IGCSE Geography Resources

Study Websites

• The Geography Study Schoolhttps://igcsegeography.wordpress.com/revision-materials/resources

• The Geographer Onlinehttps://www.thegeographeronline.net/igcse-geography.html

• IGCSE Resources Hub (Google Site)https://sites.google.com/view/igcseresources/humanities-and-social-sciences/geography

YouTube & Learning Platforms

• The Geography Academy – YouTube

• Geography Now! – YouTube

• Geogra3 / Mrs Geography – YouTube

• Twig Education – https://www.twigeducation.com/

• TuitionKit – https://tuitionkit.com/

• Time for Geography – https://timeforgeography.co.uk/

• Fieldwork Techniques – Time for Geography – https://timeforgeography.co.uk/video-collections/fieldwork-techniques/

Paper 2 & Paper 4: Key Fieldwork & Method Questions

Rivers

1. How to measure channel width

• Choose at least 2 sites along the river

• One student/pole on each bank

• Place measuring tape across the channel, keep taut

• Poles must be directly across (90° to banks)

• Repeat at different sites, calculate average width

• Record results

2. How to measure velocity using floats

• Choose at least 2 sites

• Place poles/sticks 10 m apart

• Measure distance with tape

• Release float at start

• Time it with stopwatch to reach end

• Repeat and calculate average

• Record results

3. How to measure velocity using a flowmeter

• Place flowmeter below water surface, propeller facing upstream

• No obstacles in front of propeller

• Take digital readings

• Repeat and calculate average across channel

4. How to measure depth downstream

• Measure across river with tape

• Decide intervals along the river

• Use vertical stick/ruler touching the riverbed

• Measure wet part of stick

• Repeat downstream, calculate average

5. How to measure pebble roundness

• Use systematic/random sampling

• Select 10–20 pebbles from river bed

• Determine roundness using scale

• Repeat at second site and calculate average

  
  

Sampling Methods

• Systematic Sampling: Regular intervals, e.g., every 10th person

• Stratified Sampling: Select proportionate samples from different groups (age, gender)

• Random Sampling: Use random number table, pick numbers from a hat, or choose next person

Paper 41 O/N 2024

Q1: How to know if a questionnaire is good based on insert? (3)

• Contains introduction/explanation of who is asking the questions

• Questionnaire is easy to follow, understand, quick to carry out, and uses formal language

• Questions include a mixture of closed and open questions, multiple choice, simple/easy-to-understand questions

• Includes date and time

• Contains space to write answers / tick boxes

• Questions/examples are relevant to the hypothesis and cover all required information

• Includes thanks at the end of the questionnaire

Q2: Suggest two reasons why people go to commercial centres such as Florentia Village to buy luxury comparison goods. (2)

• Large choice of shops

• Ability to compare prices / price competition

• Compare brands, quality, or variety

• Expensive goods encourage people to travel further

• Goods not sold in local shops / available only in large centres / can buy everything in one place

• People trust shops/sellers due to reputation and customer service

Q3: Describe how students would plan and do the pedestrian count. (4)

Plan:

• Decide where to conduct pedestrian counts in the commercial centre

• Decide when to do the counts / start at the same time

• Decide how many times in a day (e.g., 4 times per day)

• Decide the length of each count / duration should be the same

• Decide who will count / number of students per group (pairs or small group)

Do:

• Use tally method / clicker / counter

• Use stopwatch/watch for timing

• Assign jobs in each group (e.g., two students per count, count people going in different directions)

Q4: Describe a fieldwork method to measure longshore drift along a beach (4)

Using floats:

• Mark start and finish points with poles

• Lay out tape measure along the beach

• Place float where waves break (near the shore)

• Start stopwatch when float is released

• Measure how long it takes to reach the finish point

• Repeat multiple times and calculate average

Using pebbles:

• Paint pebbles using different colours

• Record starting position with a pole

• Place pebbles at the point where waves break

• Leave for a period of time (e.g., more than 3 hours / one day)

