IGCSE and GCSE Geography Skills (Paper 2)

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IGCSE and GCSE Geography Skills (Paper 2)

Paper 2 is a one and half hour skills paper. Although the paper is largely skill based students do need to
know some basic knowledge. This knowledge is covered on all the topic pages, so this page only covers
the required skills. The most important skills are map skills because these account for 20 out of the
available 60 marks on the paper. On paper 2 the map question is always question number 1. The
question will always ask questions about a separate map extract (normally of the Caribbean or
Zimbabwe). With the skills exam it is necessary to take certain equipment in with you. Recommended
equipment includes:

● A pen (blue or black)

● A pencil (and a sharpener and eraser)
● A ruler
● A protractor
● A pair of compasses
● A calculator
● A piece of string

Map Skills
Below is a summary of the most common map skills that you need to know in your paper 2 skills exam.

Grid References

Specification: Candidates should be able to use a co-ordinate reference system and be able to give and
to read four figure and six figure grid references to locate places.
Grid references are used to locate places on a map. Four figure grid references are good for locating large
places like a town, a golf course, a farm or a geographical feature like a headland. However, because a four
figure grid reference covers a large area (normally 1km2), they are not very good for locating specific places
like a church or a post office. When it is necessary to locate somewhere specific then a six figure grid
reference is much better because it only covers an area of 100m2.

When the using grid references there are a few key rules to remember:

The x axis (horizontal) always come first, followed by the y axis (vertical).
The number on the x axis always refers to the square to the right.
The number on the y axis always refers to the square above.

Examples

The four figure grid references for the three letters to the right are:

A = 23,47
B = 21,45
C = 24,46

When calculating the six figure grid reference you need to remember the same rules as above, but also the grid
reference for the big square become before the grid reference for the small square. You also need to visualise
the big square divided into 100 smaller squares, because these are never drawn on a map and you won't have
time to draw them in an exam. The six figure grid references for the three letters to the right are:

A = 233,477 e.g. 23 (big square on x axis) 3 (small square on x axis), 47 (big square on y axis) 7 (small square
on y axis)
B = 216,458
C = 249, 463 (please note the grid reference on diagram is incorrect)

Direction

Specification: Candidates should be able to give directions, both as a point of the compass, such as
north, north-east, etc. and as a bearing from grid north of one place from another. It is, therefore,
important that candidates have protractors in the examination room with them.
This is probably the simplest skill of all the map skills. All
you really have to remember is the eight major compass
points i.e. N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW. It can be useful
to have a rhyme or saying to remember the order of your
compass points e.g. Never, Ever, Support, Wales. It can be
useful to actually draw the compass points onto your map
(the north arrow should be already drawn for you). The
north arrow should always be pointing up the map, because
this should be the direction of the top of your map.

You may have to use compass points to give a bearing

between two places. A bearing is the direction one object is
from another. In an exam you may get one of the following
types of questions:

If you travel on a NE bearing for 2km from location A,

where do you reach, or
What is the bearing between location A and location B.

Whatever the question is, it is generally acceptable to give

your answer as an acronym e.g. South-west can be written
as SW.
Distance and Scale

Distance Specification: Candidates should be able to measure horizontal distances. This is most
accurately done by using a straight edged piece of paper and the scale line. If the line to be measured is
curved, divide the curve into straight sections and rotate the paper after each straight section to follow the
next straight section. Finally place the completed straight edged piece of paper along the linear scale line
on the map extract and read off the distance in kilometres/metres. This method avoids complicated
mathematical calculations which can arise when rulers are used.
Scale Specification: Candidates should be able to translate the scale of a feature by describing its size
and shape in real terms.
You will often be asked to calculate distances on a map. If the distance is a straight line, then it will be
possible to do this with a ruler. If it is not then a piece of string or a scrap piece of paper is easiest to use. On
how to use a scrap piece of paper read the instructions above in the specification. Using a piece of string is
even easier because you can lay it along the object you are measuring e.g. a river or road and then straighten it
out once you have finished to measure the distance on a ruler.

