What cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical skills do I need across all three papers?
Geographical skills: cartographic skills with OS maps (grid references, scale, distance, direction, relief), graphical skills, and numerical and statistical skills used throughout the qualification.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.3.3 geographical skills, covering cartographic skills with Ordnance Survey maps, grid references, scale and relief, graphical skills, and the numerical and statistical skills tested across all three papers.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
This is AQA GCSE Geography (8035) section 3.3.3 (Geographical skills), and crucially these skills (AO4, around 12.5 percent of the marks) are tested across all three papers, not just Paper 3. AQA expects you to use cartographic skills with Ordnance Survey (OS) maps (grid references, scale, distance, direction and relief), graphical skills (reading and drawing many graph types), and numerical and statistical skills (percentages, averages and measures of spread).
Cartographic skills and OS maps
Always read eastings before northings (along the corridor, then up the stairs). Other key cartographic skills are: measuring distance by laying a piece of paper along a route, marking it and reading it against the linear scale, then converting using the scale (on a 1:50,000 map, 2 cm represents 1 km); giving direction using the eight compass points or bearings; and interpreting relief and gradient from contour lines, spot heights and shading. You may also be asked to identify human and physical features from OS symbols, sketch a cross-section, or compare a map with a photograph or satellite image.
Graphical, numerical and statistical skills
Numerical and statistical skills include working with percentages and percentage change (change divided by the original, times 100), ratios and proportions, reading values from graphs, and the measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) and spread (range and interquartile range, IQR). You may also describe a correlation on a scatter graph (positive, negative or none) and use a line of best fit. The exam allows a calculator, but you must know which method to use and show your working.
Because these skills carry marks in every paper, the best preparation is to practise them on real OS maps, graphs and data tables until the methods are automatic.
Try this
Q1. Explain how to give a six-figure grid reference. [2 marks]
- Cue. Give the easting to a tenth of a square, then the northing to a tenth of a square, reading along then up.
Q2. State which measure of central tendency is the most common value, and which is the middle value. [2 marks]
- Cue. The mode is the most common value; the median is the middle value.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20194 marksA town's population rose from 40,000 in 2001 to 52,000 in 2021. Calculate the percentage increase, and give the four-figure grid reference of the town centre marked on the map. (Paper 1 or 2, skills)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark skills question (AO4) of the type that appears across all three papers. Markers award method as well as the answer.
Percentage increase = change divided by the original, times 100: the change is , so (2 marks). For the grid reference, read the eastings (the numbers along the bottom) first, then the northings (up the side), giving a four-figure reference such as 4127 for the whole grid square (2 marks). Always read "along the corridor, then up the stairs" and show the working for the percentage. A common error is dividing by the new value instead of the original.
AQA 20214 marksUsing the data in the table, calculate the median and the range. Describe what they show about the spread of the data. (Paper 3 or skills)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark numerical/statistical skills question (AO4). Markers reward correct method and a sensible interpretation.
To find the median, put the values in order and select the middle one (or the mean of the middle two if there is an even number of values). To find the range, subtract the smallest value from the largest: . The interpretation should link the figures to spread, for example "a large range shows the data is widely spread, while the median gives a typical middle value unaffected by extreme anomalies". Markers want both the correct figures and a clear statement of what they reveal about the data.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Geography (8035) specification — AQA (2016)