How is a geographical enquiry carried out, and how is Unit 3 fieldwork examined?
Unit 3 Fieldwork Enquiry: the stages of the geographical enquiry process (asking questions and forming a hypothesis, collecting primary and secondary data, presenting data, analysing and interpreting it, reaching a conclusion and evaluating the enquiry), applied to one physical and one human investigation, plus the geographical and cartographic skills the exam rewards.
A concise overview of Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry, for WJEC GCSE Geography: the stages of the enquiry process from question to evaluation, applied to one physical and one human investigation, and the geographical and cartographic skills the exam rewards.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point is a concise overview of Unit 3, Fieldwork Enquiry (a 1-hour 30-minute written exam worth 30 percent). You need the stages of the enquiry process, applied to one physical and one human investigation, and the geographical and cartographic skills the exam rewards. Unit 3 is examined by a written paper, including questions on your own fieldwork and on unfamiliar data.
The two investigations
The stages of the enquiry process
Collecting and sampling data
Presenting, analysing and evaluating
Geographical and cartographic skills
Try this
Q1. What is the difference between primary and secondary data? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Primary data is information you collect yourself in the field (measurements, counts, questionnaires, sketches), while secondary data is information from other sources, such as OS maps, census data or websites.
Q2. Explain why an enquiry needs an evaluation stage. [Short explanation]
- Cue. The evaluation judges how reliable the methods and data were and what limitations affected the results (such as a small sample or human error), so it shows how much trust to place in the conclusion and how the enquiry could be improved if repeated.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC Unit 34 marksDescribe a method used to collect primary data in your physical fieldwork.Show worked answer →
A short fieldwork question. Reward a clearly described, suitable method linked to the enquiry.
The method. For a river study, measuring the river's width and depth at set points across the channel using a tape measure and a metre ruler, and timing a float over a set distance to find velocity.
Why suitable. These give numerical (quantitative) data that can be compared between sites to test how the river changes downstream.
Top marks. A specific, appropriate method with enough detail to be repeatable, linked to the aim.
WJEC Unit 38 marksAssess the reliability of the data you collected and the conclusions you reached.Show worked answer →
An evaluation question (levels marking). Reward a balanced evaluation of methods, data and conclusions.
Strengths. A suitable sampling method and repeated measurements made the data more reliable, and the conclusion was supported by the evidence and linked back to the original question.
Limitations. A small sample, human error in measuring, unusual weather on the day, or bias in a questionnaire could reduce reliability; improvements include a larger sample, more sites, and repeating on different days.
Top band. Evaluate the methods, the quality of the data and how far the conclusion is justified, with realistic improvements.
Related dot points
- Key Idea 1.1: the distinctive landscapes of Wales and the UK, what makes a landscape distinctive, the location and characteristics of upland, lowland and glaciated landscapes, and the physical and human factors that shape them, using maps, photographs and OS map skills.
A focused answer on Key Idea 1.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1: what makes a landscape distinctive, the location and features of upland, lowland and glaciated landscapes in Wales and the UK, and the physical and human factors that shape them, with OS map skills.
- Key Idea 1.2 (rivers): the processes that operate in a river landscape (erosion, transportation and deposition), how the long profile and cross profile change downstream, and the formation of distinctive fluvial landforms such as waterfalls, meanders, ox-bow lakes and floodplains.
A focused answer on river landscapes for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1 (Key Idea 1.2): the processes of erosion, transportation and deposition, the changing long and cross profile downstream, and the formation of waterfalls, meanders, ox-bow lakes and floodplains.
- Key Idea 2.1: the urban-rural continuum in Wales and the UK, the links and flows between urban and rural areas, the processes of counter-urbanisation, suburbanisation and the growth of commuter and dormitory settlements, and the impacts on rural communities.
A focused answer on Key Idea 2.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1: the urban-rural continuum in Wales and the UK, the links and flows between urban and rural areas, counter-urbanisation and suburbanisation, commuter settlements, and the impacts on rural communities.
- Key Idea 6.1: measuring global inequalities, what development means, the economic and social indicators used to measure it (GNI per head, the HDI, birth and death rates, literacy and life expectancy), the limitations of single indicators, and the global pattern of development (the development gap and the LIC, NIC, HIC classification).
A focused answer on Key Idea 6.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: what development means, the economic and social indicators used to measure it, the limitations of single indicators, and the global pattern of development including the development gap and the LIC, NIC and HIC classification.
- Key Idea 5.2: weather patterns and processes, the difference between weather and climate, the air masses and low-pressure (depression) and high-pressure (anticyclone) systems that bring UK weather, and the causes, effects and management of weather hazards including UK storms and tropical storms.
A focused answer on Key Idea 5.2 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: weather and climate, the air masses and depressions and anticyclones that shape UK weather, and the causes, effects and management of weather hazards including UK storms and tropical storms.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Geography (Wales) specification (3110) — WJEC (2019)