GCSE Geography Topics by Exam Board: Full List

GCSE Geography is offered by various exam boards and can look very different in every school. Geography themes vary depending on the board, but there is a lot of overlap between topics, making it difficult for students and parents to access exam board-specific subject information. This article breaks down the GCSE Geography topics covered in the top three exam boards: AQA, Edexcel and OCR. As a result, you'll know exactly what you need to learn for your exam'

AQA GCSE Geography Topics

The course is divided into four units:

1. Physical geography.

2. Human geography.

3. Decision-making and fieldwork.

4. Geographical skills.

1. Living with the physical environment.

This unit looks at natural processes and features in different environments. The unit considers the need for sustainable management plans that consider the direct and indirect consequences of humans on Earth and its atmosphere.

The unit is split into three sections, and each section covers various topics of the physical world. 

Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards.

In this section, students study all these subtopics:

• Natural Hazards.

• Tectonic Hazards.

• Weather Hazards.

• Climate Change.

Section B: The Living World.

In this section, students are required to study:

• Ecosystems.

• Tropical rainforests.

• One option from the following:

  • Hot deserts.

  • Cold environments.

Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK.

In this section, students are required to study:

• UK physical landscapes.

• Two options from the following:

  • Coastal landscapes in the UK.

  • River landscapes in the UK.

  • Glacial landscapes in the UK.

2. Challenges in the human environment.

This unit looks at the elements that result in a wide range of human environments and how they evolve over time and space. It considers the need for sustainable management, along with current and future challenges and opportunities. Case studies are used to examine newly emerging economies (NEEs), lower income countries (LICs), and higher income countries (HICs).

The unit is split into three sections, and each section covers various topics of the human world.

Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges. 

In this section, students study all these subtopics:

• Global pattern of urban change.

• Urban growth in LICs and NEEs.

• Urban change in UK cities.

• Urban sustainability.

Section B: The Changing Economic World.

In this section, students study all these subtopics:

• Global variations in economic development and quality of life.

• Strategies to reduce the global development gap.

• Effect of rapid economic development on LICs and NEEs.

• Economic futures in the UK.

Section C: The Challenge of Resource Management.

In this section, students are required to study:

• Resource management 

  • Food, water and energy are necessary for human development. 

• One option from the following: 

  • Food management.

  • Water management.

  • Energy management.

3. Geographical applications.

Geographical application requires you to apply information, understanding, and skills from the entire course (what is called being synoptic). You will show your understanding and evaluate connections between many parts of the geography course. 

The unit is split into two sections, and each section covers decision-making and fieldwork.

Core Section A:

•  Issues evaluation through pre-release material based on a theme from the core course.

Core Section B: 

• Two geographical enquiries, aka fieldwork—one human and one physical—that include the collection of primary data in two contrasting locations. 

4. Geographical skills.

During your study, you must develop and show a variety of geographical skills, such as pictorial, cartographic, graphical, numerical, and statistical skills. All three exams will assess these skills.

What is Covered in AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1?

• Units 1 and 4 are assessed. 

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 35% of total GCSE.

• Section A: answer ALL questions (33 marks).

• Section B: answer ALL questions (25 marks) (choose either hot or cold deserts).

• Section C: answer two out of three options (coasts, rivers, glaciers).

What is Covered in AQA GCSE Geography Paper 2?

• Units 2 and 4 are assessed. 

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 35% of total GCSE.

• Section A: answer ALL questions (33 marks).

• Section B: answer ALL questions (25 marks).

• Section C: answer one of either food, energy or water management (25 marks).

What is Covered in AQA GCSE Geography Paper 3?

• Written exam 1 hour, 15 minutes, worth 30% of total GCSE.

• Section A: answer ALL questions (37 marks). Issue evaluation based on knowledge and understanding from core units 1 and 2 (with a pre-release), decision-making, and problem-solving.

• Section B: answer ALL questions (39 marks) based on fieldwork skills, reflection on own fieldwork, and analysis of hypothetical fieldwork data.

Revision Resources for AQA GCSE Geography

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Edexcel A GCSE Geography Topics

The course is divided into three components.

1. The physical environment.

2. The human environment.

3. Geographical investigations: fieldwork and UK challenges.

1. The physical environment.

This component looks at natural processes and features in different environments and how humans have impacted Earth and its atmosphere.

The component is split into three main topics, and each topic covers various aspects of the physical world. 

Topic 1: The Changing Landscape of the UK.

In this section, students will study:

• An overview of the UK's changing landscape. 

• Two options from:

  • Coastal landscapes and processes.

  • River landscapes and processes.

  • Glaciated upland landscapes and processes.

Topic 2: Weather Hazards and Climate Change.

In this section, students will study:

• An overview of the atmospheric global circulation and climate change over time.

• Tropical cyclones and drought. 

Topic 3: Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management.

In this section, students will study:

• The distribution and characteristics of global and UK ecosystems.

• Tropical rainforests and deciduous woodlands.

2.  The human environment.

This component brings together human geography and people-environment issues. 

The component is split into three main topics, and each topic covers various aspects of human geography.

Topic 4: Changing Cities

In this section, students will study:

• Global urban processes and trends.

• A major UK city.

• A major city in a developing or emerging country. 

Topic 5: Global Development.

In this section, students will study:

• The causes and consequences of uneven global development.

• Detailed case study of challenges that affect a developing or emerging country.

Topic 6: Resource Management.

In this section, students will study:

• The global and UK distribution of food, energy and water.

•  Either energy resource management or water resource management at different scales.

3. Geographical investigations: fieldwork and UK challenges.

The unit is split into two sections, and each section covers decision-making and fieldwork.