• Record finishing position

• Measure distance moved and calculate average

Q5: Investigating different coastal defences (4)

• Locate and visit different coastal defences

• Observe and study each defence

• Note materials used and estimate age

• Assess condition and need for repair

• Count types of defences

• Take photographs / draw sketches

• Conduct a bi-polar survey / environmental quality survey

• Circle groyne, rip rap, or sea wall on recording sheet

• Assign score for each defence

• Complete recording sheet for all defences

  
  

Paper 43 O/N 2024

Q6: Reasons for pilot study (2)

• Test sampling method / questionnaire procedure / ensure students understand

• Practice approaching people / see if people answer

• Test questions for relevance / appropriateness

• Identify problems to avoid mistakes in real fieldwork

• Estimate time required for main study

Q7: Weaknesses of asking people to return completed questionnaires (3)

• People may forget or be too busy

• Questionnaires may be lost / not returned

• Respondents may make mistakes / need help / misunderstand questions

• Difficulty locating where or to whom to return

• Takes a long time to get answers

Q8: Collecting information about shops and services (without questionnaire) (4)

• Visit both villages / work in pairs/groups

• Devise a hypothesis

• Decide on categories of shops and services

• Count / tally / record number of types of shops and services

• Draw a sketch map and plot shops/services

• Classify and identify types of shops and services

• Take photographs to compare villages

• 
  

Paper 41 M/J 2024

Q9: Why is a maximum-minimum thermometer kept in a Stevenson screen? (3)

• Protects from direct sunlight / prevents heating from sun

• Allows air circulation / ventilation

• Prevents influence of ground heat

• Protects from animals / tampering / damage

Q10: How to use a maximum-minimum thermometer (3)

• Read temperatures every 24 hours / at fixed times / same time of day / end of day

• Read bottom of index to get maximum and minimum temperatures

• Read at eye level

• Reset thermometer after reading

Q11: Draw a labelled diagram of a traditional rain gauge (4)

Paper 42 / 43 Fieldwork & Geography Notes

Diagram – Rain Gauge / Funnel Setup (1 mark)

• 1 mark for diagram with funnel, collecting jar, and outer casing

• Measuring jar / container / cylinder / beaker

• Funnel

• Outer casing

• Scale / measurement in mm

• Gauge half buried in the ground

Q12: Reasons students gave different scores in practice environmental quality survey (2)

• Scores are subjective / based on personal opinion

• Students looked at different parts / areas / features / noises / litter cleaned up between surveys

• Surveys done at different times / days

• Scoring parameters are vague / no guidance on values

• Students from different areas / backgrounds

Q13: How students did an actual environmental quality survey (4)

• Decide whether to survey individually or in pairs/groups

• Use agreed categories / descriptions

• Do a pilot or practice survey

• Conduct surveys on the same day / same time

• Walk around / observe different features of the area

• Decide and record score for each feature / circle / tick

• Calculate total score

Q14: Measuring vegetation cover using a quadrat

• Place / throw / put quadrat on ground / at site / on vegetation

• Use random / systematic / specific sampling method

• Estimate percentage of quadrat covered by vegetation / count number of squares with vegetation / bare ground

• Repeat at multiple sites

Q15: Why infiltration rate varies between sites (2)

• Rock type

• Soil type

• Land slope

• Amount of vegetation / bare rock

Q16: Using a recording sheet for environmental quality survey (3)

• Circle the location

• Decide / agree what each score / scale means

• Observe each feature

• Decide score for each feature / rate each feature

• Record / tick / fill in the appropriate row / box

Q17: Measuring building height across residential areas (4)

• Identify a transect across the city

• Visit sites along transect

• Select buildings at random / systematically / every 5–10 buildings

• Count / estimate number of storeys

• Calculate average height

• Record results on recording sheet

Q18: Advantages of pilot study site (2)

