Geographical Skills (AQA GCSE Geography): Exam Questions

Study Figure 3, a 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey map showing part of Liverpool, city in the UK.

Areas X and Y show two areas of urban regeneration.

What is the approximate area covered by Area Y?

Shade one circle only.

Give the four-figure grid reference for the Albert Dock.

Describe the location of Area X.

Study Figure 6, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map of an area to the east of Sheffield, a city in the UK.

Using Figure 6, give the six-figure grid reference for the centre of the motorway junction.
Shade one circle only.

Using Figure 6, what is the straight line distance from the building labelled X to the railway station to the west?
Shade one circle only.

Study Figure 7, a photograph of part of the area shown in Figure 6.

Using Figure 6 and Figure 7, in which direction was the photographer facing when the photograph was taken?

Shade one circle only.

Figure 7 shows the location of Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
Use Figure 7 to describe one characteristic of the Centre’s location.

Coastal landscapes in the UK

Study Figure 8, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map (opens in a new tab) of part of the coastline in Norfolk.

Using Figure 8, how long is the coastline between points X and Y? 

Shade one circle only.

Using Figure 8, what direction would you be facing from the lighthouse at 676 421 to the dunes at 690 433?

Using Figure 8, describe one piece of evidence which suggests that Hunstanton is a tourist resort.

Glacial landscapes in the UK

Study Figure 15, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map (opens in a new tab) showing part of Snowdonia in Wales.

Using Figure 15, what is the difference in height between the spot height at 556577 and the spot height at 532577?

Using Figure 15, describe the land use shown in the highlighted grid square 5456.

Using Figure 15 and Figure 16, identify the grid square where point X is located. Shade one circle only.

Study Figure 16, a photograph looking north west across Llyn Cwellyn shown on Figure 15.

Using Figure 16, suggest one piece of evidence that shows this area was glaciated.

River landscapes in the UK

Study Figure 12, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map (opens in a new tab) of part of Dartmoor National Park.

Using Figure 12, identify a feature of the East Dart River at 627 811.

Describe the relief (height and shape of the land) in the highlighted grid square 6082.

Study Figure 13, a photograph of the East Dart River taken looking upstream from point X on Figure 12.

Using Figure 12 and Figure 13, which direction was the photographer facing when the picture was taken?
Shade one circle only.

Suggest one way that the river valley shown in Figure 13 may change as it goes downstream.

Study Figure 2, a satellite image showing Cyclone Idai approaching Mozambique, Africa in March 2019.

Describe the structure of Cyclone Idai shown in Figure 2.

Study Figure 1, a map showing a weather forecast for the UK on 1 March 2018.

Figure 1

Using Figure 1, which one of the following statements is true?

Shade one circle only.

Study Figure 3, a map showing the distribution and frequency of tropical storms.

Using Figure 3, complete the following paragraph.

Most tropical storms happen between latitudes 5 degrees and 30 degrees north and south of the ______. 
On average, three or more tropical storms per year take place in the East Pacific and ______.

In the Caribbean the main months for tropical storms are between ______.

Give two reasons why tropical storms form in the areas shown in Figure 3.

Study Figure 3, a diagram showing the global pattern of air pressure and surface winds.

Using Figure 3, which one of the following statements is true?

Shade one circle only.

Using Figure 3, describe the link between air pressure and surface winds.

Suggest why areas close to the Equator usually have high rainfall.

Use Figure 3 and your own understanding.

Study Figure 4 , a table listing some of the most severe tropical storms over the past 50 years .

Figure 4

‘As maximum wind speeds increase, so does the number of deaths linked to tropical storms.’
Do you agree?
Use evidence from Figure 4 to support your answer.

Study Figure 7, a typical climate graph for one global ecosystem.

Which global ecosystem is most likely to have the temperature and precipitation pattern shown in Figure 7?
Shade one circle only.

Study Figure 1, a table showing the population of selected megacities in 2000 and 2020.

Calculate the percentage increase in population for Lagos between 2000 and 2020.

Using Figure 1, a table showing the population of selected megacities in 2000 and 2020.

Which one of the following statements is true?

Using the Ordnance Survey map in Figure 2, in which direction is Tonbridge from the proposed Tudeley Village development site?

Using the OS map in Figure 2, which of the following best describes the land use immediately to the south of the Tudeley Village development boundary?

A student investigated footfall patterns in their local town center by testing the following hypothesis:

'Pedestrian footfall is highest closest to the main shopping street.'

The student counted the number of pedestrians passing a fixed point over a five-minute period at six different sites, each 100 metres apart along a transect from the main shopping street to the edge of the town centre.

Figure 4 shows the results collected at each site.

Pedestrian footfall survey — number of pedestrians counted in five minutes

Calculate the mean pedestrian count for Site E.

Show your working.

Study Figure 7, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map of the Woolacombe area in North Devon.

Give the four-figure grid reference for a headland with cliffs

Study Figure 7, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map of the Woolacombe area in North Devon.

Give the four-figure grid reference for a headland with cliffs

Which of the following would be an appropriate way to present the 'mean pedestrian footfall' shown in Figure 4?

Using Figure 7, which of the following coastal features is not shown in grid square 4445?

Using Figure 7, which of the following coastal features is not shown in grid square 4445?

A group of students carried out a physical geography investigation to test the hypothesis:

'Pebble size decreases with distance downstream along a beach.'

The students measured the intermediate (middle) axis of ten pebbles at five sites along a beach, each 50 metres apart. The sites were numbered 1 to 5, with Site 1 nearest to the river mouth where sediment entered the beach and Site 5 furthest away.

Figure 6 shows the results of the investigation.

Pebble intermediate axis measurements (mm) at each site

Calculate the mean pebble size for Site 6.

Show your working.