Measuring the distance on a map is only the first stage. You then have to convert the map distance, to the
distance in reality. To do this, you will need to use the scale. Like the key, the scale is normally found at the
bottom of your map. The scale simply tells you what the map distance is in reality. A common scale is 1cm =
1km, but every map is different so always check. Once you have converted the distance make sure that you
use the correct unit in your answer e.g. you may have measured in centimetres, but you may have to give your
answer in metres or kilometres.

Contours and Cross-section

Specification: Contour reading, which enables candidates to calculate differences in height, should be
practised. The information gained from measuring horizontal and vertical distances should enable
candidates to calculate gradients using the formula:

Vertical Interval (difference in height)

Horizontal Equivalent (horizontal distance)

Both measurements must be made in the same units before the calculation can be made. Cross-sections
may be set for interpretation but candidates will not be asked to construct them.
Contour lines are lines on a map that show the elevation (height) of the land. On all modern maps the unit
used to measure elevation is metres and the height of the land is always measured from sea level. Contour
lines normally go up in regular increments e.g. 10 metres or 20 metres. You can use contour lines to
understand the relief (shape) of the land and to recognise different geographical features. For example the
closer the contour lines are, the steeper the slope (gradient) is. Also if you get a series of contour lines
wrapping around in circles and increasing in height, then the feature is a hill (see the map to the right, the
number 398 metres represents the top of a hill). On a map you may also get some spot heights or triangulation
points / trigonometrical points representing the highest piece of land in the area. The 398 metres on the map to
the right is a spot height. Below is the symbol for a triangulation/trigonometrical point which you might see
on a map. When giving heights it is important that you give the correct unit, nearly always metres.

You may also have to calculate the gradient (steepness) of a piece of land. To do this you need to know the
change in vertical height and horizontal distance. The first thing you need to do is make sure that both
distances are in the same unit - this might involve you converting the horizontal distance from kilometres into
metres (kilometres x 1000 = metres e.g. 0.5km X 1000 = 500m). You then divide the change in vertical height
by the change in horizontal distance. If you want your gradient in a percentage you them multiply by 100 e.g.
50/1000 = 0.05 (x100 = 5%).

Map Symbols

Specification: They should also be proficient in using the key to the map to enable them to identify
features on the map.
Being able to use map symbols is probably the easiest skill you a required to use. Map symbols are a simple
diagram aimed to represent something. Map symbols are used because they are simple, clear and regular.
They also take up minimal space on a map and many are easy to remember. Map symbols are used to
 represent virtually anything e.g.

types of buildings
roads
tourist facilities
types of vegetation
sports facilities

It is almost impossible to remember every type of map symbol, so to help you they are all listed in a key
(legend in the US) that is usually underneath the map. Most questions involving map symbols will normally
involve asking you to recognise a type of vegetation or the tourist attractions in a certain area.

e.g

What is the main type of vegetation in grid square 34,67

or
What are the main tourist attractions in the town of Lichfield
Recognising Human and Physical Features

Specification: Practice in describing variations in land-use should be part of the preparation for the
examination. The interpretation of ‘human’ features would also require candidates to recognise and
analyse patterns of settlement (dispersed, nucleated, linear) and candidates should be able to draw
sketch maps illustrating these patterns. Candidates should be able to interpret and describe features of
urban morphology as represented on large-scale maps and be able to describe the functions of and
services provided by settlements. They should also be able to give reasons for the site and growth of
individual settlements. Communication networks should be recognised in terms of their type and density
in relation to physical and human features.

Explanations should be based entirely on map evidence showing the interaction between humans and
their physical environment, e.g. differences in land-use between upland and lowland, differences in
land-use within a town, differences between dense settlement on river plains and sparse settlement on
steep upland slopes.

