IGCSEGeographyEdexcelExam QuestionsRiver FieldworkRiver Enquiry Skills

River Enquiry Skills (Edexcel IGCSE Geography): Exam Questions

Exam code: 4GE1

1 hour18 questions
Easy
Medium
Hard
1
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6 marks

Study Figure 4a . It shows some sample data from one site on a river. A cork float was used to measure the time taken to travel between two points. 

Sample   

Time taken (seconds) 

1

13.1

2

15.4

3

16.8 

4

 20.0 

5

 37.0

Figure 4a 

River data collected by a group of students 

(i)

Calculate the mean time taken for the cork float to travel from site A to site B

Give your answer to one decimal place.

(2)

(ii)

Complete Figure 4b below for samples 1 and 4 using data in Figure 4a.

fig-4b-4ge1-01r-june-2019-edexcel-igcse-geography

(2)

(iii)

Sample 5 shows an anomalous result.

Suggest one possible explanation for this

(2)

How did you do?

2
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7 marks

(i)

Study Figure 4a. It shows sample data on velocity from one site on a river. A cork float was used to measure the time taken to travel between two points, A and B. 

Calculate the meantime taken for the cork float to travel between points A and B.

Give your answer to one decimal place.

You must show all your workings in the space below.

(2)

Sample   

Time taken (seconds) 

1

21.1 

2

16.0 

3

14.1 

4

15.0 

5

35.0 

Figure 4a 

River data collected by a group of students 

(ii)

Using the data in Figure 4a (in the Resource Booklet), complete Figure 4b below for measurements 1 and 4.

(1)

(iii)

Mark an x in the box on Figure 4b which represents the float with the anomalous result.

(1)

(iv)

Suggest one explanation for this anomaly. 

(3)

q4a-iv-4ge1-01-june-2019-edexcel-igcse-geography

How did you do?

3
1 mark

Study Figure 4a below

Identify one type of primary data used by the students

screenshot-2023-08-15-at-14-20-29

  • Environment Agency flood risk map

  • Field sketches

  • Local historical map

  • Newspaper articles

Choose your answer

4
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2 marks

Study Figure 4b which shows some data about river velocity at four sites

Calculate the mean river velocity at Site 2

Give your answer to one decimal place

You must show all your workings

screenshot-2023-08-15-at-14-20-29

How did you do?

5a
2 marks

Suggest one reason why the data for Site 1 may not be reliable

How did you do?

5b
2 marks

Complete Figure 4d below using the data highlighted in Figure 4c

zdhc98AJ_screenshot-2023-08-15-at-14-20-43
screenshot-2023-08-16-at-08-45-29

How did you do?

6
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2 marks

Study Figure 4b which shows some data collected about river velocity

Calculate the mean velocity

Give your answer to one decimal place

You must show all your workings 

screenshot-2023-08-16-at-09-04-13

How did you do?

7a
2 marks

Complete Figure 4d, using the data highlighted in figure 4c

screenshot-2023-08-16-at-09-04-19
screenshot-2023-08-16-at-09-21-57

How did you do?

7b
2 marks

Identify two ways the students could have improved the reliability of the data collected

How did you do?

8
2 marks

A student investigated how pebble roundness changes along a river. They measured the roundness of ten pebbles at each site using the Power's Scale, where 1 = very angular and 6 = well rounded. The results are shown in the table below.

Site

Pebble roundness scores

1 (upper course)

1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3

2

2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5

3

3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4

4

3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4

5

4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6

6 (lower course)

4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

Calculate the median pebble roundness score for Site 3.

Show your working.

How did you do?

9
1 mark

State one method that the students could use to present pebble roundness data from their enquiry.

How did you do?

1a
4 marks

Describe two sources of secondary information that might be useful in planning a river channel investigation. 

How did you do?

1b
3 marks

Suggest why one of the sampling methods named in (b)(i) would be appropriate to use in a river channel investigation. Sampling method

How did you do?

2
4 marks

To extend the river study, students were asked to use one additional quantitative and one qualitative technique. Describe two additional fieldwork techniques the students may have selected. 

Quantitative     

Qualitative     

How did you do?

3
5 marks

(i)

Suggest one possible aim of a river channel investigation

(2)

(ii)

Identify three reasons why a river channel investigation might not achieve the aim given in (c)(i). 

(3)

How did you do?

4
3 marks

Explain one advantage of using a line graph to present results

How did you do?

5a
1 mark

Study the table below.

Site

Pebble roundness scores

1 (upper course)

1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3

2

2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5

3

3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4

4

3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4

5

4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6

6 (lower course)

4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

Identify the anomalous result in the data for Site 6.

How did you do?

5b
3 marks

Suggest one reason why the anomalous result at Site 6 may have occurred.

How did you do?

1
8 marks

You have studied river environments for your geographical enquiry. 

Evaluate how successful your chosen data analysis methods were in answering your geographical enquiry question.

Enquiry question.

How did you do?

2
8 marks

You have studied river processes as part of your own geographical enquiry.  

Evaluate the effectiveness of the data collection methods in relation to the purpose of the study. 

Enquiry question .    

How did you do?

3
8 marks

Study Figure 4 below. It shows some information about methods used, data collected and a conclusion.

The aim of the student’s enquiry was to examine change in river channel shape along the course of a river.

Evaluate how far the student’s data presentation methods and analysis helped the student to make their conclusions.

screenshot-2023-08-14-at-13-27-04

How did you do?

4
8 marks

You have studied river environments as part of your own geographical enquiry.

Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the conclusion you drew from your enquiry.

State the title of your geographical enquiry.

How did you do?