AQA GCSE Geography - Exam Outline - Paper 1 to Paper 3 Topics

Sep 5, 2026

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AQA GCSE Geography exam outline covering Papers 1 to 3, with grading weightings and time allocation for each assessment. Paper 1 focuses on physical geography, natural hazards, tectonic and weather risks, and climate change, including coastal and glacial landscapes. Paper 2 examines human geography through urban issues, economic development and inequality, and resource management for water, food, and energy. Paper 3 evaluates issue analysis using pre-release material and structured fieldwork skills.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment

Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Section B: The Living World

Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK

Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment

Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges

Section B: The Changing Economic World

Section C: The Challenge of Resource Management

Paper 3: Geographical Applications

Section A: Issue Evaluation

Section B: Fieldwork

AQA GCSE Geography – Exam Outline Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment (35% of the final grade – 1 hour 30 mins) Focuses on natural environments and physical processes. Topics covered: • Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards o Tectonic hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes) o Weather hazards (tropical storms, extreme weather in the UK) o Climate change • Section B: The Living World o Ecosystems (rainforests and hot deserts) • Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK o Coastal landscapes o Glacial landscapes Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment (35% of the final grade – 1 hour 30 mins) Explores human processes and the challenges facing society today. Topics covered: • Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges o Population growth and urbanisation o Urban growth in Rio de Janeiro o Urban change in Leeds • Section B: The Changing Economic World o Global development and inequality o Economic growth in Nigeria (a study of an NEE country) o Economic change in the UK • Section C: The Challenge of Resource Management o Focus on water, food, and energy resources o Optional focus on food management Paper 3: Geographical Applications (30% of the final grade – 1 hour 30 mins) Assesses students' ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios and fieldwork. Key components: • Section A: Issue Evaluation o Pre-release material provided before the exam o Analysis of a geographical issue, using problem-solving skills • Section B: Fieldwork o Questions on students’ own fieldwork experiences (Hornsea and Leeds) and geographical skills. Paper 1 – Physical Geography Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards | Key Idea | Specification Content | Red | Amber | Green | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | PART 1: Natural Hazards | | | | | | Natural hazards pose major risks to people and property. | Definition of a natural hazard | | | | | | Types of natural hazard | | | | | | Factors affecting hazard risk | | | | | PART 2: Tectonic Hazards | | | | | | Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are the result of physical processes. | Plate tectonic theory | | | | | | Global distribution of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and their relationship to plate margins. | | | | | | Physical processes taking place at different types of plate margin (constructive, destructive and conservative) that lead to earthquakes and volcanic activity. | | | | | The effects of, and responses to, a tectonic hazard vary between areas of contrasting levels of wealth. | Primary and secondary effects of a tectonic hazard. | | | | | | Immediate and long-term responses to a tectonic hazard. | | | | | | Use named examples to show how the effects and responses to a tectonic hazard vary between two areas of contrasting levels of wealth. (LIC – Haiti, HIC – Italy) | | | | | Management can reduce the effects of a tectonic hazard . | Reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from a tectonic hazard. | | | | | | How monitoring, prediction, protection and planning can reduce the risks from a tectonic hazard. | | | | | PART 3: Weather Hazards | | | | | | Global atmospheric circulation helps to determine patterns of weather and climate. | General atmospheric circulation model: pressure beltsand surface winds. | | | | | Tropical storms (hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons) develop as a result of particular physical conditions. | Global distribution of tropical storms (hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons) . | | | | | | An understanding of the relationship between tropical storms and general atmospheric circulation. | | | | | | Causes of tropical storms and the sequence of their formation and development. | | | | | | The structure and features of a tropical storm. | | | | | | How climate change might affect the distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms. | | | | | Tropical storms have significant effects on peopl

FAQs

What topics are covered in Paper 1 of the AQA GCSE Geography exam?

Paper 1 covers natural hazards, including tectonic and weather hazards and climate change, plus the living world through ecosystems and UK physical landscapes such as coasts and glaciers.

What does Paper 2 focus on?

Paper 2 focuses on human geography, including urban issues, population growth and urbanisation, the changing economic world, and challenges in managing resources like water, food, and energy.

How does Paper 3 assess students’ geographical skills?

Paper 3 includes issue evaluation using pre-release material and questions linked to students’ fieldwork experiences (including Hornsea and Leeds) and geographical skills.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Aurora