GCSE Geography
Geography asks learners to read and judge sources for bias, plan and evaluate a fieldwork enquiry, and write extended answers that reach a justified decision, all using precise geographical terms. Its numeracy is broad and applied: map scale, grid references and contours, sampling, averages and spread, percentage change, and drawing and interpreting graphs, all set out in Appendix B and used in every unit. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is the habit of turning real local data into a correct graph and then a written conclusion that quotes the figures.
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
- Unit 1: Our Physical and Human World: Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 30%
- Unit 2: Developing Fieldwork Skills: Non-examination assessment 7 hours (not including the fieldwork), 25%, set and marked by WJEC
- Unit 3: Our Dynamic and Diverse World: Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 30%
- Unit 4: Sustainable Solutions: Non-examination assessment 6 hours (3 hours research, 3 hours tasks), 15%, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
Skills that use Representing data
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Drawing graphs, charts and maps
Learners select and construct bar and line charts, climate graphs, hydrographs, pie charts, dispersion graphs and scatter graphs with suitable scales, and judge the strengths and weaknesses of each presentation method.
Numeracy: Representing data, Conceptual understanding
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils draw a climate graph for Cardiff by hand, with rainfall as bars and temperature as a line on two labelled axes.
- Year 8
- Pupils present a class travel survey as a pie chart and as a bar chart and write one sentence on which shows the data more clearly.
- Year 9
- Pupils plot a scatter graph of income per person against life expectancy for 15 countries, draw a line of best fit and choose sensible scales for both axes.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Appendix B, 4.1, page 46; Unit 2, Section 2.3.2, page 21
“Select and construct appropriate graphs and charts to present data, using appropriate scales.”
Progression step 3
I can select and construct appropriate charts, diagrams and graphs with suitable scales.
I can represent data using:
- lists, tally charts, tables, diagrams and frequency tables
- bar charts, grouped data charts, line graphs and conversion graphs
- pictograms where one symbol represents more than one unit using a key
- Venn and Carroll diagrams.
Progression step 4
I can select and construct appropriate charts, diagrams and graphs with suitable scales.
I can construct and interpret graphs and diagrams (including pie charts) to represent discrete or continuous data, choosing an appropriate scale.
I can construct graphs to represent data including scatter diagrams to investigate correlation.
Progression step 5
I can select and construct appropriate charts, diagrams and graphs with suitable scales.
I can represent a concept in different ways, flowing between different representations including verbal, concrete, visual, digital and abstract.
Good to know
- No marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar are mentioned anywhere in the specification. All marks sit under AO1 to AO4 (Section 3.1, page 36), and AO3 "Analyse, evaluate, or make judgements from a variety of sources" is worth 25% overall.
- Calculator use is not stated in the specification. Section 3 says "The Assessment Pack will include all detailed information relating to assessment" (page 36), so check the Assessment Pack for Unit 1 and Unit 3.
- Both NEA units "must be submitted digitally (they may be handwritten and scanned, or completed digitally)" (Section 3.2, pages 37 and 38), so extended writing may be handwritten.
- Unit 4 research notes are limited to "a maximum of two sides of A4 notes to be used during the assessment" (page 37).
- Unit 2 is 7 hours for 90 marks and needs one day of fieldwork "outside the classroom and school grounds" (page 37).
- Each unit says the depth of mathematical and statistical skills "is given in Appendix B on pages 44-45" (pages 10, 18, 24 and 33), but Appendix B is printed on pages 45 and 46.
Links with other GCSEs
Averages, percentage change and scatter graphs overlap with Mathematics and Numeracy, and judging sources for bias overlaps with History.
Source: WJEC GCSE Geography specification, Teaching from 2025, For award from 2027, Version 6, September 2026.