9230 Question Paper 1 - International Geography GCSE Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment

Sep 5, 2026

International GCSE Geography Paper 1 (Living with the Physical Environment) prepares candidates to answer structured questions on natural hazards and related processes. The exam requires using provided figures and data, including maps of plate margins and volcano distribution, a case study eruption image, and an energy mix table for China. Candidates complete sections A to C, then choose either Question 4 or Question 5 from Section D, showing all working and using appropriate equipment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Section A – The challenge of natural hazards

Plate tectonics and plate margins

Volcanoes and volcanic risk

Living with volcanic activity

Energy mix and climate change mitigation strategies

Section D – Choice of one question (Question 4 or Question 5)

| Please write clearly in block capitals. | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Centre number | | Candidate number | | | Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
I declare this is my own work. | | | | INTERNATIONAL GCSE GEOGRAPHY Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment Friday 29 October 2021 07:00 GMT Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes Materials For this paper you must have: • a ruler with millimetre measurements • a calculator, which you are expected to use where appropriate. Instructions • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • Fill in the boxes at the top of the page. • Answer all questions in Sections A , B and C. • Answer one question from Section D, either Question 4 or Question 5. • You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages. • If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of this book. Write the question number against your answer(s) . • All working must be shown. • Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information • The maximum mark for this paper is 80. • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • You may use a bilingual dictionary for this exam. • You may not use an English dictionary. | For Examiner’s Use | | | --- | --- | | Question | Mark | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 4 | | | 5 | | | TOTAL | | 2 | Section A – The challenge of natural hazards
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
You must answer all questions in this section. | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | |
For the multiple-choice questions, shade the circle next to the correct answer.
CORRECT METHOD

WRONG METHODS

If you want to change your answer you must cross out your original answer as shown.
If you wish to return to an answer previously crossed out, ring the answer you now wish to select as shown. | | | | | | | | Study Figure 1 , a map showing the major plate margins.
Figure 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | . | 1 | State the direction of plate movement at X.
[1 mark] | | | | | | | | | | *02* IB/M/Nov21/9230/1 Do not write outside the box 0 1 . 2 Identify the type of plate margin at Y. [1 mark] 0 1 . 3 The North American plate and the Eurasian plate move apart 6 cm per year. Calculate how many years it will take for the plates to move 60 m apart. Show your working. [2 marks] | | | --- | | | | | Question 1 continues on the next page Study Figure 2 , a map showing global distribution of volcanoes. Figure 2 0 1 . 4 Mt St Helens volcano is shown on Figure 2. What are the latitude and longitude coordinates for this volcano? Shade in one circle only. [1 mark] A 45° N 122° E B 45° S 122° E C 45° N 122° W D 45° S 122° W outside the box 0 1 . 5 Volcanoes only occur at plate margins. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use evidence from Figure 1 and Figure 2. [4 marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | Figure 1 is repeated below 0 1 . 6 Outline why volcanoes do not occur at conservative plate margins. [2 marks] | | | --- | | | | | Study Figure 3 , a photograph of the eruption of Mt Agung, Bali in November 2017. Figure 3 0 1 . 7 Use Figure 3 to identify one likely risk to people living near the eruption. [1 mark] outside the box 0 1 . 8 Explain why people continue to live in areas at risk from volcanic activity. [6 marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Question 1 continues on the next page Study Figure 4 , a table showing China’s energy mix in 2017 and the predicted energy mix in 2040. Figure 4 | Energy source | 2017 (%) | 2040 (%) | | --- | --- | --- | | Oil | 20 | 17 | | Gas | 7 | 14 | | Coal | 60 |

FAQs

Which sections and questions must be answered in this paper?

Questions must be answered in Sections A, B and C. In Section D, candidates answer one question, either Question 4 or Question 5.

What evidence sources are used in Section A?

Section A relies on provided figures and data, including maps of plate margins and volcanoes, a photograph of an eruption, and a table showing China’s energy mix.

How should answers be recorded and what rules apply to working?

Use black ink or black ball-point pen, write answers only in the spaces provided, show all working, and do rough work in the book while crossing out anything not meant to be marked.

Sep 5, 2026

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