1-mark questions
About 7 × 1 mark · about 7 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
Geography exam guide
AQA GCSE Geography (8035). Three papers, each 1 hour 30 minutes. Short questions are marked point by point; longer answers are marked in levels. Geographical skills are assessed throughout.
Your selected paper options
- Paper 1, Section B: Hot deserts
- Paper 1, Section C: Coasts and rivers
- Paper 2, Section C: Food
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
1 hour 30 minutes · 88 marks · 35% of the GCSE
The paper assesses natural hazards, the living world and physical landscapes in the UK. Answer all of Sections A and B, then choose two landscape questions in Section C.
Section A: Natural hazards (33 marks)
2-mark questions
About 2 × 2 marks · about 4 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark question
4 marks · about 4 minutes
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark question
6 marks · about 6 minutes
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Question 01.12: extended response with SPaG
9 marks + 3 for SPaG · about 12 minutes
To what extent…? / Evaluate… / Assess… / Do you agree…?
Assesses: AO1 3, AO2 3, AO3 3
Marked: 9-mark questions and SPaG (3 marks)
Section B: The living world (25 marks)
Answer all parts. Tropical rainforests are core; answer the question on the one environment you studied: hot deserts or cold environments.
1-mark questions
About 6 × 1 mark · about 6 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 2 × 2 marks · about 4 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
6-mark question
6 marks · about 6 minutes
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
9-mark question
9 marks · about 9 minutes
To what extent…? / Evaluate… / Assess… / Do you agree…?
Assesses: AO1 3, AO2 3, AO3 3
Marked: 9-mark questions
Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK (30 marks)
Choose two of Question 3 (coasts), Question 4 (rivers) and Question 5 (glacial landscapes). Each landscape question is 15 marks and draws on the UK overview.
1-mark questions
About 6 × 1 mark · about 6 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 2 × 2 marks · about 4 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark questions
About 2 × 4 marks · about 8 minutes in all
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark questions
About 2 × 6 marks · about 12 minutes in all
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
1 hour 30 minutes · 88 marks · 35% of the GCSE
The paper assesses urban issues, the changing economic world and resource management. Answer all of Sections A and B, then answer Question 3 and one resource option in Section C.
Section A: Urban issues and challenges (33 marks)
1-mark questions
About 5 × 1 mark · about 5 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 3 × 2 marks · about 6 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark question
4 marks · about 4 minutes
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark question
6 marks · about 6 minutes
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Question 01.11: extended response with SPaG
9 marks + 3 for SPaG · about 12 minutes
To what extent…? / Evaluate… / Assess… / Do you agree…?
Assesses: AO1 3, AO2 3, AO3 3
Marked: 9-mark questions and SPaG (3 marks)
Section B: The changing economic world (30 marks)
1-mark questions
About 4 × 1 mark · about 4 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 2 × 2 marks · about 4 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
3-mark question
3 marks · about 3 minutes
Describe… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark question
4 marks · about 4 minutes
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark question
6 marks · about 6 minutes
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
9-mark question
9 marks · about 9 minutes
To what extent…? / Evaluate… / Assess… / Do you agree…?
Assesses: AO1 3, AO2 3, AO3 3
Marked: 9-mark questions
Section C: Resource management (25 marks)
Answer Question 3 on the core topic, then one of Question 4 (food), Question 5 (water) and Question 6 (energy).
1-mark questions
About 4 × 1 mark · about 4 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 3 × 2 marks · about 6 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
3-mark question
3 marks · about 3 minutes
Describe… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
6-mark questions
About 2 × 6 marks · about 12 minutes in all
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Paper 3: Geographical applications
1 hour 30 minutes · 76 marks · 30% of the GCSE
The resources booklet is issued before the exam. Section A tests issue evaluation; Section B tests fieldwork skills, including unfamiliar and your own enquiries. Spend about 10 minutes reading the sources and questions first.
Section A: Issue evaluation (37 marks)
Answer all questions, using evidence from the resources booklet. Question 03 is the decision question.
1-mark questions
About 3 × 1 mark · about 3 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 3 × 2 marks · about 6 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark question
4 marks · about 4 minutes
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark questions
About 2 × 6 marks · about 12 minutes in all
Explain… / Assess… / Using Figure 1 and an example, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Question 03: decision with SPaG
9 marks + 3 for SPaG · about 12 minutes
Do you think [the proposal] should go ahead? Use evidence from the resources booklet and your own understanding.
Assesses: AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: Paper 3 9-mark questions and SPaG (3 marks)
Section B: Fieldwork (39 marks)
Answer all questions. The paper tests an unfamiliar enquiry and the two enquiries you carried out; Question 05.4 evaluates one of your own.
