GCSE Geography Syllabus

Geography syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Geography in GCSE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Physical Geography

   3 topics

   • Tectonic Hazards
   • Weather Hazards
   • Climate Change
2. 2

   Human Geography

   3 topics

   • Urban Issues
   • Economic Development
   • Resource Management
3. 3

   Geographical Skills

   3 topics

   • Map Skills
   • Fieldwork Techniques
   • Data Interpretation

Geography flashcards for GCSE

25 of 51 cards from the Geography deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three types of plate margin, and what plate movement defines each?

   Constructive (divergent) — plates move apart; Destructive (convergent) — plates move together; Conservative (transform) — plates slide past each other.

2. At a destructive plate margin involving oceanic and continental crust, what process occurs and what landforms result?

   The denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate, melting to form magma. This produces composite (explosive) volcanoes, ocean trenches, and fold mountains.

3. Define the terms 'focus' and 'epicentre' of an earthquake.

   The focus is the point underground where the earthquake originates (energy is released). The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

4. What does the Richter scale measure, and is it linear or logarithmic?

   It measures the magnitude (energy released) of an earthquake. It is logarithmic — each whole number increase represents roughly a $10\times$ increase in amplitude and about $32\times$ more energy.

5. Contrast the effects of a tectonic hazard in an HIC versus an LIC.

   HICs typically suffer greater economic losses (higher value property/infrastructure) but fewer deaths due to better preparation, building codes and emergency response. LICs usually suffer higher death tolls and slower recovery because of weaker infrastructure, buildings and services.

6. Give three reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from tectonic hazards.

   Fertile volcanic soils for farming; geothermal energy and tourism/mining opportunities; strong family, cultural or economic ties plus a belief that hazards are rare or manageable.

7. List the three ways of responding to and reducing the risk of tectonic hazards (the '3 P's/management').

   Monitoring and prediction; protection (e.g. earthquake-proof buildings, evacuation drills); and planning (hazard maps, emergency services, education).

8. How does a tropical storm (hurricane/cyclone) form? State the key conditions.

   It forms over warm ocean water above $27\,^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$, at least $70\,\mathrm{m}$ deep, typically between $5^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$ latitude. Warm, moist air rises, condenses releasing latent heat, drawing in more air; the Coriolis effect causes the system to spin.

9. Describe the structure of a tropical storm, including the eye and eyewall.

   The eye is a calm, cloud-free centre of sinking air with low pressure. Surrounding it is the eyewall — a ring of the strongest winds, tallest clouds and heaviest rain. Beyond are spiralling rain bands of decreasing intensity.

10. How is climate change likely to affect the distribution and intensity of tropical storms?

    Warmer oceans may increase storm intensity (stronger winds, heavier rainfall) and possibly widen the areas warm enough to generate storms, though total frequency may not rise significantly.

11. What are the two main types of UK weather hazard and give an example of each.

    Prolonged/heavy rainfall causing flooding (e.g. Somerset Levels 2014), and other extremes such as storms, heatwaves, drought, or heavy snow (e.g. 'Beast from the East' 2018).

12. Name four pieces of evidence used to show that climate change is happening.

    Ice cores, tree rings (dendrochronology), retreating glaciers, and temperature/sea-level records (also pollen analysis and historical records).

13. Distinguish between natural and human causes of climate change.

    Natural causes: orbital (Milankovitch) changes, solar output (sunspots), volcanic activity. Human causes: burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, and industry increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.

14. Explain the difference between mitigation and adaptation as responses to climate change.

    Mitigation reduces the causes/severity of climate change (e.g. renewable energy, carbon capture, planting trees). Adaptation adjusts to live with its effects (e.g. flood defences, drought-resistant crops, changing agricultural patterns).

15. What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

    The intensification of the natural greenhouse effect caused by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases (e.g. $\ce{CO2}$, $\ce{CH4}$) trapping more outgoing longwave radiation, raising global temperatures.

16. Define urbanisation.

    The increase in the proportion of a country's population living in towns and cities (rather than rural areas).

17. What are the two main causes of rapid urbanisation in LICs/NEEs?

    Rural–urban migration (driven by push and pull factors) and natural increase (high birth rates among a young urban population).

18. Distinguish between push and pull factors in migration, giving one example of each.

    Push factors drive people away from an area (e.g. poverty, crop failure, lack of services). Pull factors attract people to a new area (e.g. jobs, better healthcare, education).

19. What is a megacity, and roughly how many exist today?

    A megacity is an urban area with a population of over $10$ million people. There are more than $30$ megacities worldwide, most now in LICs/NEEs.

20. List three social and three economic opportunities urban growth can bring in an NEE city.

    Social: access to healthcare, education, and services (water/electricity). Economic: formal and informal employment, higher incomes, and investment/industrial growth.

21. What is urban sprawl, and what problem is often associated with it?

    Urban sprawl is the unplanned outward spread of a city onto surrounding rural land. It causes loss of countryside/greenfield sites, longer commutes, and increased traffic and pollution.

22. Define a sustainable city and give three features of one.

    A city that meets the needs of present residents without compromising future generations. Features: water/energy conservation, waste recycling, green space, and efficient public transport.

23. What is the informal sector of employment, common in NEE cities?

    Work that is not officially recognised, taxed or regulated by the government (e.g. street vending, waste picking). It is often insecure, low-paid and lacks legal protection.

24. State the five sectors of economic activity.

    Primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), quaternary (research/information), and quinary (senior decision-making) — GCSE usually focuses on the first four, chiefly primary–tertiary.

25. How does the employment structure of a country typically change as it develops?

    Primary sector employment falls, secondary rises then falls, and tertiary (and quaternary) sectors grow to dominate as the country develops.

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