Examine the management challenges that internationally shared water resources can create.

Examine why some communities and environments may benefit more than others from the building of large dams.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

The focus of the essay is on the management challenges facing the use of internationally shared water resources (rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers). Conflicts over shared water resources may be serious and difficult to resolve, especially where resources are scarce and demand is high. There are competing demands for water, which should be allocated on an equitable basis, to satisfy all users. Increasing demands from agriculture, industry and urban. Water scarcity is becoming an important issue; physical and economic water scarcity is increasing. The varying power of different stakeholders should be considered in relation to water management.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Conflicts over aquifers, lakes and rivers which cross international boundaries.
• Conflicts over water for human consumption, irrigation and power generation; pollution resulting from such activities.
• Conflicts over access to scarce water resources, especially in arid regions.
• The power of different stakeholders varies between local people, water management organisations, and local and national governments.
• Disputes over water are an increasing source of international tension.
• Resolution of the conflict is difficult, and relies on international treaties regarding water management in drainage basins.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement in a way that examines the management challenges, and may show that perspectives (e.g., political, economic, social and environmental) may differ between stakeholders. Another approach might be to examine which stakeholders gain greater benefits, perhaps in relation to the varying power over the management process.

For 5–6 marks, expect weakly evidenced outlining of one or more management challenges created by internationally shared water resources.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account which includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of two or more management challenges created by internationally shared water resources
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

The construction of large dams for multi-purpose water schemes can have significant benefits, but often come at a considerable cost. The cost and benefits are shared unevenly between different communities and environments, and some will benefit more than others.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• The benefits and costs of building large dams vary between different stakeholders, including local communities, farmers, environmentalists, organizations such as water management and power companies, national governments.
• The benefits and costs also vary between different environments/places.
• Benefits include: reducing flood risk, improved water supplies, and economic development through irrigation, power generation, recreation and tourism.
• There are also significant environmental, social and economic costs, which vary between different stakeholders and places.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement in a way that examines the varying benefits of large dam construction for communities and environments, and may show that perspectives (e.g. political, economic, social and environmental) may differ between stakeholders. Another approach might be to examine which stakeholders gain greater benefits, perhaps in relation to their varying power over future management possibilities.

For 5–6 marks, expect weakly evidenced outlining of one or more benefits of large dam construction for communities and/or environments (places).

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account which includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of two or more reasons why some communities and environments (places) benefit more than others
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives, possibly examining future possibilities for management.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

This was quite well answered, especially by those who chose Middle East examples highlighting conflicts over different types of water resources. The best answers were able to suggest generic challenges and relate them to a studied example, usually the shared resources of the Nile. Many candidates did not focus on the term "management challenges", and merely described case study examples.

Again, the GERD was able to be used to answer this question, allowing a comparison of the benefits to different countries. Many focused on upstream/downstream differences. Poorer answers simply listed the pros and cons of dam projects, or described the issues related to the particular dam and didn't focus on the specific question.