GCSE Revision

Exam skills: Paper 1

Paper 1

Paper 1, Living with the physical environment, takes 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 88 marks, 35% of the GCSE, including 3 for SPaG.

SectionMarksTopics
A33Natural hazards: answer all
B25The living world: answer all, on rainforests and one of hot deserts or cold environments
C30Physical landscapes in the UK: answer two of coasts, rivers and glacial landscapes

That is about a minute per mark. Answer only the options you studied.

Command words and short answers

Command wordWhat to do
State, name, identifyGive a short answer, a word or phrase
DescribeSay what something is like, or what a figure shows, with data
ExplainGive reasons why, using "because" and "so"
SuggestGive a likely reason, using what you know
CompareGive similarities and differences, using "whereas"
Assess, Weigh up strengths and weaknesses, then judge
Make a judgement on how far you agree, with evidence

Short questions (1 to 3 marks) are : one mark per correct point, or for developing a point. Make as many separate points as there are marks.

Key terms

Levels and using figures

Longer answers are marked by levels: the examiner reads the whole answer and decides which level fits best.

MarksLevels
4Level 1 (1–2), Level 2 (3–4)
6Level 1 (1–2), Level 2 (3–4), Level 3 (5–6)
9Level 1 (1–3), Level 2 (4–6), Level 3 (7–9)

To move up: from basic points, to clear explanations, to detailed, well-developed ones, with specific examples.

Using figures: when a question says "Using Figure 2", quote data from it, with units, and use it to support your points: "Figure 2 shows rainfall peaking at 290 mm in April."

Key terms

The 9-mark question and SPaG

9-mark questions ask you to , assess or decide . One in each paper also carries : spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terms. The paper shows which.

Method:

  1. Plan briefly: arguments for and against.
  2. Make two or three developed points, each with from a case study.
  3. Consider the other side.
  4. Finish with a clear : how far, and why.

Use geographical terms, spelt correctly.

Common mistake

A 9-mark answer without a judgement can't reach Level 3, however good its points are.

Key terms

A model 9-mark answer: natural hazards

Question: "The effects of earthquakes depend mostly on a country's wealth." Using examples, to what extent do you agree? [9 marks]

Model answer:

Wealth matters a great deal. Chile, one of South America's richest countries, enforced strict building codes, so its magnitude 8.8 earthquake in 2010 killed about 520 people. Nepal, one of Asia's poorest countries, had many unreinforced rural homes, so its smaller magnitude 7.8 earthquake in 2015 killed over 8,790. Nepal also relied on international aid, and rebuilding was slow.

However, other factors matter. Nepal's mountains caused deadly landslides and made villages hard to reach, and Chile suffered a tsunami despite its wealth.

Overall, I largely agree: wealth shapes buildings and responses, so it matters most, but physical factors such as landscape also affect the toll.

Exam practice

Plan your own answer first, then open the model answers to see what each level looks like.

9 marks · about 12 minutes · +3 SPaG

To what extent can the effects of tropical storms be reduced? Use an example.

To what extent means: Weigh up how far something is true, with evidence on both sides, then give a clear judgement.

Link it

Use the facts from:

Level 1 (Basic)· 3/9 marks (band 1–3)
The effects can be reduced by warning people so they can leave. Strong buildings help too. But storms are still dangerous.

Why this level: Two simple strategies, with no example and an unsupported judgement. To reach Level 2: use a named storm, with facts, to explain how strategies reduced its effects.

Level 2 (Clear)· 5/9 marks (band 4–6)
Satellites track tropical storms, so forecasters can warn people days ahead. Before Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, many people were evacuated, which saved lives. Stronger buildings and sea walls can also protect people. After the storm, a plan of about US$8 billion of rebuilding over four years aimed to build back better.

Why this level: Clear strategies, with accurate use of Haiyan. But it doesn't explain the limits, so "to what extent" isn't answered. To reach Level 3: weigh what was reduced against what wasn't, then judge.

Level 3 (Detailed)· 8/9 marks (band 7–9)
The effects of tropical storms can be reduced a great deal, especially deaths. Satellites track storms, so warnings give people time to evacuate: before Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November 2013, many people were moved to shelters, which saved many lives. Planning, such as stronger buildings, storm shelters and sea walls, reduces damage, and aid after the storm, such as field hospitals, cuts deaths from injuries and disease. However, there are limits. During Haiyan, the storm surge, several metres high, was underestimated, and some shelters were flooded, so about 6,300 people still died. Over a million homes were damaged or destroyed, because many people couldn't afford stronger homes. Rebuilding, under a plan of about US$8 billion over four years, took years. Overall, effects can be greatly reduced where warnings are accurate and people can afford protection, but they can never be removed, and poorer people remain most at risk.

Why this level: Detailed strategies and Haiyan evidence, with limits weighed and a judgement that says how far, and for whom. This is Level 3.

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