You will probably also be asked to recognise and interpret human and physical features of a map. Things
that you are commonly asked to do include:

● Recognising settlement patterns e.g. isolated, dispersed, loose knit, nucleated or linear (ribbon).
● Recognising street patterns and residential types e.g. straight roads that would normally indicate terraced
housing and curved roads and cul-de-sacs which would often represent suburban privately owned
detached and semi-detached houses.
● Recognising natural advantages of a settlement e.g. on flat land, near a water source, on the coast, near
farmland, near natural resources, defensive location, etc.
● Recognising human locational factors e.g. good road links, schools, hospitals, jobs, leisure facilities
● Recognising natural features e.g. bays and headlands, river valleys, mountains, mangroves and forests
● Recognising different land uses e.g. agricultural, residential, industrial
● Recognising an areas main functions e.g. tourism, educational, fishing
● Recognising features that may have promoted a particular function e.g. tourism may have been promoted
by natural features like beaches, the sea, mountain scenery, waterfalls ot human features like museums,
historical buildings, water parks, golf course, hotels and restaurants.
● Recognising how humans have altered the natural world e.g. building a dam on a river, building groynes
on a beach or draining wetlands.
 Sketch Maps and Field Sketches

Specification: Field sketches of physical and human landscapes may be used to stimulate geographical
description and annotation. Candidates may be expected to add specified detail on maps
or other material provided, thereby applying geographical knowledge and understanding.

You maybe asked to complete a field sketch or sketch map in an exam. In reality you might draw a field
sketch or a sketch map if:

● No map of your study area exists

● The map of your study area contains too much detail or not enough detail
● The map of your study area is the wrong scale
● You do no have a camera to take a photograph
● You want to remove some detail from the view you are drawing
● You want to labels or annotations to the view you are drawing

When making either a field sketch or sketch map, you should remember the following:

● Your field sketch or sketch map does not have to be a work of art
● Draw in pencil in case you make a mistake
● Draw the main features first. In a map this maybe the roads, rivers, coastline, outlines of settlements, etc.
In a field sketch this might be the horizon, the outline of hills, settlements, areas of vegetation, etc.
● If you use colour or symbols remember to make a key
● Don't be afraid to add labels or short annotations to your diagram.

Field Sketch
Sketch Map

Describing Photographs and Cartoons

Specification: Oblique photographs will be used. Candidates should be able to describe human and
physical landscapes (landforms, natural vegetation, land-use and settlement) and geographical
phenomena from photographs. Simple descriptions only will be required. Cartoons illustrating a
geographical theme may be set for interpretation and analysis.
Cartoons

Geographical cartoons do not

appear in the skills test very often,
but if they do, you may be asked to
comment on what the cartoon is
trying to say or highlight. For
example if the cartoon to the right
appeared, you maybe asked:

What geographical problem does

the cartoon highlight? - obviously
deforestation

You may then be asked some simple

related questions that require some
basic kowledge. For examaple:

Why are rainforests important?

Biodiversity
Photosynthesis
Etc.

Why are rainforests being

deforested?

Mining
Urbanisation
Farming

What problems does deforestation

cause?

Land degradation
Climate change

Tables, Graphs and Basic Comprehension

Specification: Candidates will be expected to be able to extract specified geographical information from
graphs, diagrams, tables of data and written material. Various types of graphs, maps and diagrams for
example line graphs, bar graphs, divided bar graphs, histograms, flow diagrams, wind rose graphs, isoline
maps, scatter graphs, pie graphs, triangular graphs and radial graphs may be used and candidates may
be asked to describe variations and identify trends in information. Graphs may show, for example,
temperature, birth rate, death rate, energy, rainfall distribution, river discharge, etc.
 Candidates may be required to plot information on graphs when axes and scales are provided.

Data tables may provide information on physical phenomena, on economic activities, on population, on
settlement, on agricultural and manufacturing output, etc. and candidates may be asked to describe and
analyse features and trends from the data provided. They may also be asked to suggest an appropriate
form of graphical representation for the data provided.

