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AQA GCSE Geography

Geographical skills: maps, graphs and data — AQA GCSE Geography revision

Free revision notes, key terms, common exam traps and 5 practice questions with answers. About 7 minutes to read.

Map skills

  • Four-figure grid references locate a whole square (easting then northing); six-figure references divide each square into tenths for a precise point. Always read along the corridor before up the stairs.
  • Scale: 1:25 000 means 4 cm on the map is 1 km on the ground; 1:50 000 means 2 cm is 1 km. Measure curved distances with string or the edge of paper.
  • Contours show height: close together means steep, widely spaced means gentle. Concentric rings with increasing values show a hill; V-shaped contours pointing upstream indicate a valley.

Graph and data skills

  • Choose the right graph: line for continuous change over time, bar for comparing categories, pie for proportions, scatter for relationships, choropleth for spatial density, and proportional symbols for magnitude at locations.
  • Describe patterns using TEA: trend, evidence (quote figures with units), anomaly. Always quote data when describing.
  • Scatter graphs show positive, negative or no correlation; a line of best fit summarises the trend but correlation is not proof of causation.

Key terms

Easting
Grid line number read across the map (west to east).
Northing
Grid line number read up the map (south to north).
Contour
A line joining points of equal height.
Choropleth map
A map using shading to show values by area.
Isoline
A line joining points of equal value, e.g. rainfall.
Correlation
A relationship between two variables shown on a scatter graph.

Common exam traps

  • Giving grid references northing first — always eastings before northings.
  • Describing a graph without quoting any figures or units.
  • Using a pie chart for change over time instead of a line graph.

Practice questions with answers

  1. 1. In a grid reference, which is read first?

    • • Northing
    • • Easting
    • • Altitude
    • • Bearing

    Answer: Easting

    Read along the corridor (easting) then up the stairs (northing).

  2. 2. On a 1:50 000 map, 2 cm represents:

    • • 500 m
    • • 1 km
    • • 2 km
    • • 5 km

    Answer: 1 km

    1 cm = 500 m, so 2 cm = 1 km.

  3. 3. What do closely spaced contour lines show?

    Answer: A steep slope

    Height changes over a short horizontal distance.

  4. 4. Which graph best shows the proportion of energy from different sources?

    • • Line graph
    • • Pie chart
    • • Scatter graph
    • • Hydrograph

    Answer: Pie chart

    Pie charts display parts of a whole.

  5. 5. A scatter graph where one variable rises as the other falls shows:

    • • Positive correlation
    • • Negative correlation
    • • No correlation
    • • Perfect causation

    Answer: Negative correlation

    The line of best fit slopes downwards.

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