A Level Geography Exam Question – Use this to self assess your progress and target your revision
Physical Systems: Coastal Landscapes
Unit content: RAG the following throughout, or at the end of the unit. Exam Questions
1. How can coastal landscapes be viewed as systems?
a. Coastal landscapes can be viewed as systems
The components of coastal landscape systems, including inputs, processes and outputs
The flows of energy and material through coastal systems.
Sediment cells
b. Coastal landscape systems are influenced by a range of physical factors. The influence of:
Winds, including speed, direction and frequency
Waves, including wave formation, development and breaking
1c: Distinguish between offshore and terrestrial sources of
Tides, including tidal cycles and range coastal sediment (3 marks)
Geology, including lithology and structure
Global pattern of ocean currents.
c. Coastal sediment is supplied from a variety of sources
Terrestrial, including fluvial deposition, weathering and mass movement, marine erosion,
aeolian deposition and longshore drift
Offshore, including marine deposition
Human, including beach nourishment
2. How are coastal landforms developed?
a. Coastal landforms develop due to a variety of interconnected climatic and geomorphic processes.
The influence of flows of energy and materials on geomorphic processes, including (a) Explain the influence of geology and geomorphic
weathering, mass movement, wave, fluvial and aeolian erosion, transportation and deposition. processes in the formation of coastal landforms [8]
The formation of distinctive landforms, predominantly influenced by erosion, including bays, (b) Explain the influence of climatic and geomorphic processes
headlands, cliffs, shore platforms, geos, blow holes, caves, arches, stacks and stumps on the formation of shore platforms. (8 marks) [This question
The formation of distinctive landforms, predominantly influenced by deposition, including could be inter-changed for any of the landforms in a]
beaches, spits, on-shore bars, tombolos and salt marshes. (c) Study Fig. 1, a coastal landscape in the United
b. Coastal landforms are inter-related and together make up characteristic landscapes. Case studies Kingdom.
of one high energy and one low energy coastline, to illustrate: With reference to Fig. 1, explain which geomorphic
processes are the most influential in forming
The physical factors which influence the formation of landforms within the landscape system landform A. [3] Figure 1 (A picture of a spit)
,The inter-relationship of a range of landforms within the characteristic landscape system
How and why the landscape system changes over time from millennia to seconds, such as
cliff collapse in seconds, seasonal changes in beach profile and spit growth over millennia.
Study Fig. 1a, a cliff at Cathedral Cove, New Zealand and
Fig. 1b, a cliff at Praia da Luz, Portugal.
(i) Using evidence from Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b,
, compare and contrast the characteristics of the
two cliffs shown. [4]
(ii) (ii) With reference to either Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b,
explain how flows of energy have shaped the
cliff. [3]
3. How do coastal landforms evolve over time as climate changes?
a. Emergent coastal landscapes form as sea level falls. How landforms in emergent landscapes are Study Table 1 which shows the tide timetable for Beach A
influenced by falling sea levels due to a cooling climate, including: and Beach B on the 15th August 2017.
Climate changes that occurred during a previous time period and the resultant sea level fall
The influence of sea level fall and geomorphic processes in shaping landforms, including
raised beaches, marine terraces and abandoned cliffs Beach A Beach B
The modification of these landforms by processes associated with present and future climate Time Height Time Height
and sea level changes. Low Tide 0152 0.72 0437 2.64
b. Submergent coastal landscapes form as sea level rises. How landforms in submergent High Tide 0755 5.38 1046 6.97
landscapes are influenced by rising sea level due to a warming climate, including: Low Tide 1430 1.13 1719 2.41
Climate changes that occurred during a previous time period and the resultant sea level rise High Tide 2030 5.16 2344 7.20
The influence of sea level rise and geomorphic processes in shaping landforms, including
rias, fjords and shingle beaches Calculate the maximum tidal range of the beach with the
largest tidal range. You must show your working. [2]
Assess the relative importance of past, present and future sea-
level rise in influencing coastal landforms. (16)
The modification of these landforms by processes associated with present and future climate
and sea level changes
Cooling climates rather than warming climates have
more influence on coastal landscapes. How far do you
agree with this view? (16)
4. How does human activity cause change within coastal landscape systems?
a. Human activity intentionally causes change within coastal landscape systems. Case study of one
, coastal landscape that is being managed, including:
The management strategy being implemented and the reason for its implementation, such as
groyne construction or off-shore dredging
Their intentional impacts on processes and flows of material, processes and/ or energy
(d)* To what extent can human activity impact depositional
through the coastal system, such as their effect on the sediment budget
landforms? [16]
The effect of these impacts in changing coastal landforms, such as changes in beach profile
The consequence of these changes on the landscape, such as extension of the coastal With reference to a case study, explain the influence of
landscape seawards unintentional human activity on coastal landscapes. [8]
b. Economic development unintentionally causes change within coastal landscape systems. Case
study of one coastal landscape that is being used by people to illustrate: To what extent is human management of a coastal landscape
The economic development taking place and the reasons for it taking place, such as trade effective? (16)
routes, port or tourist resort development
Their unintentional impacts on processes and flows of material, processes and/or energy
through the coastal system, such as disturbance to the sediment cell balance
The effect of these impacts in changing coastal landforms, such as beach profiles
The consequence of these changes on the landscape, such as coastal retreat or protection.
