WJEC GCSE Geography (Wales): complete guide to the units, themes and fieldwork

WJEC GCSE Geography for Wales (specification 3110) is a linear course assessed by three written units at the end of the course. This page is the index: below is a map of the three units, the core and optional themes, the fieldwork enquiry, the Welsh and UK case studies the exams use, and the data-response skills that run across the whole course. WJEC's Wales specification is distinct from its England-facing Eduqas brand, so always revise from the current 3110 specification and WJEC's own past papers.

The three units

Geography is split into three units, all written exams sat at the end of the course.

• Unit 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes. 35 percent, a 1-hour 30-minute written exam. Two core themes (Landscapes and Physical Processes; Rural-Urban Links) and one optional theme (Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards, or Coastal Hazards and their Management).
• Unit 2: Environmental and Development Issues. 35 percent, a 1-hour 30-minute written exam. Two core themes (Weather, Climate and Ecosystems; Development and Resource Issues) and one optional theme (Social Development Issues, or Environmental Challenges).
• Unit 3: Fieldwork Enquiry. 30 percent, a 1-hour 30-minute written exam, based on two contrasting fieldwork investigations (one physical, one human) and the geographical enquiry process.

Across the course, the assessment rewards knowledge and understanding, the application of geographical skills, and the ability to interpret resources and reach supported judgements.

The themes and the Welsh dimension

You study both core themes in each examined unit, plus one option. The themes covered in depth on this site are below.

Unit 1, Core Theme 1: Landscapes and Physical Processes. Distinctive landscapes of Wales and the UK, river processes and landforms, coastal processes and landforms, and drainage basins, flooding and river management.

Unit 1, Core Theme 2: Rural-Urban Links. The urban-rural continuum and counter-urbanisation, population and retail change and regeneration (Cardiff Bay), and urban issues in contrasting global cities.

Unit 1 options: Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards / Coastal Hazards and their Management. Plate tectonics, boundaries, vulnerability and hazard reduction; or vulnerable coastlines and coastal management.

Unit 2, Core Theme 5: Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Climate change in the Quaternary, weather patterns and processes (UK weather, tropical storms), ecosystem processes and food webs, and the rainforest and sustainable management.

Unit 2, Core Theme 6: Development and Resource Issues

Measuring global inequalities, the causes and consequences of uneven development (LIC and NIC), water resources, and regional economic development.

Unit 2 options: Social Development Issues / Environmental Challenges

Measuring and improving social development; or consumerism, the ecological footprint and managing the environment sustainably.

The Wales specification makes regular use of Welsh and UK case studies (Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, Cardiff Bay, rural Wales), alongside global examples.

The question types that carry the marks

Each unit is examined mainly by data response, so most questions give you a resource to use.

1. Short knowledge and describe. Identify and describe features, often from a map, photograph or graph (point marking).
2. Explain. Developed analysis of causes, processes and effects with specific support (levels marking).
3. Assess and evaluate. Balanced, extended answers reaching a supported judgement (levels marking).
4. Skills questions. Using OS maps, grid references, graphs and statistics, including unfamiliar data in Unit 3.

How to study WJEC Geography

Geography rewards secure knowledge, named case studies and disciplined data-response technique.

1. Learn the processes and patterns. Be able to explain how landforms, weather, ecosystems and development work.
2. Lock in your case studies. Have precise Welsh, UK and global examples ready to support points.
3. Drill the command words. Describe, explain, assess and evaluate are marked very differently, so practise each against the mark scheme.
4. Use the resource. Most marks reward using evidence from the OS map, photograph, graph or table provided.
5. Master the skills. OS maps, grid references, graphs and statistics are tested across every unit, including Unit 3.

The themes, dot point by dot point

Each theme has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /wjec-gcse/geography/syllabus.

For the official specification

WJEC publishes the full specification (3110), past papers and mark schemes at wjec.co.uk. Always revise from the current specification and WJEC's own past papers, because the theme content, the data-response style and the Welsh and UK case studies are board-specific.