EDEXCEL A LEVEL GEOGRAPHY PAPER 3
COMPREHENSIVE PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉types of plates. Answer: constructive/divergent
destructive/convergent
transform/collision
◉Benioff Zone. Answer: an area of concentrated friction caused by
colliding plates that extends 700km.
◉types of waves. Answer: P waves- the fastest wave, a body wave,
moves in stretches and compressions, it is the least damaging.
S waves-slower than p waves but faster than L waves, it is also a
body wave, moves side to side perpendicular to the direction of
motion.
L waves- slowest waves, it is a surface wave, moves in an elliptical
motion and is the most damaging.
◉earthquake. Answer: a sudden release of stored energy
◉Primary and secondary hazards of volcanoes. Answer: primary:
,pyroclastic flow- is fast flowing lava that can reach up to 700
degrees. Due to its speed it cannot be outrun and will destroy and
kill anything in its path. It is made up of dense poisonous gases and
slid particulates.
lava flow- it can reach up to 1170 degrees, however, is not dangerous
as it is very slow, therefore can be outrun by people.
gas eruptions- releases gases such as carbon dioxide and sulphur
dioxide which can be poisonous to people and animals in extreme
cases.
ash fall- bits of tephra and ash particles can blanket large areas, it
can lead to the collapse of roofs due to their weight and blocks
visibility for aircrafts. Additionally, it can contaminate water
supplies.
secondary:
lahars- volcanic mudflats that flow very quickly. It creates mass
destruction and is hard to escape from due to its speed.
Jokulhlaups- when a volcano erupts from underneath an ice
sheet/cap/glacier, causing the ice to melt and creating a flood of
water and ice.J
◉primary and secondary hazards of earthquakes. Answer: primary:
, ground shaking- it is a direct result of an earthquake, it can be
dangerous as can lead to the collapse of buildings and infrastructure,
the uprooting of trees, which can injure or kill people.
crustal fracturing- is when the Earth's crust cracks due to the
sudden release of energy during an earthquake.
Secondary:
landslides- groundshaking can make slopes unstable and puts stress
on them leading to the collapse of materials.eg.2008 sichuan
china,where 30% of deaths were caused by landslides.
liquefaction- when intense groundshaking causes rocks to loose
strength and become liquid like, damaging infrastructure and
making rescue efforts harder.
tsunamis- underwater earthquakes that disrupt the water column
and create larger than normal waves, which causes flooding.
fires-earthquakes disrupt gas and power lines creating fires.
◉Tsunami. Answer: is a set of larger than normal waves that are
created when an earthquake disrupts the water column. The water
column is the area between the surface of the sea and the sea floor.
COMPREHENSIVE PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉types of plates. Answer: constructive/divergent
destructive/convergent
transform/collision
◉Benioff Zone. Answer: an area of concentrated friction caused by
colliding plates that extends 700km.
◉types of waves. Answer: P waves- the fastest wave, a body wave,
moves in stretches and compressions, it is the least damaging.
S waves-slower than p waves but faster than L waves, it is also a
body wave, moves side to side perpendicular to the direction of
motion.
L waves- slowest waves, it is a surface wave, moves in an elliptical
motion and is the most damaging.
◉earthquake. Answer: a sudden release of stored energy
◉Primary and secondary hazards of volcanoes. Answer: primary:
,pyroclastic flow- is fast flowing lava that can reach up to 700
degrees. Due to its speed it cannot be outrun and will destroy and
kill anything in its path. It is made up of dense poisonous gases and
slid particulates.
lava flow- it can reach up to 1170 degrees, however, is not dangerous
as it is very slow, therefore can be outrun by people.
gas eruptions- releases gases such as carbon dioxide and sulphur
dioxide which can be poisonous to people and animals in extreme
cases.
ash fall- bits of tephra and ash particles can blanket large areas, it
can lead to the collapse of roofs due to their weight and blocks
visibility for aircrafts. Additionally, it can contaminate water
supplies.
secondary:
lahars- volcanic mudflats that flow very quickly. It creates mass
destruction and is hard to escape from due to its speed.
Jokulhlaups- when a volcano erupts from underneath an ice
sheet/cap/glacier, causing the ice to melt and creating a flood of
water and ice.J
◉primary and secondary hazards of earthquakes. Answer: primary:
, ground shaking- it is a direct result of an earthquake, it can be
dangerous as can lead to the collapse of buildings and infrastructure,
the uprooting of trees, which can injure or kill people.
crustal fracturing- is when the Earth's crust cracks due to the
sudden release of energy during an earthquake.
Secondary:
landslides- groundshaking can make slopes unstable and puts stress
on them leading to the collapse of materials.eg.2008 sichuan
china,where 30% of deaths were caused by landslides.
liquefaction- when intense groundshaking causes rocks to loose
strength and become liquid like, damaging infrastructure and
making rescue efforts harder.
tsunamis- underwater earthquakes that disrupt the water column
and create larger than normal waves, which causes flooding.
fires-earthquakes disrupt gas and power lines creating fires.
◉Tsunami. Answer: is a set of larger than normal waves that are
created when an earthquake disrupts the water column. The water
column is the area between the surface of the sea and the sea floor.