Topic 7: 

• Two geographical investigations, aka fieldwork—one human and one physical—that include the collection of primary data in two contrasting locations. 

Topic 8: 

• UK Challenges is where you apply information, understanding, and skills from the course (being synoptic) and investigate a contemporary challenge for the UK. 

During your study, you must develop and show a variety of geographical skills, such as pictorial,  cartographic, graphical, numerical, and statistical skills. All three exams will assess these skills.

What is Covered in Edexcel A GCSE Geography Paper 1?

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 37.5% of total GCSE.

• Three 30-mark sections with up to 4 marks for SPaG.

• Section A: Answer Question 1 and choose two from the optional questions 2, 3, and 4.

• Section B: Answer all questions on weather hazards and climate change. 

• Section C: Answer all questions on ecosystems, biodiversity and management.

• The exam includes multiple-choice questions, short open, open response, calculations and 8-mark extended writing questions.

What is Covered in Edexcel A GCSE Geography Paper 2?

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 37.5% of total GCSE.

• Three 30-mark sections with up to 4 marks for SPaG.

• Section A: Answer all questions on changing cities. 

• Section B: Answer all questions on global development. 

• Section C: Answer all questions on resource management.

• The exam includes multiple-choice questions, short open, open response, calculations and 8-mark extended writing questions.

What is Covered in Edexcel A GCSE Geography Paper 3?

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 25% of total GCSE.

• Three 20-mark sections with up to 4 marks for SPaG.

• Section A: Physical fieldwork: choose either rivers or coasts.

• Section B: Human fieldwork: choose either urban or rural. 

• Section C: Answer all questions on UK challenges

• The exam includes multiple-choice questions, short open, open response, calculations and 8-mark extended writing questions.

Revision Resources for Edexcel A GCSE Geography

At SaveMyExams, we’ve got great revision notes, flashcards, topic questions and past papers on Edexcel A GCSE Geography here:

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OCR B GCSE Geography Topics

The course is divided into three components.

1. Our Natural World.

2. People and Society.

3. Geographical Exploration.

1. Our Natural World.

This component looks at developing an understanding of a variety of hazards that impact human lives, both within the UK and worldwide. You learn about nature and why it looks the way it does. You will also examine the many landscapes and ecosystems evolving due to physical and human forces.

The component is split into four main topics, and each topic covers various aspects of the physical world. 

Topic 1: Global Hazards. 

In this section, students will study:

• Extreme weather: one UK-based and one non-UK-based natural weather hazard event.

• Tectonics: example of a tectonic event and management.

Topic 2: Changing Climate.

In this section, students will study:

• Natural and human-induced climate change.

• Enhanced and natural greenhouse effect.

Topic 3: Distinctive Landscapes.

In this section, students will study:

• The UK’s distinctive and diverse landscapes. 

• Rivers.

• Coasts. 

Topic 4: Sustaining Ecosystems.

In this section, students will study:

• Ecosystems.

• Tropical rainforests.

• Polar environments.

2.  People and Society.

This component examines how social, cultural, political, and economic influences shape places over time and space, particularly urbanisation and the challenges of feeding a growing population.

The component is split into four main topics, and each topic covers various aspects of human geography.

Topic 5: Urban Futures. 

In this section, students will study:

• Global pattern of urban development. 

• Challenges and opportunities for cities. 

Topic 6: Dynamic Development.

In this section, students will study:

• Development and how it is measured. 

• Development of an LIDC.

Topic 7: UK in the 21st Century.

In this section, students will study:

• Changing UK. 

• UK global significance. 

Topic 8: Resource Reliance.

In this section, students will study:

• Demand on natural resources.

• Food security.

3. Geographical Exploration.

There is no specific content for this decision-making exercise. However, this component draws on geographical information, understanding, and skills from Our Natural World and People and Society, which will be used in an unseen country’s specific problem/issue. This is a synoptic evaluation and you will link ideas from different topics to demonstrate how you ‘think like a geographer’. 

During your study, you must develop and show a variety of geographical skills, such as fieldwork, pictorial, cartographic, graphical, numerical, and statistical skills. All three exams will assess these skills.

What is Covered in OCR B GCSE Geography Paper 1?

• Written exam 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 35% of total GCSE.

• Two sections, 70 marks with up to 3 marks for SPaG.

• Section A: Answer all questions on individual topic areas.

• Section B: Answer all questions on physical geography fieldwork. 

What is Covered in OCR B GCSE Geography Paper 2?

• Written exam 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 35% of total GCSE.

• Two sections, 70 marks with up to 3 marks for SPaG.

• Section A: Answer all questions on individual topic areas.

• Section B: Answer all questions on human geography fieldwork. 

What is Covered in OCR B GCSE Geography Paper 3?

• Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 30% of total GCSE.

• 60 marks with up to 3 marks for SPaG.

• Answer a decision-making exercise from a series of questions focussing on a synoptic range of topics from both components 1 and 2. 

Revision Resources for OCR B  GCSE Geography

At SaveMyExams, we’ve got great revision notes, topic questions, and past papers on OCR B GCSE Geography here:

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References

AQA, 2024, GCSE - Geography, 8035: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035/specification/specification-at-a-glance. Accessed 1 October 2024.

OCR, 2024 GCSE, Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1) - J384: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/geography-b-geography-for-enquiring-minds-j384-from-2016/specification-at-a-glance/. Accessed 1 October 2024.

Pearson Edexcel. GCSE Geography A Specification Issue 4. Pearson Education Limited, 2024. Geography A (9-1) from 2016, https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/geography-a-2016.coursematerials.html#%2FfilterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Category%2FSpecification-and-sample-assessments. Accessed 1 October 2024.

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