WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A specification (C111)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A (C111) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official WJEC Eduqas specification PDF.
Specification overview
The WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A qualification encourages learners to think and study like geographers by developing enquiry-based understanding of physical and human environments. Learners build knowledge of places, processes, and interactions at multiple scales and explore current global and UK challenges. Through themed study and fieldwork, the course fosters critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Geography A enables students to appreciate spatial variation, interconnectedness and sustainable futures, while developing transferable skills applicable to further study, careers or informed citizenship:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Subject content breakdown
Component 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes
- Core Theme 1: Landscapes and Physical Processes
- Distinctive UK landscapes: geology, land use, culture
- River and coastal landforms and processes
- Drainage basins, flooding causes and management
- Core Theme 2: Rural-urban Links
- Urban-rural continuum, counter-urbanisation, rural deprivation
- UK population change, sustainable urban communities
- Retail changes and urban issues in global cities (LIC/NIC and HIC)
- Options (choose one):
- 3: Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards – plate boundaries, volcanic/earthquake processes, vulnerability and risk management
- 4: Coastal Hazards and their Management – coastal flooding/erosion risks, sea level rise, management strategies
Component 2: Environmental and Development Issues
- Core Theme 5: Weather, Climate and Ecosystems
- Quaternary climate change, greenhouse effect
- Weather hazards (hurricanes, drought), UK weather variation
- Global biomes, ecosystem processes, human modification
- Core Theme 6: Development and Resource Issues
- Economic and social development indicators
- Causes of uneven development in LIC/NIC contexts
- Globalisation, aid, trade, tourism, water use and sustainability
- Regional development patterns in the UK and one LIC/NIC
- Options (choose one):
- 7: Social Development Issues – birth rates, health, child labour, education, refugee issues, HIV/malaria
- 8: Environmental Challenges – consumerism, climate change, sustainable tourism and ecosystem restoration
Component 3: Applied Fieldwork Enquiry
- Two contrasting enquiries (methodological + conceptual)
- Investigate physical/human processes or concepts (e.g. flows, inequality, risk)
- Skills: posing questions, sampling, data collection/analysis, evaluation
- Fieldwork methodology (e.g. transects, qualitative surveys, change over time)
- Conceptual themes (e.g. sustainability, place, flows, mitigating risk)
Assessment structure
Component 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes
- Written exam: 1 hr 30 mins
- 35% of GCSE (84 marks + 4 SPaG)
- Section A: Core Themes 1 and 2
- Section B: one option (Theme 3 or 4)
Component 2: Environmental and Development Issues
- Written exam: 1 hr 30 mins
- 35% of GCSE (84 marks + 4 SPaG)
- Section A: Core Themes 5 and 6
- Section B: one option (Theme 7 or 8)
Component 3: Applied Fieldwork Enquiry
- Written exam: 1 hr 30 mins
- 30% of GCSE (72 marks + 4 SPaG)
- Part A: methodology, analysis
- Part B: conceptual enquiry
- Part C: applied decision-making in UK context
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Knowledge – 15%
- AO2: Understanding – 25%
- AO3: Interpret/evaluate/make judgements – 35% (10% fieldwork)
- AO4: Skills – 25% (5% fieldwork)
Other key points
- Fieldwork: two contrasting environments (physical & human focus)
- Minimum 10% of assessment covers mathematical/statistical skills
- 5% SPaG assessed across all components
- Linear structure: all exams taken at end of course:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography A isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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