What’s the story?

Select the three analytical statements below which, when combined, best summarise this graph’s overall ‘story’.

Figure 2: Shop vacancy rates by region and retail centre.
Figure 2 adapted from The Guardian News and Media Ltd. https://bit.ly/2NynUSZ

Identifying the elements of a good AO3 response

Describing trends accurately and comprehensively can be challenging: care is needed when communicating the dimensions of change over time.

One particular area of difficulty can be distinguishing between (i) low and high percentages and (ii) low and high rates of change.

Read the two responses to the following 5-mark AO3 question:

Describe the trends for shop vacancy rates by region and retail centre shown in Figure 2.

Decide which is the best response.

After discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each answer, click on the button to reveal an examiner commentary.

Figure 2: Shop vacancy rates by region and retail centre.
Figure 2 adapted from The Guardian News and Media Ltd. https://bit.ly/2NynUSZ

Response A

Overall the pattern is very uneven. Starting in Scotland at 14 per cent, the percentage rises to 17.1 and 15 in the North West and North East, before falling again to 13.9 in Yorkshire. As you head further downwards, it falls even lower before increasing again in Wales and West Midlands. London is next and is lowest at 10.2%, but then the South East goes up to 11.1%. So overall, it does go from high to low but then up again.

Examiner Commentary Response A

The writer of this response has not gained the geographical skills needed to analyse a pattern. There is no real spatial overview here. Instead, the writer 'walks' from Scotland to the southeast and lists the values that are encountered along the way. The resulting account represents a poor interpretation of the map. Note also use of an imprecise and weak spatial vocabulary (e.g. the phrases ‘as you head further downwards' and ‘ ...but then up again’ ).

Response B

All regions of the UK average percentage of 10 or higher. There is a clear pattern visible - the four most southerly regions (Eastern, London, South East and South West) have the four lowest scores (all between 10.2 and 11.2). In contrast, everywhere else in the UK is in the range 12.9-17.1%. There is no clear pattern to shop vacancies in the Midlands, north of England, Scotland and Wales, however. The highest percentage (17.1) is in the North West.

Examiner Commentary Response B

This is a good answer because it emphasises the most important spatial feature of the pattern - which is that the lowest values are all in the south of England. The answer provides a good ‘word picture’ of the map. It is well supported with data while also managing to be succinct and to-the-point.

Spatial phrase bank

Here are the analytical phrases identified so far that can be used when describing a pattern or distribution. Now see how many analytical phrases of your own you can add in the right hand column - what spatial words and phrases, other than ‘clustered’ or ‘uneven’ do geographers use?

Then click on the "Show suggested response" button to reveal other possible key words/phrases. Do any of the spatial key words in these phrases match your own? Are any different? Add the extra ones in before printing.

Spatial phrases used in previous exercises Can you add any more?
there is a clear pattern visible
overall the pattern is very uneven
in all regions throughout the UK
clustered in the North of England
the lowest values are all in the south

Suggested response

Add these words to the right hand column:

  • there is a linear pattern
  • the distribution appears random
  • points are evenly spaced
  • the highest values are in the west
  • there is an anomaly in the far north
  • a core is clearly visible
  • the data are scattered
  • the data are widely dispersed

Adapting a response

A student has given a response to the AO3 question below. Their response is non-spatial. Your task is to change the response so that it is uses a spatial vocabulary, using what you have learned from the previous activities. When you have finished, click to reveal one suggested set of changes.

Question: Using Figure 2, analyse the distribution of the Top 10 ranked retail centres with the highest percentage of shop vacancies

Figure 2: Shop vacancy rates by region and retail centre.
Figure 2 adapted from The Guardian News and Media Ltd. https://bit.ly/2NynUSZ
In total there are the 10 regional centres with high vacancies. Walsall, Wolverhampton and Birmingham have between 23.8 and 26 per cent shop vacancies. At the coast you have Stockton on Tees, Hull and Grimsby with between 24.2 and 27.5 per cent. Bradford is on its own with 26.8%. Blackpool and Warrington are also on a coast and have high scores.

Suggested response

The 10 regional centres with high vacancies are all in the Midlands and northern England. Walsall, Wolverhampton and Birmingham have between 23.8 and 26 per cent shop vacancies and form a cluster in the south of this area. Along the east coast you have a linear distribution made up of Stockton on Tees, Hull and Grimsby with between 24.2 and 27.5 per cent. At the west coast, Blackpool and Warrington also have high scores. Bradford is found on its own equidistant between these two coasts and has 26.8%.