• Practice fieldwork techniques

• Identify problems / avoid mistakes in main study

• Ensure students understand instructions / know what to do

• Practice teamwork

• Test equipment / know what to bring

• Estimate time needed

Q19: Why urban land use changes with distance from city centre (4)

• Cities develop over time

• Access to transport (road / rail / air / river)

• Competition for land / bid rent

• Land cheaper further from city centre

• More land available

• Planning policies affect land use

Q20: Investigating environmental quality along city transect (4)

Using Bipolar Survey:

• Select / locate sites

• Use agreed categories / descriptions (vegetation included)

• Agree on meanings / do pilot survey

• Use scale (–3 to +3)

• Conduct all surveys at same time

• Observe and score features

• Tick appropriate boxes

Using Questionnaire / Survey:

• Ask questions like:

  • “Which part of the city is the noisiest / dirtiest?”

  • “Which area of the city is most polluted?”

• Ask respondents to mark on a city map where pollution is worse

Q21: Why measure river velocity three times at each site (2)

• To calculate an average

• Identify anomalies

• Measure at different distances across channel (inside, middle, outside)

Q22: Factors impacting river velocity (2)

Human:

• Dams can control velocity

• Litter decreases velocity

• Urbanisation increases surface runoff → increases velocity

• Afforestation decreases runoff → decreases velocity

Natural:

• Tributaries joining main river

• Steeper gradient

• Outside bend of meander

• Smoother bed and banks reduce resistance

Q23: Measuring a pebble with callipers (2)

• Identify long axis of pebble

• Place pebble between calliper ‘teeth’

• Adjust callipers to hold pebble

• Read measurement from scale

• Measure longest side

Q24: Why flowmeter is more reliable than floats (2)

• Less chance of error in velocity calculation

• More accurate / measures to decimal places

• Less affected by vegetation / obstacles

• Measures below surface / at different depths

Q25: Advantages of a choropleth map (2)

• Shows overall pattern

• Easy to identify / differentiate areas

• Visual, clear, detailed

• Easy to read / quick to interpret

Q26: Reasons for traffic congestion in urban areas (4)

• More people live/work in urban areas

• Roads too narrow / insufficient / parking issues

• Growth in car ownership / many people own cars

• Rush hour commuting

• Inadequate public transport / lack of cycle lanes

• Many delivery vehicles on roads

• Temporary issues: roadworks, accidents, traffic lights, flooding

Q27: Reasons international tourist numbers vary in Singapore (2)

• Weather (hot / dry / rainy season)

• Holidays / school holidays / public holidays

• Flight availability

• Cost of travel / flights

• Extreme weather events

• Festivals / events / Christmas

Q28: Factors when choosing five river fieldwork sites (3)

• Avoid fast-flowing / deep / wide rivers / strong current / unstable banks

• Avoid human impact (dam, weir, canalised section)

• Avoid waterfalls / rapids / slippery rocks

• Accessibility from road / school

Q29: Why beach material size varies between sea and back (2)

• Swash / strong waves move larger material up beach

• Backwash / weaker waves move smaller material down

• Erosion / attrition more rapid near sea

• Rock falls from cliff add larger material at back

• Higher tides move material further

Q30: Measuring beach profile

• Lay transect line with tape measure

• Place ranging poles at slope breaks

• Measure distance between poles

• Use clinometer at set height / eye level

• Sight next pole and read angle

• Move along profile and repeat

Q31: Using a rain gauge (4)

• Place gauge firmly / dig into ground

• Funnel in casing collects rainwater

• Pour water into measuring cylinder

• Read scale (mm / ml) at eye level

• Take readings daily / at same time

• Empty cylinder after measuring

Q32: Problems completing questionnaires (2)

• People too busy / rude

• Different students asking same respondents

• Incorrect / vague answers / lies

• Language difficulties

Q33: Identifying CBD boundary (4)

• Decide criteria to delimit CBD (storeys, pedestrian numbers, shop types)

• Conduct transect from centre

• Plot fieldwork results on map (e.g., pedestrian isoline)