Written material may be extracts from books, periodicals and newspapers and candidates will be
expected to show an understanding of the material presented.

Graphs

You will definitely be asked to even draw a graph, complete a half drawn graph or describe a graph.
When drawing a graph remember the following:

● Always use a pencil and a ruler (it looks neater and you can erase it, if you make a mistake).
● Always add a title to your graph
● Make sure that your scale increases in an appropriate and constant rate e.g. 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
● Always add labels to your axis and ad the correct unit e.g. metres, or kilograms
● Remember the non variable data goes on the x axis (horizontal) e.g. time
● The variable data goes on the y axis (vertical)
● Where necessary add a key

The most likely graphs you will be asked to complete are; line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts and divided
bar graphs.
Pie Charts Divided
Bar
Good for showing related data that calculated out of 100%. Usually the largest piece of data comes first. Graphs

Again
good for.
 Even though the four graphs above are the ones you are most likley to see, you also have to be familiar
with other graphs and diagrams including:

● Histograms (like a bar graph, but only show one type of data - for example you might have a histograms
showing how many bothers and sisters people have and the columns maybe 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+.
● Scattergraphs (good for showing the relationship between two pieces of variable data)
● Isoline maps (often used for showing weather data like temperature, wind speed and pressure)
● Triangular graphs (used for showing information where three related pieces of data equal 100% e.g.
primary, secondary and tertiary data or young dependents, old dependents and economically active)
● Radial (kite) graphs (good for showing related data that can all be scored out of the same score e.g.
percentage of IB students who chose Geography, History, Economics, Business and Psychology)
● Wind rose graphs (good for showing wind speed and wind direction)
● Kite diagrams (good for showing transects e.g. how vegetation change from the coast through a sand
dune)
● Flow (system) diagram: Can be used to show things like the positive or negative multiplier effect i.e. on
factor that causes another factor. They can be also used to show more complicated relationships like the
hydrological cycle.

You will almost certainly be asked to describe graphs as well. When describing graphs it is important to
remember the following:

● Look for trends e.g. is there a correlation between two sets of data, is the data increasing or decreasing or
staying constant, is the data fluctuating (going up and down)
● Look for anomalies (are there any pieces of information that do not fit the general trend
● Maybe mention the start and finish figure
● Maybe mention the highest and lowest figure
● Remember to always uses figures (evidence) to support your description
● Try to avoid writing a list of figures, this boring and is not properly describing the trends.

Tables

You will often see tables in the skills exam. You maybe asked to do a number of things with information in
a table including:

● Using the information to create a graph

● Filling in missing information (you may have to extract information from a graph, map or diagram)
● Making basic calculations e.g. converting percentage into degrees in order to make a pie chart
● Describing trends.

Basic Comprehension

Your skills test may contain basic passages of writing e.g. a newspaper article. You may be asked to read
the information and either answer basic questions about the text or extract some data from it. When
reading it can be useful to use a highlighter in order to mark key words.

Explaining
As well as describing photos, graphs and tables, you may also be asked to briefly explain why things as
well. Basic explanations may include questions like:

● Explain how the landform in photograph A was made

● Explain why location A is a good place to build a factory.
● Explain why land is expensive at location B on the map
● Explain how humans have altered the environment in photograph B.

When explaining remember to look at how many marks the questions is worth. It is worth 4 marks, you
will have to give at least four brief reasons or two much more developed reasons.

Decision Making and Data Interpretation

In your exam you maybe asked to make some basic decisions based on the evidence given to you or
interpret ideas from evidence given to you. For example:

● You may have a map with four locations on it you may have to explain the best one to build a settlement
or a factory
● You may have data relating to four countries e.g. death rates, fertility rates and adult literacy and you
have to explain which is the most developed and why.
● You may have data relating to a tourist project and you have to explain its possible impacts (positive and
negative)