AQA GCSE Geography · 3.3.2

Fieldwork

50 revision questions with answers for 3.3.2 Fieldwork in AQA GCSE Geography (spec 8035). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.3.2
How many fieldwork enquiries must students complete?
Answer:
Two geographical enquiries, each using primary data collected in a fieldwork exercise, and each clearly linked to the subject content in units 3.1 and 3.2.
Question 2 · Spec 3.3.2
What is primary data?
Answer:
Data collected first-hand by you, such as measuring a river, counting pedestrians or doing a questionnaire.
Question 3 · Spec 3.3.2
Where and when must fieldwork take place?
Answer:
Outside the classroom and school grounds, on at least two separate occasions.
Question 4 · Spec 3.3.2
What must be true about the two enquiries?
Answer:
They must be carried out in contrasting environments and show understanding of both physical and human geography.
Question 5 · Spec 3.3.2
What must at least one enquiry show?
Answer:
An understanding of the interaction between physical and human geography, for example how people affect a river or coastline.
Question 6 · Spec 3.3.2
How is fieldwork assessed in the exam?
Answer:
Through questions on fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context, and questions on your own enquiries, for which you must identify their titles.
Question 7 · Spec 3.3.2
What is the written statement about fieldwork?
Answer:
Evidence from the school that the fieldwork requirement is met. It gives the date, location, student numbers, main questions and linked spec content, signed by the Head of Centre.
Question 8 · Spec 3.3.2
What applies to private candidates for fieldwork?
Answer:
They must also complete fieldwork outside school grounds on two occasions, and the head of the approved centre must sign a statement confirming it.
Question 9 · Spec 3.3.2
What is a suitable question for geographical enquiry?
Answer:
A clear, focused question or hypothesis that can be tested with data and is linked to the specification, for example 'How does river velocity change downstream?'.
Question 10 · Spec 3.3.2
What is a hypothesis?
Answer:
A testable statement predicting what you expect to find, such as 'Pebble size decreases downstream'.
Question 11 · Spec 3.3.2
What factors need to be considered when selecting enquiry questions?
Answer:
Whether data can be collected safely and practically, time and cost, access to sites, link to the spec, and whether the question can be answered using available data.
Question 12 · Spec 3.3.2
What is the geographical theory or concept underpinning an enquiry?
Answer:
The idea you are testing, such as the Bradshaw model of how rivers change downstream or the way town centres change from the CBD outwards.
Question 13 · Spec 3.3.2
What are appropriate sources of primary and secondary evidence?
Answer:
Primary: your own measurements, surveys and photos. Secondary: census data, maps, satellite images, weather and river data, websites and published reports.
Question 14 · Spec 3.3.2
Why does the choice of fieldwork location matter?
Answer:
Sites must be safe, accessible and suitable for testing the hypothesis, with a range of conditions such as upstream and downstream, or busy and quiet streets.
Question 15 · Spec 3.3.2
What are the potential risks of human geography fieldwork?
Answer:
Traffic, crowds, crime and getting lost, dealing with strangers, and weather exposure.
Question 16 · Spec 3.3.2
What are the potential risks of physical geography fieldwork?
Answer:
Slips and falls, fast or deep water, cold, tides, unstable cliffs, sun and weather, and hazardous wildlife or plants.
Question 17 · Spec 3.3.2
How can the risks of fieldwork be reduced?
Answer:
Do a risk assessment, work in groups with adult supervision, check weather and tides, wear suitable clothing and footwear, carry first aid and stay in safe areas.
Question 18 · Spec 3.3.2
What is secondary data?
Answer:
Data collected by someone else, such as census statistics, maps and published reports. It is used to compare with or add to primary data.
Question 19 · Spec 3.3.2
What is the difference between physical and human data?
Answer:
Physical data is about the natural environment (river width, sediment size, beach profile). Human data is about people and their activities (pedestrian counts, questionnaires, land use).
Question 20 · Spec 3.3.2
What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?
Answer:
Quantitative data is numerical and measurable. Qualitative data is descriptive, such as opinions, photographs and field sketches.
Question 21 · Spec 3.3.2
Why do geographers use sampling?
Answer:
It is not possible to measure everything, so a sample is chosen to represent the whole area or population and save time.
Question 22 · Spec 3.3.2
What is random sampling?
Answer:
Choosing sites or people by chance, for example using random numbers, to avoid bias. It is fair but may miss parts of the area.
Question 23 · Spec 3.3.2
What is systematic sampling?
Answer:
Collecting data at regular intervals, such as every 10 metres along a transect or every fifth person. It gives even coverage but could miss patterns.
Question 24 · Spec 3.3.2
What is stratified sampling?
Answer:
Splitting the population or area into groups (strata) and sampling each in proportion to its size, such as interviewing different age groups in proportion.
Question 25 · Spec 3.3.2
How does sample size affect reliability?
Answer:
Larger samples are more representative and reliable, but take more time. Very small samples may be unrepresentative or affected by anomalies.
Question 26 · Spec 3.3.2
What is a pilot study?
Answer:
A small trial of a data collection method to test it works, spot problems and improve it before the full fieldwork.
Question 27 · Spec 3.3.2
Why must data collection methods be justified?
Answer:
You need to explain why a method is appropriate, accurate and safe, and why it suits the question, to show you understand the enquiry.
Question 28 · Spec 3.3.2
How can river width, depth and velocity be measured?
Answer:
Width with a tape measure, depth with a ruler at set intervals, and velocity by timing a float over a measured distance (or with a flow meter).
Question 29 · Spec 3.3.2
How is river discharge calculated?
Answer:
Discharge = cross-sectional area (width x average depth) x velocity. It is measured in cubic metres per second (cumecs).
Question 30 · Spec 3.3.2
How can river sediment be measured?
Answer:
Measure the long axis of pebbles chosen at random with a ruler, and judge roundness using a roundness chart such as the Powers scale.
Question 31 · Spec 3.3.2
How is a beach profile measured?
Answer:
Using ranging poles, a clinometer and tape to measure the angle and distance between breaks in slope from the sea to the back of the beach.
Question 32 · Spec 3.3.2
How is a questionnaire used in human geography fieldwork?
Answer:
A set of questions asks people their opinions or behaviour, using a sampling method. Questions should be clear, unbiased and short, and respondents' permission is needed.
Question 33 · Spec 3.3.2
What are environmental quality surveys and pedestrian counts?
Answer:
An environmental quality survey scores features such as litter and noise, e.g. -2 to +2. A pedestrian count tallies the number of people passing at set times to show footfall.
Question 34 · Spec 3.3.2
Which presentation methods can be used for fieldwork data?
Answer:
Bar charts, line graphs, scatter graphs, pie charts, kite diagrams, maps (choropleth, isoline, proportional symbols), annotated photos and sketches, and GIS.
Question 35 · Spec 3.3.2
How should you choose a presentation method?
Answer:
Select one that suits the type of data and message: line graphs for changes, bar charts for comparisons, scatter graphs for relationships and maps for spatial patterns.
Question 36 · Spec 3.3.2
What cartographic methods can show fieldwork data?
Answer:
Choropleth maps shade areas by value, isoline maps join points of equal value, and proportional symbols on a map show amounts.
Question 37 · Spec 3.3.2
How can presentation methods be adapted?
Answer:
Add titles, scales, keys and labels, use colour or shading to show patterns, add a trend line or combine methods to make results clearer.
Question 38 · Spec 3.3.2
How are annotated photographs and field sketches used?
Answer:
They record landscape and features visually, with labels and notes that explain what the evidence shows and how it links to the enquiry.
Question 39 · Spec 3.3.2
How should you describe fieldwork results?
Answer:
State the overall pattern or trend, use figures with units, give the highest and lowest values, and note any anomalies.
Question 40 · Spec 3.3.2
How should you analyse and explain fieldwork results?
Answer:
Link the results to geographical theory and processes, explain why the pattern occurs and use evidence from your data to support your points.
Question 41 · Spec 3.3.2
How can you establish links between data sets?
Answer:
Compare two sets of data, for example velocity and channel width on a scatter graph, and look for a positive, negative or no relationship.
Question 42 · Spec 3.3.2
Which statistical techniques are used with fieldwork data?
Answer:
Mean, median, mode, range and interquartile range to summarise data, and lines of best fit on scatter graphs to show relationships and make predictions.
Question 43 · Spec 3.3.2
What is an anomaly in fieldwork data?
Answer:
A result that does not fit the general pattern, which may be due to error, a local factor or an unusual event. It should be identified and explained.
Question 44 · Spec 3.3.2
How do you reach a conclusion in a fieldwork enquiry?
Answer:
Answer the original question or hypothesis using evidence from your results, saying whether the data supports it or not.
Question 45 · Spec 3.3.2
What problems can occur in fieldwork data collection?
Answer:
Inaccurate equipment or human error, bad weather, small samples, short time periods, bias in sampling and sites that are not representative.
Question 46 · Spec 3.3.2
What are the limitations of the data collected?
Answer:
It may cover only a short time, few sites or one season, may not be fully representative or accurate, and cannot prove cause and effect.
Question 47 · Spec 3.3.2
What other data would improve a fieldwork enquiry?
Answer:
More sites, repeat measurements at different times and seasons, a larger sample and secondary data such as weather, census or river gauge records.
Question 48 · Spec 3.3.2
How reliable are the conclusions of a fieldwork enquiry?
Answer:
Reliability depends on sample size, accuracy of methods, how well anomalies are explained and whether the results could be repeated.
Question 49 · Spec 3.3.2
How would you answer a question on unfamiliar fieldwork materials?
Answer:
Read the data and context carefully, use figures from the resources, apply the six enquiry strands (question, methods, presentation, analysis, conclusion, evaluation) and avoid relying on your own enquiry.
Question 50 · Spec 3.3.2
Which six strands of the enquiry process does the specification list?
Answer:
Suitable question; selecting, measuring and recording data; processing and presenting data; describing, analysing and explaining data; reaching conclusions; evaluation.

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