Section A: Geographical Skills
Overview
Every mark in this section is available to a candidate who has never memorised a case study. Skills questions give you the information: a map extract, a table, a graph, a photograph. What they test is whether you can read it, measure it, calculate from it and say what it shows. That makes them the most reliably winnable marks on the whole qualification, and the most commonly thrown away.
This lesson covers all four skill families the specification names. Cartographic skills: latitude and longitude, four and six figure grid references, scale, distance and direction, gradient and contours, cross sections and transects, and reading photographs alongside maps. Graphical skills: choosing and completing the right chart or map, from a divided bar to a choropleth, an isoline and a flow line. Numerical skills: units, area, proportion, ratio, magnitude and frequency. And statistical skills: mean, median, mode, modal class, range, quartiles and interquartile range, percentage change, lines of best fit, interpolation and extrapolation, and how to spot a statistic that has been chosen to mislead you.
Objectives
- Cartographic skills relating to a variety of maps at different scales.
- Atlas maps: use and understand coordinates - latitude and longitude; recognise and describe distributions and patterns of both human and physical features; identify and describe significant features of the physical and human landscape, for example population distribution, population movements, transport networks, settlement layout, relief and drainage.
- Atlas maps: analyse the inter-relationship between physical and human factors on maps and establish associations between observed patterns on thematic maps.
- Large scale maps: use and interpret maps at a range of scales, including 1:50 000 and 1:25 000 and other maps appropriate to the topic; use and understand coordinates - four and six figure grid references.
- Large scale maps: use and understand scale, distance and direction - measure straight and curved line distances using a variety of scales; use and understand gradient and differences in height by means of contours; give numerical and statistical information.
- Large scale maps: identify basic landscape features and describe their characteristics from map evidence; identify major relief features on maps and relate cross-sectional drawings to relief features; interpret cross sections and transects of physical and human landscapes.
- Large scale maps: draw inferences about the physical and human landscape by interpretation of map evidence, including patterns of relief, drainage, settlement, communication and land-use; infer human activity from map evidence.
- Large scale maps: describe the physical features of coastal landscapes and one of river landscapes or hot desert landscapes as shown on large-scale maps.
- Maps in association with photographs: be able to compare maps; sketch maps - draw, label, understand and interpret; photographs - use and interpret ground, aerial and satellite photographs.
- Maps in association with photographs: describe human and physical landscapes (landforms, natural vegetation, land-use and settlement) and geographical phenomena from photographs; draw sketches from photographs; label and annotate diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches and photographs.
- Graphical skills: select and construct appropriate graphs and charts to present data, using appropriate scales - line charts, bar charts, pie charts, pictograms, histograms with equal class intervals, divided bar, scattergraphs, and population pyramids; suggest an appropriate form of graphical representation for the data provided.
- Graphical skills: complete a variety of graphs and maps - choropleth, isoline, dot maps, desire lines, proportional symbols and flow lines; use and understand gradient, contour and value on isoline maps; plot information on graphs when axes and scales are provided.
- Graphical skills: interpret and extract information from different types of maps, graphs and charts, including population pyramids, choropleth maps, flow-line maps, dispersion graphs.
- Numerical skills: demonstrate an understanding of number, area and scales, and the quantitative relationships between units; understand and correctly use proportion and ratio, magnitude and frequency; draw informed conclusions from numerical data.
- Numerical skills: design fieldwork data collection sheets and collect data with an understanding of accuracy, sample size and procedures, control groups and reliability.
- Statistical skills: use appropriate measures of central tendency, spread and cumulative frequency (median, mean, range, quartiles and inter-quartile range, mode and modal class); calculate percentage increase or decrease and understand the use of percentiles.
- Statistical skills: describe relationships in bivariate data - sketch trend lines through scatter plots, draw estimated lines of best fit, make predictions, interpolate and extrapolate trends; be able to identify weaknesses in selective statistical presentation of data.
- Use of qualitative and quantitative data from both primary and secondary sources to obtain, illustrate, communicate, interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information, including maps, fieldwork data, geo-spatial data presented in a geographical information system (GIS) framework, satellite imagery, written and digital sources, visual and graphical sources, and numerical and statistical information.
- Formulate enquiry and argument: identify questions and sequences of enquiry; write descriptively, analytically and critically; communicate ideas effectively; develop an extended written argument; draw well-evidenced and informed conclusions about geographical questions and issues.
Mind map
This topic is mapped out so you can see how the ideas connect.
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Section A: Geographical Skills. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- On a map with a scale of 1:50 000, what ground distance does 1 centimetre represent? A. 50 metres B. 500 metres C. 5 kilometres D. 50 kilometres Answer: B
- Which one of the following is the most appropriate method to present data given as different percentages of a total? A. Line chart B. Scattergraph C. Divided bar chart D. Dispersion graph Answer: C
- Which one of the following is an example of qualitative data? A. The number of pedestrians counted in ten minutes B. A quotation from an interview with a shopkeeper C. The width of a river channel in metres D. The percentage of households with piped water Answer: B
- In a six figure grid reference, which value is given first? A. The northing B. The easting C. The height above sea level D. The compass bearing Answer: B
- What does the interquartile range measure? A. The difference between the highest and lowest values B. The spread of the middle half of the data C. The most frequently occurring value D. The average of all the values Answer: B
Work through these questions in the app
Work through these questions in the app
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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