Edexcel GCSE Geography
Edexcel GCSE Geography Paper 1 practice questions
Paper 1 is worth 37.5% of Edexcel GCSE Geography. The questions below are original practice questions with worked answers, so you can test yourself the way the real exam will — and see exactly what an examiner is looking for.
What is on Paper 1?
- Paper 1 covers global geographical issues.
- It is a written paper of 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 94 marks including spelling, punctuation and grammar — 37.5% of the GCSE.
- Questions are a mix of multiple choice, short answer and longer extended responses.
- Always check the latest specification on your exam board's website, as details can change between exam years.
Paper 1 practice questions with answers
10 original questions across the 5 Paper 1 topics. Try each one before reading the answer.
Edexcel B papers and decision making
1. Which Edexcel B component contains the decision-making question?
- • Component 1
- • Component 2
- • Component 3
- • Coursework
Answer: Component 3
The 12-mark decision question ends Component 3.
Edexcel B papers and decision making
2. Fieldwork is assessed in:
- • Component 1
- • Component 2
- • Component 3
- • All three
Answer: Component 2
Geographical investigations sit inside the UK issues paper.
Tectonic hazards
3. At which plate margin is oceanic crust destroyed?
- • Constructive
- • Destructive
- • Conservative
- • Collision
Answer: Destructive
Denser oceanic crust subducts and melts at a destructive margin.
Tectonic hazards
4. Which landform is typical of a constructive plate margin?
- • Ocean trench
- • Mid-ocean ridge
- • Fold mountains
- • Rift-free plateau
Answer: Mid-ocean ridge
Plates separating allow magma to rise and build a ridge of new crust.
Weather hazards and climate change
5. Hot deserts are found near 30° latitude because air there is:
- • Rising and cooling
- • Sinking and warming
- • Static and humid
- • Rising and moist
Answer: Sinking and warming
Descending air warms, holds more moisture and prevents cloud formation.
Weather hazards and climate change
6. Minimum sea-surface temperature needed for tropical storm formation is about:
- • 16°C
- • 21°C
- • 27°C
- • 35°C
Answer: 27°C
Warm water supplies the latent heat that powers the storm.
The changing economic world
7. Which measure combines income, education and life expectancy?
- • GNI
- • HDI
- • Birth rate
- • Infant mortality
Answer: HDI
HDI is a composite index scored 0 to 1.
The changing economic world
8. Explain one limitation of using GNI per head to measure development.
Answer: It is an average that hides inequality between rich and poor within a country
Averages conceal distribution.
Urban issues and challenges
9. Urbanisation means:
- • Cities getting physically bigger only
- • A rising proportion of people living in urban areas
- • Falling city populations
- • Rural population growth
Answer: A rising proportion of people living in urban areas
It is about share of population, not just area.
Urban issues and challenges
10. Which is a pull factor for rural-urban migration?
- • Crop failure
- • Better paid jobs in the city
- • Rural drought
- • Lack of rural healthcare
Answer: Better paid jobs in the city
Pull factors attract people to the destination.
Where Paper 1 marks are usually lost
- Writing general answers without a named case study and specific facts or figures.
- Describing a landform without explaining the processes that formed it.
- Forgetting to quote data with units when describing a map, graph or table.
- Making a judgement in 'assess' or 'evaluate' questions without weighing up both sides.
- Losing spelling, punctuation and grammar marks on the longest answers.
How to pick up the extended-answer marks
- Underline the command word and the focus of the question before writing — most dropped marks come from answering a different question.
- Plan for one or two minutes: three or four points, each backed by evidence and explained.
- Keep linking back to the question in every paragraph, not just the conclusion.
- For 'evaluate' or 'how far do you agree' questions, weigh both sides and finish with a clear judgement.
Timing that works under pressure
- Check the marks per question and give each one time in proportion, keeping spare minutes for checking at the end.
- Bank the short questions first, then return to the longer answers with your remaining time.
- If a question stalls for more than two minutes, write down what you know and move on — partial marks still count.
- Leave five minutes to check spelling of key terms, units and whether any question part was skipped over a page break.
Practise the whole paper in the app
These Paper 1 topics have 360 questions in total, plus flashcards, cram mode and Grade 9 Push challenges.
Revise each Paper 1 topic
- Edexcel B papers and decision making (72 questions)
- Tectonic hazards (72 questions)
- Weather hazards and climate change (72 questions)
- The changing economic world (72 questions)
- Urban issues and challenges (72 questions)
Edexcel Geography Paper 1 FAQs
- What topics are on Edexcel GCSE Geography Paper 1?
- Paper 1 assesses hazardous earth, development dynamics and challenges of an urbanising world.
- How long is Edexcel GCSE Geography Paper 1?
- It is a 1 hour 30 minutes written exam worth 94 marks including spelling, punctuation and grammar, which is 37.5% of the GCSE. Check your board's latest specification for any changes.
- How should I revise for Geography Paper 1?
- Practise answering questions rather than rereading notes. Short daily sets of five questions per topic, marked straight away, expose weak areas faster than a long passive revision session.
ReviseRush is an independent educational revision aid. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Pearson or any exam board. All notes and questions are original. Always check content against your official course and specification. No grade outcome is guaranteed.