AQA GCSE Geography · 3.4

Geographical skills

Revision questions with answers for 3.4 Geographical skills 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.

All questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you use latitude and longitude?
Answer:
Latitude lines run east-west and measure distance north or south of the equator (0 degrees). Longitude lines run north-south and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Give latitude first, e.g. 51 degrees N, 0 degrees.
Question 2 · Spec 3.4.1
How should you describe the distribution and pattern of features on a map?
Answer:
Say whether features are clustered, evenly spread or linear, where there are concentrations or gaps, and quote data and place names. Use terms such as density and compare areas.
Question 3 · Spec 3.4.1
What features might you be asked to describe on global or atlas maps?
Answer:
Population distribution and movement, transport networks, settlement layout, relief and drainage, e.g. where people live in relation to rivers, mountains and coasts.
Question 4 · Spec 3.4.1
How can you analyse the relationship between physical and human factors on maps?
Answer:
Compare thematic maps and look for associations, for example high population density on flat land near rivers or coasts and low density on steep, cold or dry areas.
Question 5 · Spec 3.4.1
What are the scales of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 OS maps?
Answer:
On 1:50,000, 2 cm on the map is 1 km on the ground (each grid square is 1 km2). On 1:25,000, 4 cm is 1 km, so there is more detail.
Question 6 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you give a four-figure grid reference?
Answer:
Read the eastings (vertical lines, along the bottom) first, then the northings (horizontal lines, up the side), giving the lower left corner of the square: 'along the corridor, then up the stairs'.
Question 7 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you give a six-figure grid reference?
Answer:
Use the four-figure reference but divide each square into tenths to add a third digit to the eastings and northings, e.g. 123456, which locates a specific point.
Question 8 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you measure straight-line distance on an OS map?
Answer:
Use a ruler to measure in centimetres, then convert using the map scale, e.g. at 1:50,000, 1 cm = 0.5 km.
Question 9 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you measure a curved distance such as a river or road?
Answer:
Lay a piece of string or the edge of paper along the route, mark it, straighten it against the ruler, and use the scale to calculate the distance.
Question 10 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you describe direction on a map?
Answer:
Use the eight compass points (N, NE, E, SE and so on) or a bearing in degrees measured clockwise from grid north.
Question 11 · Spec 3.4.1
How do contours, spot heights and trig points show height on OS maps?
Answer:
Contours join points of equal height (every 10 m on a 1:50,000 map), spot heights give exact heights as numbers, and trig points (triangles) mark surveyed heights on high points.
Question 12 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you describe gradient on an OS map?
Answer:
Contours close together show a steep slope, and widely spaced contours show gentle slopes. Average gradient is height difference divided by horizontal distance.
Question 13 · Spec 3.4.1
Which relief features can you identify from contours?
Answer:
Valleys (V-shaped contours pointing upstream), ridges, spurs, plateaus, escarpments, and hills or peaks (concentric rings).
Question 14 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you draw a cross-section from an OS map?
Answer:
Mark a line across the map, place paper along it and mark heights at contour crossings, then plot these on a graph and join the points to show the relief.
Question 15 · Spec 3.4.1
What settlement patterns appear on OS maps?
Answer:
Nucleated (clustered around a centre), linear (along a road, river or valley) and dispersed (scattered farms and houses).
Question 16 · Spec 3.4.1
What can be inferred about a landscape from an OS map?
Answer:
Relief, drainage, settlement, communications and land use, e.g. farmland on flat land, settlement along valleys and forest on steep slopes.
Question 17 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you describe coastal landforms on an OS map?
Answer:
Look for cliffs, beaches, headlands and bays, spits, sand dunes and stacks, using symbols, contour patterns and the shape of the coastline.
Question 18 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you describe river landforms on an OS map?
Answer:
Identify the course (source, tributaries, meanders), valley shape from contours, waterfalls and floodplain width, and the direction of flow.
Question 19 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you identify glaciated landscape features on an OS map?
Answer:
Look for corries (semi-circular steep contours with a lake), aretes (narrow ridges between corries), U-shaped valleys and ribbon lakes.
Question 20 · Spec 3.4.1
How can you infer tourism from OS map evidence?
Answer:
Symbols for campsites, car parks, information centres, picnic sites, viewpoints, footpaths, youth hostels and visitor attractions suggest tourism.
Question 21 · Spec 3.4.1
What is a transect?
Answer:
A line across a landscape along which observations or data are collected or shown, for example land use across a town from the centre outwards.
Question 22 · Spec 3.4.1
How can you compare maps?
Answer:
Compare the same area at different scales or dates, noting changes in settlement, land use and transport and using evidence such as grid references.
Question 23 · Spec 3.4.1
What is a sketch map?
Answer:
A simple, labelled drawing of the main features of an area from a map or photograph, not drawn to scale. It should have a title, labels and a key.
Question 24 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you use and interpret ground, aerial and satellite photographs?
Answer:
Ground photos show detail at eye level, aerial photos show a view from above and satellite images cover large areas. Split into foreground, middle ground and background, then describe physical and human features and give evidence.
