves, to the development of less conventional sources of oil such as tar/oil sands, and to improved technologies that have enabled higher effective extraction rates.

Alternative approaches may be equally valid and should be considered on their merits.

Responses that are generalized, with little or no data, figures or examples, are unlikely to advance beyond band D.

At band F, the conclusion should be well-grounded in evidence or will demonstrate different perspectives of the ways in which dependency is a problem.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

There were some very good answers with candidates demonstrating a wide knowledge and understanding of major issues around oil. These included geopolitics; oil as a raw material for plastics, paints, fertilizers; environmental concerns, as well as oil as the major source of fuel. The best answers were intelligent and well crafted. These responses contained accurate, specific, well detailed knowledge and understanding with named examples and case studies which were well chosen and developed. These developed essays made interesting reading with both a clear focus and balance and covered various aspects of the dependency on oil. Most candidates concentrated on the finite/non-renewable nature of oil stocks as both fuel and raw material and argued that the use of renewable resources is urgently needed in order to guarantee sufficient energy availability for the future and to mitigate the adverse effects of dependence on oil, especially its adverse environmental impacts such as pollution and global climate change as well as geo-political issues. Several candidates made reference to “energy returned on energy invested” and were well versed on facts and figures of both oil production and oil consumption.