Unit skills Exam Questions
Observation skills
Measurement and geo-spatial mapping skills
Data manipulation and statistical skills applied to field measurements
Sediment budget calculations
Mass balance calculations.
, Physical Systems: Earth’s Life Support Systems
Unit content: RAG the following throughout, or at the end of the unit. Exam Questions
1. How important are the water and carbon to life on Earth?
a. Water and carbon support life on Earth and move between the land, oceans and
atmosphere.
The importance of water in supporting life on the planet, the uses of water for
humans, flora and fauna.
Carbon is the building block of life on Earth. It is available for use in the
natural world and by humans.
Water and carbon cycling between the land, oceans and atmosphere
through open and closed systems
b. The carbon and water cycles are systems with inputs, outputs and stores.
The distribution and size of the major stores in the carbon and water
systems, including the atmosphere, oceans, water bodies, ice (cryosphere),
soil, vegetation and groundwater.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the water cycle,
including precipitation and snowmelt (ablation) and evapotranspiration
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the carbon cycle,
including precipitation, photosynthesis, decomposition, weathering (including
main forms of chemical weathering) respiration and combustion
c. The carbon and water cycles have distinctive processes and pathways that
operate within them
The processes of the water cycle, including evaporation, transpiration,
condensation (including formation of clouds), precipitation (including causes
of precipitation), interception, ablation, runoff (including overland flow and
saturated overland flow), catchment hydrology (including infiltration,
percolation, throughflow, groundwater flow and cryospheric processes)
The processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration,
decomposition, combustion (including natural and fossil fuel use), natural
sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments and weathering
2. How do the water and carbon cycles operate in contrasting locations?
a. It is possible to identify the physical and human factors that affect the water and
carbon cycles in a tropical rainforest. Case study of a tropical rainforest,
including:
Water and carbon cycles specific to tropical rainforests, including the rates of a. Human factors affect the water cycle more significantly in the tropical
flow and distinct stores. How an individual tree through to the rainforest as a rainforest than in the Arctic tundra. Discuss. 16
whole can influence these cycles b. Human factors affect the carbon cycle more significantly in the tropical
Physical Systems: Coastal Landscapes
Unit content: RAG the following throughout, or at the end of the unit. Exam Questions
1. How can coastal landscapes be viewed as systems?
a. Coastal landscapes can be viewed as systems
The components of coastal landscape systems, including inputs, processes and outputs
The flows of energy and material through coastal systems.
Sediment cells
b. Coastal landscape systems are influenced by a range of physical factors. The influence of:
Winds, including speed, direction and frequency
Waves, including wave formation, development and breaking
1c: Distinguish between offshore and terrestrial sources of
Tides, including tidal cycles and range coastal sediment (3 marks)
Geology, including lithology and structure
Global pattern of ocean currents.
c. Coastal sediment is supplied from a variety of sources
Terrestrial, including fluvial deposition, weathering and mass movement, marine erosion,
aeolian deposition and longshore drift
Offshore, including marine deposition
Human, including beach nourishment
2. How are coastal landforms developed?
a. Coastal landforms develop due to a variety of interconnected climatic and geomorphic processes.
The influence of flows of energy and materials on geomorphic processes, including (a) Explain the influence of geology and geomorphic
weathering, mass movement, wave, fluvial and aeolian erosion, transportation and deposition. processes in the formation of coastal landforms [8]
The formation of distinctive landforms, predominantly influenced by erosion, including bays, (b) Explain the influence of climatic and geomorphic processes
headlands, cliffs, shore platforms, geos, blow holes, caves, arches, stacks and stumps on the formation of shore platforms. (8 marks) [This question
The formation of distinctive landforms, predominantly influenced by deposition, including could be inter-changed for any of the landforms in a]
beaches, spits, on-shore bars, tombolos and salt marshes. (c) Study Fig. 1, a coastal landscape in the United
b. Coastal landforms are inter-related and together make up characteristic landscapes. Case studies Kingdom.
of one high energy and one low energy coastline, to illustrate: With reference to Fig. 1, explain which geomorphic
processes are the most influential in forming
The physical factors which influence the formation of landforms within the landscape system landform A. [3] Figure 1 (A picture of a spit)
,The inter-relationship of a range of landforms within the characteristic landscape system
How and why the landscape system changes over time from millennia to seconds, such as
cliff collapse in seconds, seasonal changes in beach profile and spit growth over millennia.
Study Fig. 1a, a cliff at Cathedral Cove, New Zealand and
Fig. 1b, a cliff at Praia da Luz, Portugal.
