What is Unit 3 in WJEC GCSE Geography?

Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry, is a 1-hour 30-minute written exam worth 30 percent of the GCSE. Students carry out two contrasting fieldwork investigations, one physical and one human, and the exam tests their understanding of the whole enquiry process and their geographical skills, with questions on their own fieldwork and on unfamiliar data and resources.

What are the stages of a geographical enquiry?

There are six stages: asking a geographical question and forming a hypothesis and choosing a location; collecting primary and secondary data using a sampling method; presenting the data with suitable graphs, maps and tables; analysing and interpreting the data, including patterns and anomalies; reaching a conclusion that answers the question using the evidence; and evaluating the reliability, limitations and possible improvements of the enquiry.

What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Primary data is information collected by the student in the field, such as measurements, counts, questionnaires, field sketches and photographs. Secondary data is information from other sources, such as OS maps, census data, weather records and websites. A good enquiry usually uses both, gathered with a sensible sampling method (random, systematic or stratified).

How should fieldwork data be presented?

Data should be presented with the technique that suits it: line and bar graphs, pie charts, located bar charts, flow lines and maps. The aim is to make patterns clear so they can be analysed. Analysis then describes trends, patterns and anomalies using figures and simple statistics such as averages and range, leading to a conclusion that answers the question.

What geographical skills does Unit 3 test?

Unit 3 tests geographical and cartographic skills used throughout the course: reading OS maps, giving four-figure and six-figure grid references, using scale, distance and direction (compass and bearings), reading and drawing graphs, using statistics, and interpreting photographs, sketches, GIS and unfamiliar data. These skills must be applied to new situations in the exam.

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Fieldwork Enquiry (Unit 3): a complete overview for WJEC GCSE Geography

A complete overview of Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry, for WJEC GCSE Geography: the two contrasting investigations, the six stages of the enquiry process from question to evaluation, primary and secondary data and sampling, data presentation and analysis, and the geographical and cartographic skills the written exam rewards.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.813 min read3110-unit-3Updated 2026-06-15

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What this covers
The two investigations
The six stages of the enquiry
Data, presentation and skills
Check your knowledge

What this covers

Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry, is a 1-hour 30-minute written exam worth 30 percent of the GCSE. This overview explains the two contrasting investigations, the six stages of the enquiry process, data and sampling, presentation and analysis, and the geographical and cartographic skills the exam rewards. Unit 3 is examined by a written paper with questions on your own fieldwork and on unfamiliar data.

The two investigations

Students carry out two contrasting fieldwork investigations: one physical (such as how a river changes downstream, or coastal processes) and one human (such as a study of an urban area, traffic, shopping or tourism). The exam then tests understanding of the process and the skills, rather than a written-up coursework report.

The six stages of the enquiry

Question and hypothesis. Ask a clear geographical question, form a hypothesis, choose a location.
Data collection. Primary (your own) and secondary (other sources) data, using a sampling method.
Presentation. Suitable graphs, maps and tables.
Analysis. Patterns, anomalies and figures.
Conclusion. Answer the question using the evidence.
Evaluation. Reliability, limitations and improvements.

Data, presentation and skills

Primary data is collected in the field (measurements, counts, questionnaires, sketches, photographs); secondary data comes from maps, census data and websites; sampling (random, systematic, stratified) keeps it fair. Data is presented with the right technique (graphs, located bar charts, flow lines, maps), analysed for trends and anomalies, and turned into a conclusion and honest evaluation. Throughout, Unit 3 rewards geographical and cartographic skills: OS maps, grid references, scale and direction, graphs, statistics, photographs and GIS, applied to new situations.

Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry, is a 1-hour 30-minute written exam worth 30 percent of the WJEC GCSE. Students carry out two contrasting fieldwork investigations, one physical (such as a river or coast study) and one human (such as an urban, traffic or shopping study), and the exam tests their understanding of the enquiry process and their geographical skills, including questions on unfamiliar data. The enquiry has six stages: ask a question and form a hypothesis and choose a location; collect primary data (your own, in the field) and secondary data (from other sources) using a sampling method (random, systematic or stratified); present the data with suitable graphs, maps and tables; analyse it for patterns and anomalies using figures; reach a conclusion that answers the question using the evidence; and evaluate the reliability, limitations and improvements. Throughout, the exam rewards geographical and cartographic skills: OS maps, grid references, scale and direction, graphs, statistics, and interpreting photographs, sketches and GIS, applied to new situations.

Check your knowledge

How is Unit 3 assessed? (2 marks)
Name the six stages of the enquiry process. (6 marks)
What is the difference between primary and secondary data? (2 marks)
Name three sampling methods. (3 marks)
Give two ways to present fieldwork data. (2 marks)
What should a conclusion do? (2 marks)
Give two limitations that an evaluation might mention. (2 marks)
Name three geographical or cartographic skills the exam tests. (3 marks)

Sources & how we know this

WJEC GCSE Geography (Wales) specification (3110) — WJEC (2019)