Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment
AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1 covers three compulsory physical geography topics. Understanding physical processes and environments is fundamental to geography.
Topics covered in Paper 1
| Section | Topic |
|---|---|
| Section A | The challenge of natural hazards (3.1.1) |
| Section B | The living world (3.1.2) |
| Section C | Physical landscapes in the UK (3.1.3) |
In Section C, students answer questions on two of three landscape options: coastal landscapes, river landscapes, glacial landscapes.
Paper 1 exam structure
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- 88 marks total
- Multiple choice, short answers, extended writing (up to 9 marks)
- No pre-release material
Skills needed for Paper 1
- Interpreting maps, satellite images and photographs of physical landscapes
- Applying knowledge of processes (erosion, weathering, deposition, plate tectonics)
- Evaluating management strategies (coastal defence, flood management, hazard response)
- Case study knowledge: specific place names, dates, statistics
Revision approach
- Know case studies in depth for tectonic hazards, tropical storms, tropical rainforests, hot deserts, and chosen landscape types
- Be able to draw and annotate landform diagrams
- Practise 9-mark evaluation questions (aim for balance: pros, cons, specific evidence)
Key themes across Paper 1
- Human-physical interaction: how natural processes create opportunities and challenges for people
- Inequality of hazard impact: LIC vs HIC responses to the same event
- Sustainability: managing environments without permanently damaging them
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