AQAGCSE54 resources

AQA GCSE Geography Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA GCSE Geography (8035) past papers and mark schemes. Physical, human & geographical applications. 54 resources from 2018 to 2024.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄54 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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Year

54 of 54 resources

June 2023

16 files

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert: OS map extract legend: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert: OS map extract legend: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2023

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June 2022

16 files

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert: OS map extract legend: Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Living with the physical environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 3 Geographical applications – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – June 2022

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – June 2022

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November 2021

13 files

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 3 Geographical applications – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2021

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

Question Paper

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert: OS map extract legend: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): OS map extract legend: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert: OS map extract legend: Living with the physical environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2021

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): OS map extract legend: Living with the physical environment – November 2021

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November 2020

9 files

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GCSE Geography – Question paper: Paper 3 Geographical applications – November 2020

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GCSE Geography – Insert: Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2020

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GCSE Geography – Mark scheme: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 3 Geographical applications – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Geography – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment – November 2020

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GCSE Geography – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Paper 1 Living with the physical environment – November 2020

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About AQA GCSE Geography

AQA GCSE Geography (specification code 8035) is assessed through three written papers with no coursework — although fieldwork underpins the content of Paper 3. The full qualification is worth 120 marks across three papers. Paper 1, 'Living with the physical environment', lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 88 marks. It covers three physical geography topics: The Challenge of Natural Hazards (tectonic hazards, weather hazards, climate change), The Living World (ecosystems, tropical rainforests, hot deserts, and optionally cold environments), and Physical Landscapes in the UK (coastal landscapes and river landscapes, or glacial landscapes). An OS map extract is included with Paper 1 for the landscape question, requiring students to use map skills to identify physical features. Paper 2, 'Challenges in the human environment', lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 88 marks. It covers Urban Issues and Challenges (urban growth, case studies of cities in contrasting levels of development), The Changing Economic World (global development gap, the UK's changing economy), and The Challenge of Resource Management (resource management overview, plus a detailed study of one resource: food, water, or energy). Paper 3, 'Geographical applications', lasts 1 hour and is worth 76 marks. It has three sections: Issue Evaluation (a pre-released 'resource booklet' that students study before the exam), Fieldwork (questions about both enquiries students carried out), and an 8-mark extended writing task. The pre-release resource booklet is provided approximately 12 weeks before the exam — students who study it thoroughly are at a significant advantage on Paper 3.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1No calculator

Living with the Physical Environment

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 88 marks📊 35% of grade

Natural hazards (tectonics and weather)The living world (biomes, tropical rainforests, hot deserts)Physical landscapes in the UK (rivers or coasts)

Paper 2No calculator

Challenges in the Human Environment

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 88 marks📊 35% of grade

Urban issues and challengesThe changing economic worldThe challenge of resource management

Paper 3Calculator ✓

Geographical Applications and Skills

⏱ 1 hour 15 minutes🎯 76 marks📊 30% of grade

Issue evaluation (pre-release resource booklet)Fieldwork questionsGeographical skills (maps, graphs, data)

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Specification Code	8035
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	3 written exams (fieldwork required but assessed through written papers, not coursework)
Number Of Papers	3
Exam Duration	Papers 1 & 2: 1 hr 30 min. Paper 3: 1 hr
Total Marks	120 marks across 3 papers
Calculator Status	Calculators permitted where applicable
Available Sessions	June 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources	54

Key Topics in Geography

Topics you need to know

Natural hazards (tectonics, weather and climate change)Living world (biomes, tropical rainforests, hot deserts)UK river and coastal landscapesUrban issues in LICs and HICsThe changing economic world (NEE case study)Resource management (food, water, energy)Fieldwork and geographical skills

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Describe	State what you observe from a map, graph or photo, with specific detail and figures
Explain	Give reasons for a geographical pattern, process or event
Suggest	Offer a possible reason using geographical knowledge
Assess	Weigh up evidence and make a reasoned judgement about effectiveness or importance
Evaluate	Make a judgement about the success of a strategy, considering evidence for and against
Using Figure X	You must refer to and quote from the resource provided — unaided answers score less
Compare	Identify similarities and differences between two places or geographical processes

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	77–87%
Grade 8	66–76%
Grade 7	55–65%
Grade 6	46–54%
Grade 5	37–45%
Grade 4	28–36%
Grade 3	19–27%
Grade 2	10–18%
Grade 1	1–9%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across three papers (252 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

How to Use AQA GCSE Geography Past Papers Effectively

AQA GCSE Geography requires you to use real-world case studies and examples in almost every extended answer. The mark scheme always distinguishes between answers that include specific named places and data, and those that stay general. When practising past papers, check whether your answers include specific place names, data points (e.g. population figures, GDP per capita), and developed explanations of processes. Map skills are tested on Paper 1, and students who haven't practised OS map reading often lose easy marks. Before your exam, practise: reading grid references (4-figure and 6-figure), calculating distances using the scale, identifying physical features (spurs, valleys, contour patterns), and describing relief. These are mechanical skills that improve rapidly with practice. For Paper 3, the pre-release resource booklet is essential preparation. Once it's released, annotate it thoroughly: identify the key themes, facts, and viewpoints in each source. The issue evaluation question asks you to make a justified decision — practise structuring responses that discuss multiple viewpoints before coming to a reasoned conclusion. Fieldwork questions are predictable in structure even though the specific fieldwork is unique to your school. Every year the mark scheme awards marks for: naming the location of your fieldwork, stating the aim of the enquiry, describing a method and explaining why you chose it, and evaluating whether the results were reliable.