• Mark CBD edge on map

• Shade CBD land uses (shops, offices, public buildings)

• Cross-check with land use map

Q34: Measuring wave frequency (3)

• Stand on beach / rock / pole

• Count waves breaking / passing

• Use stopwatch / fixed time (1–5 mins)

• Repeat count and calculate average

Q35: Advice for doing a questionnaire

• Work in pairs / groups

• Don’t block pavements / shop entrances

• Be polite / thank respondents

• Ask a range of people

• Introduce questionnaire / explain purpose

Q36: Factors affecting travel to shopping centres (3)

• Distance / travel time

• Duration of visit

• Public transport availability

• Car parking availability

• Traffic congestion

• Weather conditions

Q37: Investigating traffic variation across town (4)

• Work in groups / pairs

• Go to selected roads / areas

• Stand on opposite sides of road

• Divide jobs (one counts, one records)

• Agree vehicle categories

• Use stopwatch / timing

• Synchronise start/finish

• Decide duration of count

• Count vehicle numbers / types

• Record on sheet / table / chart / tally / clicker

TIPS

PAPER 1

My teacher told me to write my case studies in this format:

3 General points about the location

5 content points about the question

Some sample case studies:

This case study got me a 5/7, probably because I should have explained better.

This case study got me a 7/7

General Advice Across All Papers

• Memorization: Focus on statistics and location-specific details (LSD). Everything else can be explained with theory.

  • Example LSD: “Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital” ✅

  • Not enough: “Bangladesh’s capital” ❌

  • Good: “Bangladesh borders India and Myanmar in South Asia” ✅

  • Not enough: “Bangladesh is in Asia” ❌

  • Aim: At least 3 statistics + 3 LSD per case study

• Answering questions:

  • Skip repeating the question. Jump straight to the answer.

  • For a 5-mark question, aim for 6 points if possible—extra points = safe strategy.

  • Time management: 1 hr 45 min paper → ~30 min per question + 15 min double-check.

• Drawings & Diagrams:

  • Label everything clearly. Common in Unit 2 & Paper 4.

  • Examples: spit formations, rain gauges, river depth/width diagrams.

• Interpreting figures / inserts:

  • Only state what the figure shows. Don’t assume things that aren’t there.

  • Example: If a river is clean in the insert, don’t say water pollution exists.

    
    

Paper 1 – Case Studies & Theory

• Format for case studies:

  • 3 general points about location

  • 5 content points specific to the question

• Statistics & LSD: Always include them.

• Past papers: Use them to practice applying theory + figures.

  
  

Paper 2 – Map Skills

• Important skills:

  • Reading / drawing bearings & compass directions

  • Reading grids, especially 6-figure grids

  • Drawing cross-sections of rivers

  • Estimating distances between points

• Recommended resource: Geo-Hacks YouTube Channel – excellent for map skills practice

  

Paper 4 – Fieldwork & Methods

• Past papers: Most useful way to revise

• Diagrams: Essential—river measurement, rain gauge setup, etc. Label clearly

• “Method” questions: Often reused in different wordings

  • Highlighted in green in your doc → memorize these

• Hypothesis questions (4 marks):

  1. State whether hypothesis is true/false/partially true

  2. Give 1–2 statements about table/graph/insert

  3. Provide 2 sentences of evidence to back up your statement professionally

     
     

Questionnaire & Fieldwork Tips

• Pilot studies: Practise and identify potential issues before main survey

• Environmental Quality Surveys:

  • Agree on categories / scoring system

  • Do surveys at same time / same day

  • Record scores consistently

• River / Beach Measurements:

  • Repeat measurements to calculate averages

  • Label diagrams and use correct instruments (flowmeter, callipers, rain gauge)

    
    

Time-Saving Tips

• Don’t spend time rewriting questions. Go straight to content.

• Use extra points where possible to safeguard marks.

• Double-check answers at the end.

Written by Zemen

Edited by Krithigka Gobbi