(i) Using evidence from Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b,
, compare and contrast the characteristics of the
two cliffs shown. [4]
(ii) (ii) With reference to either Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b,
explain how flows of energy have shaped the
cliff. [3]
3. How do coastal landforms evolve over time as climate changes?
a. Emergent coastal landscapes form as sea level falls. How landforms in emergent landscapes are Study Table 1 which shows the tide timetable for Beach A
influenced by falling sea levels due to a cooling climate, including: and Beach B on the 15th August 2017.
Climate changes that occurred during a previous time period and the resultant sea level fall
The influence of sea level fall and geomorphic processes in shaping landforms, including
raised beaches, marine terraces and abandoned cliffs Beach A Beach B
The modification of these landforms by processes associated with present and future climate Time Height Time Height
and sea level changes. Low Tide 0152 0.72 0437 2.64
b. Submergent coastal landscapes form as sea level rises. How landforms in submergent High Tide 0755 5.38 1046 6.97
landscapes are influenced by rising sea level due to a warming climate, including: Low Tide 1430 1.13 1719 2.41
Climate changes that occurred during a previous time period and the resultant sea level rise High Tide 2030 5.16 2344 7.20
The influence of sea level rise and geomorphic processes in shaping landforms, including
rias, fjords and shingle beaches Calculate the maximum tidal range of the beach with the
largest tidal range. You must show your working. [2]
Assess the relative importance of past, present and future sea-
level rise in influencing coastal landforms. (16)
The modification of these landforms by processes associated with present and future climate
and sea level changes
Cooling climates rather than warming climates have
more influence on coastal landscapes. How far do you
agree with this view? (16)
4. How does human activity cause change within coastal landscape systems?
a. Human activity intentionally causes change within coastal landscape systems. Case study of one
, coastal landscape that is being managed, including:
The management strategy being implemented and the reason for its implementation, such as
groyne construction or off-shore dredging
Their intentional impacts on processes and flows of material, processes and/ or energy
(d)* To what extent can human activity impact depositional
through the coastal system, such as their effect on the sediment budget
landforms? [16]
The effect of these impacts in changing coastal landforms, such as changes in beach profile
The consequence of these changes on the landscape, such as extension of the coastal With reference to a case study, explain the influence of
landscape seawards unintentional human activity on coastal landscapes. [8]
b. Economic development unintentionally causes change within coastal landscape systems. Case
study of one coastal landscape that is being used by people to illustrate: To what extent is human management of a coastal landscape
The economic development taking place and the reasons for it taking place, such as trade effective? (16)
routes, port or tourist resort development
Their unintentional impacts on processes and flows of material, processes and/or energy
through the coastal system, such as disturbance to the sediment cell balance
The effect of these impacts in changing coastal landforms, such as beach profiles
The consequence of these changes on the landscape, such as coastal retreat or protection.
Unit skills Exam Questions
Observation skills
Measurement and geo-spatial mapping skills
Data manipulation and statistical skills applied to field measurements
Sediment budget calculations
Mass balance calculations.
, Physical Systems: Earth’s Life Support Systems
Unit content: RAG the following throughout, or at the end of the unit. Exam Questions
1. How important are the water and carbon to life on Earth?
a. Water and carbon support life on Earth and move between the land, oceans and
atmosphere.
The importance of water in supporting life on the planet, the uses of water for
humans, flora and fauna.
Carbon is the building block of life on Earth. It is available for use in the
natural world and by humans.
Water and carbon cycling between the land, oceans and atmosphere
through open and closed systems
b. The carbon and water cycles are systems with inputs, outputs and stores.
The distribution and size of the major stores in the carbon and water
systems, including the atmosphere, oceans, water bodies, ice (cryosphere),
soil, vegetation and groundwater.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the water cycle,
including precipitation and snowmelt (ablation) and evapotranspiration
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the carbon cycle,
including precipitation, photosynthesis, decomposition, weathering (including
main forms of chemical weathering) respiration and combustion
c. The carbon and water cycles have distinctive processes and pathways that
operate within them
The processes of the water cycle, including evaporation, transpiration,
condensation (including formation of clouds), precipitation (including causes
of precipitation), interception, ablation, runoff (including overland flow and
saturated overland flow), catchment hydrology (including infiltration,
percolation, throughflow, groundwater flow and cryospheric processes)
The processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration,
decomposition, combustion (including natural and fossil fuel use), natural
sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments and weathering
2. How do the water and carbon cycles operate in contrasting locations?
a. It is possible to identify the physical and human factors that affect the water and
carbon cycles in a tropical rainforest. Case study of a tropical rainforest,
including:
Water and carbon cycles specific to tropical rainforests, including the rates of a. Human factors affect the water cycle more significantly in the tropical
flow and distinct stores. How an individual tree through to the rainforest as a rainforest than in the Arctic tundra. Discuss. 16
whole can influence these cycles b. Human factors affect the carbon cycle more significantly in the tropical