1-mark questions
About 4 × 1 mark · about 4 minutes in all
State… / Which…? / Calculate… / Using Figure 1, give…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
2-mark questions
About 5 × 2 marks · about 10 minutes in all
Describe… / Outline… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
3-mark question
3 marks · about 3 minutes
Describe… / Suggest… / Using Figure 1, describe…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: one mark for each correct point
4-mark question
4 marks · about 4 minutes
Explain… / Suggest why… / Using Figure 1, explain…
Assesses: AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 4-mark questions
6-mark question
6 marks · about 6 minutes
For one of your fieldwork enquiries, justify… / explain…
Assesses: AO3, AO4 (the split varies by question)
Marked: 6-mark questions
Question 05.4: evaluate your enquiry with SPaG
9 marks + 3 for SPaG · about 12 minutes
For one of your fieldwork enquiries, to what extent…?
Assesses: AO3
Marked: Paper 3 9-mark questions and SPaG (3 marks)
AQA does not prescribe time per question. These suggestions use about a minute per mark: Papers 1 and 2 leave about two minutes to check, while Paper 3 leaves about ten minutes to read the resources and four minutes to check. The question counts shown are from June 2025 and can vary.
Assessment objectives
What examiners give marks for. Each question tests one or more of these.
| AO | What it means | Share of the GCSE | Assessed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Show what you know about locations, places, processes, environments and different scales. | 15% | Paper 1: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.12: extended response with SPaG, 9-mark question, 4-mark questions, 6-mark questions; Paper 2: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.11: extended response with SPaG, 3-mark question, 9-mark question, 6-mark questions; Paper 3: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark questions, 3-mark question |
| AO2 | Explain geographical ideas and how places, environments and processes connect. | 25% | Paper 1: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.12: extended response with SPaG, 9-mark question, 4-mark questions, 6-mark questions; Paper 2: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.11: extended response with SPaG, 3-mark question, 9-mark question, 6-mark questions; Paper 3: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark questions, 3-mark question |
| AO3 | Use evidence to interpret, analyse and evaluate information and issues, then make judgements. | 35% | Paper 1: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.12: extended response with SPaG, 9-mark question, 4-mark questions, 6-mark questions; Paper 2: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 01.11: extended response with SPaG, 3-mark question, 9-mark question, 6-mark questions; Paper 3: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark questions, Question 03: decision with SPaG, 3-mark question, 6-mark question, Question 05.4: evaluate your enquiry with SPaG |
| AO4 | Choose and use geographical skills and techniques to investigate questions and communicate findings. | 25% | Paper 1: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, 4-mark questions, 6-mark questions; Paper 2: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark question, 3-mark question, 6-mark questions; Paper 3: 1-mark questions, 2-mark questions, 4-mark question, 6-mark questions, Question 03: decision with SPaG, 3-mark question, 6-mark question |
Levels
Examiners place an answer in a level, then choose a mark within it. The key words show what each level rewards.
4-mark questions
| Level | Marks | Key words | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3–4 | Clear | A clear explanation with relevant detail or a developed point. |
| 1 | 1–2 | Basic | A simple point or explanation with limited development. |
6-mark questions
| Level | Marks | Key words | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5–6 | Detailed | A detailed, well-developed answer that uses relevant geographical knowledge or evidence. |
| 2 | 3–4 | Clear | A clear answer with some development and relevant knowledge or evidence. |
| 1 | 1–2 | Basic | A limited or simple answer with little development. |
9-mark questions
| Level | Marks | Key words | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7–9 | Detailed | Thorough, specific knowledge supports a developed argument and a reasoned judgement where the question asks for one. |
| 2 | 4–6 | Clear | A clear explanation or evaluation, supported by relevant evidence. |
| 1 | 1–3 | Basic | Simple points with limited knowledge, evidence or evaluation. |
Paper 3 9-mark questions
| Level | Marks | Key words | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7–9 | Detailed | A thorough evaluation or judgement, supported with specific evidence from the resources or the student's enquiry. |
| 2 | 4–6 | Clear | A clear evaluation or judgement, supported with relevant evidence. |
| 1 | 1–3 | Basic | A simple response with limited use of evidence or evaluation. |
SPaG (3 marks)
| Level | Marks | Key words | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | High | Consistently accurate spelling and punctuation, controlled grammar and a wide range of specialist terms. |
| 2 | 2 | Intermediate | Mostly accurate spelling and punctuation, generally controlled grammar and a good range of specialist terms. |
| 1 | 1 | Threshold | Reasonably accurate spelling and punctuation, some control of grammar and a limited range of specialist terms. No mark if this threshold is not met. |