GCSE

AQA GCSE Geography Revision

Adaptive practice aligned to the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance specification. 8 topics, exam-style questions, and instant AI feedback.

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About AQA GCSE Geography

AQA is the largest exam board in England, setting GCSE and A-Level exams taken by millions of students each year. Known for clear mark schemes and well-structured specifications across all major subjects.

GCSE Geography covers both physical and human geography, including topics like natural hazards, ecosystems, urban issues, economic development, rivers, coasts, weather, and climate change. You will also complete fieldwork that is assessed in the exam.

Topics in AQA GCSE Geography

1 Natural Hazards

2 Living World

3 Physical Landscapes

4 Urban Issues

5 Economic World

6 Resource Management

7 Fieldwork

8 Geographical Skills

Study Tips for AQA Geography

For each case study, learn three or four specific facts or statistics. Examiners reward precise detail — writing that thousands of people were displaced is weaker than writing that 1.7 million people were displaced in the 2010 Pakistan floods.

Practise reading OS maps regularly. Learn to identify features like contour patterns for valleys, spurs, and plateaus, and be confident with grid references, scale calculations, and cross-sections.

Revise your own fieldwork thoroughly — know the aim, methods, data presentation, analysis, conclusion, and evaluation. Fieldwork questions are essentially free marks if you have prepared.

Create comparison tables for case studies at different levels of development. Being able to contrast an HIC and LIC example for the same topic makes your answers far more convincing.

Exam Tips for AQA Geography

For 9-mark questions, aim for a balanced answer that considers more than one viewpoint or factor. Use connectives like however, on the other hand, and in contrast to show you are evaluating rather than just describing.

When describing patterns on maps or graphs, use compass directions, name specific places, quote data values, and identify any anomalies. Vague answers like it is higher in the south will not earn full marks.

Always refer to specific case study details in your longer answers. Generic answers about earthquakes or urbanisation will be capped at lower mark bands even if the geography is correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are in GCSE Geography?

Most exam boards have three papers. For AQA, Paper 1 is Physical Geography, Paper 2 is Human Geography, and Paper 3 is Geographical Applications including fieldwork and issue evaluation.

Do I need to know case studies?

Yes, case studies are essential. You need specific, named examples for most topics — a generic answer without place names, dates, or statistics will not reach the higher mark bands.

Is there fieldwork in GCSE Geography?

Yes, you must complete at least two pieces of fieldwork (one physical, one human). You will be examined on your own fieldwork in the exam, so make sure you have detailed notes from your field trips.

What topics come up most in GCSE Geography?

Natural hazards, urban issues and challenges, and the changing economic world are heavily tested. Physical landscape topics like rivers and coasts also feature prominently, along with the living world and resource management.