Question 25 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you draw a sketch from a photograph?
Answer:
Draw a frame, outline the main features in the foreground, middle ground and background, and keep it simple without shading.
Question 26 · Spec 3.4.1
How do you label and annotate diagrams, maps and photographs?
Answer:
Labels name features. Annotations add short descriptions or explanations of how or why, linked to the feature with lines or arrows.
Question 27 · Spec 3.4.2
When are line graphs and bar charts used?
Answer:
Line graphs show change over time or continuous data. Bar charts compare separate categories using bars that do not touch.
Question 28 · Spec 3.4.2
When are pie charts and pictograms used?
Answer:
Pie charts show proportions of a whole (360 degrees = 100%). Pictograms use symbols to represent amounts, each symbol standing for a stated number.
Question 29 · Spec 3.4.2
What is a histogram?
Answer:
A bar chart for continuous data using equal class intervals along the x-axis, with bars touching and height showing frequency.
Question 30 · Spec 3.4.2
What is a divided bar chart?
Answer:
A single bar split into sections to show the proportions of a total, such as the energy mix of different countries.
Question 31 · Spec 3.4.2
What does a scatter graph show?
Answer:
The relationship between two sets of data, with each point plotting one value of each. A line of best fit shows a positive, negative or no relationship.
Question 32 · Spec 3.4.2
What does a population pyramid show?
Answer:
The age and sex structure of a population: horizontal bars for each age group, males on one side and females on the other. A wide base means many children and a narrow top means few elderly.
Question 33 · Spec 3.4.2
What is a choropleth map?
Answer:
A map in which areas are shaded in different colours or tones according to values such as population density. It shows spatial patterns but hides variations within each area.
Question 34 · Spec 3.4.2
What is an isoline map?
Answer:
A map using lines to join places of equal value, such as contours (height) or isobars (pressure). Lines close together show rapid change.
Question 35 · Spec 3.4.2
What are dot maps and proportional symbols?
Answer:
Dot maps use dots to show the location and number of features, with each dot representing a set amount. Proportional symbols change size to show the amount at each place.
Question 36 · Spec 3.4.2
What are desire lines and flow lines?
Answer:
Desire lines are straight lines linking origins and destinations to show movements, such as commuters. Flow lines have widths proportional to the quantity moving, e.g. migration.
Question 37 · Spec 3.4.2
How do you choose an appropriate graph?
Answer:
Match the graph to the data and purpose: line graph for trends, bar chart for comparisons, pie chart for proportions, scatter graph for relationships, map for location patterns.
Question 38 · Spec 3.4.2
How do you plot and complete graphs and maps?
Answer:
Use the axes and scales provided, plot points accurately, join with a ruler or smooth curve as needed, label axes with units and give a title.
Question 39 · Spec 3.4.3
What numerical skills involve number, area and scale?
Answer:
Understanding and converting units (e.g. km2 and m), using ratio and proportion, working with map scales and calculating areas and percentages.
Question 40 · Spec 3.4.3
What do magnitude and frequency mean?
Answer:
Magnitude is the size or strength of an event, such as an earthquake. Frequency is how often an event occurs in a given time.
Question 41 · Spec 3.4.3
How do you design a data collection sheet and ensure data quality?
Answer:
Include clear headings, units and space to record. Consider accuracy, sample size, sampling procedures, control groups and repeat measurements to make the data reliable.
Question 42 · Spec 3.4.4
How do you calculate the mean, median, mode and range?
Answer:
Mean: add all values and divide by the number of values. Median: middle value in order. Mode: most common value. Range: highest minus lowest.
Question 43 · Spec 3.4.4
What are quartiles, the interquartile range and cumulative frequency?
Answer:
The lower and upper quartiles divide ordered data into quarters. The interquartile range is upper minus lower quartile. Cumulative frequency adds up frequencies to show running totals.
Question 44 · Spec 3.4.4
How do you calculate percentage increase or decrease?
Answer:
Percentage change = (new value minus old value) divided by old value x 100. A negative answer is a decrease.
Question 45 · Spec 3.4.4
What is the modal class and what is a percentile?
Answer:
The modal class is the group with the highest frequency. A percentile shows the value below which a given percentage of the data falls.
Question 46 · Spec 3.4.4
How can you describe relationships in bivariate data?
Answer:
Plot a scatter graph, draw a line of best fit, describe the correlation, then use the line to make predictions by interpolation (within the data) or extrapolation (beyond it).
Question 47 · Spec 3.4.4
How can statistical presentation be selective or misleading?
Answer:
Axes may be truncated, the scale or time period chosen to exaggerate trends, anomalies or missing data hidden, or an average used to disguise variation.
Question 48 · Spec 3.4.5
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data and what sources can be used?
Answer:
Quantitative data is numerical, qualitative is descriptive. Sources include maps, fieldwork data, GIS, satellite imagery, written and digital sources, visual and graphical sources and statistics.
Question 49 · Spec 3.4.6
How do you formulate an enquiry and develop an extended argument?
Answer:
Identify questions and a sequence of enquiry, write descriptively, analytically and critically, communicate ideas effectively and draw well-evidenced conclusions.
Question 50 · Spec 3.4.7
Why is literacy important in geography?
Answer:
Most communication is written, so you must express information clearly for different audiences, use geographical terms accurately and organise extended answers well.

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