GCSE GEOGRAPHY A (9–1): THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT PRACTICE EXAMINATION
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ What is an igneous rock?.
Answer: An igneous rock is formed from the solidification of molten
material called magma or lava. An example is basalt.
◍ What is one characteristic of igneous rocks?.
Answer: Igneous rocks typically have a crystalline texture due to the cooling
and solidification of magma.
◍ What is mass movement?.
Answer: Mass movement refers to the movement of soil and rock down a
slope due to gravity, such as landslides or rockfalls.
◍ What factors can change rates of coastal erosion?.
Answer: Rates of coastal erosion can change due to factors such as weather
conditions, human activities, and geological composition.
◍ What is the total mark for the Geography paper?.
Answer: The total mark for the Geography paper is 94.
◍ What must you use to answer the examination questions?.
Answer: You must use black ink or a ball-point pen and fill in the required
boxes with your name, centre number, and candidate number.
◍ What is the format for answering questions in Section A?.
Answer: In Section A, you must answer Question 1 and two questions from
Questions 2, 3, and 4.
,◍ What should you do if you change your mind about an answer?.
Answer: If you change your mind about an answer, put a line through the
box and then mark your new answer with a cross.
◍ environment.
Answer: the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant
lives or operates.
◍ What is the purpose of the Resource Booklet?.
Answer: The Resource Booklet contains figures and information that are
necessary for answering certain questions in the examination.
◍ Physical Geography.
Answer: the study of physical features of the earth's surface
◍ What is the recommended strategy for answering questions?.
Answer: Read each question carefully before answering and check your
answers if you have time at the end.
◍ What is the significance of the marks shown in brackets?.
Answer: The marks shown in brackets indicate how much time to spend on
each question.
◍ What is required in your answers for marks on spelling, punctuation, and
grammar?.
Answer: Marks are available for spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and
these must be clearly indicated in your answers.
◍ What is the structure of the Geography A examination?.
Answer: The Geography A examination consists of Paper 1: The Physical
Environment, with specific sections and questions to answer.
◍ Political Map.
Answer: A map that shows man-made features such as boundaries,
countries, and cities.
◍ What is the date and time of the examination?.
Answer: The examination is scheduled for Monday, 22 May 2023, in the
, afternoon for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
◍ Geographic Region.
Answer: large area of land with a common set of features
◍ What is the paper reference for the Geography examination?.
Answer: The paper reference for the Geography examination is 1GA0/01.
◍ Culture Region.
Answer: An area in which people have many shared culture traits
◍ What is the significance of grid square 7084?.
Answer: Grid square 7084 is used to identify the type of woodland in the
examination's Resource Booklet.
◍ adapt.
Answer: to adjust or change to suit conditions
◍ What is the importance of showing all working out?.
Answer: You must show all your working out with your answer clearly
identified at the end of your solution to receive full marks.
◍ What is the role of physical processes in coastal landscapes?.
Answer: Physical processes such as erosion, deposition, and sediment
transport play a crucial role in shaping coastal landscapes.
◍ What should you do if you need more space for your answer?.
Answer: You can use the additional space provided in the examination paper
for your answers.
◍ What is the significance of the settlement at grid reference 723828?.
Answer: The settlement at grid reference 723828 is a specific location that
may be referenced in the examination questions.
◍ What is the purpose of the examination instructions?.
Answer: The examination instructions provide guidance on how to complete
the paper and what materials are needed.
◍ What is the maximum number of questions to answer in Section B and C?.
ENVIRONMENT PRACTICE EXAMINATION
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ What is an igneous rock?.
Answer: An igneous rock is formed from the solidification of molten
material called magma or lava. An example is basalt.
◍ What is one characteristic of igneous rocks?.
Answer: Igneous rocks typically have a crystalline texture due to the cooling
and solidification of magma.
◍ What is mass movement?.
Answer: Mass movement refers to the movement of soil and rock down a
slope due to gravity, such as landslides or rockfalls.
◍ What factors can change rates of coastal erosion?.
Answer: Rates of coastal erosion can change due to factors such as weather
conditions, human activities, and geological composition.
◍ What is the total mark for the Geography paper?.
Answer: The total mark for the Geography paper is 94.
◍ What must you use to answer the examination questions?.
Answer: You must use black ink or a ball-point pen and fill in the required
boxes with your name, centre number, and candidate number.
◍ What is the format for answering questions in Section A?.
Answer: In Section A, you must answer Question 1 and two questions from
Questions 2, 3, and 4.
,◍ What should you do if you change your mind about an answer?.
Answer: If you change your mind about an answer, put a line through the
box and then mark your new answer with a cross.
◍ environment.
Answer: the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant
lives or operates.
◍ What is the purpose of the Resource Booklet?.
Answer: The Resource Booklet contains figures and information that are
necessary for answering certain questions in the examination.
◍ Physical Geography.
Answer: the study of physical features of the earth's surface
◍ What is the recommended strategy for answering questions?.
Answer: Read each question carefully before answering and check your
answers if you have time at the end.
◍ What is the significance of the marks shown in brackets?.
Answer: The marks shown in brackets indicate how much time to spend on
each question.
◍ What is required in your answers for marks on spelling, punctuation, and
grammar?.
Answer: Marks are available for spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and
these must be clearly indicated in your answers.
◍ What is the structure of the Geography A examination?.
Answer: The Geography A examination consists of Paper 1: The Physical
Environment, with specific sections and questions to answer.
◍ Political Map.
Answer: A map that shows man-made features such as boundaries,
countries, and cities.
◍ What is the date and time of the examination?.
Answer: The examination is scheduled for Monday, 22 May 2023, in the
, afternoon for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
◍ Geographic Region.
Answer: large area of land with a common set of features
◍ What is the paper reference for the Geography examination?.
Answer: The paper reference for the Geography examination is 1GA0/01.
◍ Culture Region.
Answer: An area in which people have many shared culture traits
◍ What is the significance of grid square 7084?.
Answer: Grid square 7084 is used to identify the type of woodland in the
examination's Resource Booklet.
◍ adapt.
Answer: to adjust or change to suit conditions
◍ What is the importance of showing all working out?.
Answer: You must show all your working out with your answer clearly
identified at the end of your solution to receive full marks.
◍ What is the role of physical processes in coastal landscapes?.
Answer: Physical processes such as erosion, deposition, and sediment
transport play a crucial role in shaping coastal landscapes.
◍ What should you do if you need more space for your answer?.
Answer: You can use the additional space provided in the examination paper
for your answers.
◍ What is the significance of the settlement at grid reference 723828?.
Answer: The settlement at grid reference 723828 is a specific location that
may be referenced in the examination questions.
◍ What is the purpose of the examination instructions?.
Answer: The examination instructions provide guidance on how to complete
the paper and what materials are needed.
◍ What is the maximum number of questions to answer in Section B and C?.
