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The carbon cycle: AQA A‑Level Geography questions

Every AQA A-Level Geography exam question on 3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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537 questions

  1. Q01.4

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    20 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.6 Case studies
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 01.4: Analyse factors driving change in the magnitude of carbon stores in a tropical rainforest that you have studied. [20 marks]

  2. Q01.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 01.4: Analyse the data shown in Figure 1a and Figure 1b. [6 marks]

  3. Q01.5

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    9 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 01.5: Assess the extent to which human activity affects carbon stores in the hydrosphere. [9 marks]

  4. Q01.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: In the carbon cycle, what is respiration? [1 mark]

  5. Q01.3

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 01.3: Outline impacts of wildfires on major stores of carbon. [3 marks]

  6. Q01.6

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    20 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 01.6: Assess the contribution of natural carbon sequestration in reducing the impacts of human activity on climate change. [20 marks]

  7. Q01.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 01.3: Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges associated with carbon sequestration. [6 marks]

  8. Q01.4

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    20 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.6 Case studies
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 01.4: Evaluate the potential impact of changes in the carbon budget on a tropical rainforest that you have studied. [20 marks]

  9. Q01.4

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 01.4: Analyse the information shown in Figure 1. [6 marks]

  10. Q01.5

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    9 marks3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 01.5: Evaluate how future human intervention in the carbon cycle could affect the size of different major stores of carbon. [9 marks]

  11. Q01.1

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.1.1 Water and carbon cycles as natural systems3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 01.1: Explain the concept of negative feedback within the carbon cycle. [4 marks]

  12. Q01.3

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 01.3: Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges arising out of the changing forest cover. [6 marks]

  13. Q01.4

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.5 Quantitative and qualitative skills
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 01.4: Analyse the data shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. [6 marks]

  14. Q01.5

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    9 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.6 Case studies
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 01.5: Assess the scale of changes to stores of carbon in a tropical rainforest you have studied. [9 marks]

  15. Q01.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 01.3: Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the implications of the data for attempts to manage carbon transfers. [6 marks]

  16. Q01.1

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 01.1: Outline the process of decomposition in the carbon cycle. [4 marks]

  17. Q01.4

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    20 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 01.4: Assess the impact of farming practices on the carbon budget. [20 marks]

  18. Q01.2

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: In the carbon cycle, which of these represents the process of respiration? [1 mark]

  19. Q01.3

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 01.3: Outline the process of combustion in the carbon cycle. [3 marks]

  20. Q01.6

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    20 marks3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 01.6: ‘Human activity has led to irreversible changes to the carbon cycle, causing negative impacts for life on Earth.’ To what extent do you agree with this statemen
All 20 questions on The carbon cycle, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.4 (20 marks): Analyse factors driving change in the magnitude of carbon stores in a tropical rainforest that you have studied. [20 marks]
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (6 marks): Analyse the data shown in Figure 1a and Figure 1b. [6 marks]
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q01.5 (9 marks): Assess the extent to which human activity affects carbon stores in the hydrosphere. [9 marks]
  4. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): In the carbon cycle, what is respiration? [1 mark]
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (3 marks): Outline impacts of wildfires on major stores of carbon. [3 marks]
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q01.6 (20 marks): Assess the contribution of natural carbon sequestration in reducing the impacts of human activity on climate change. [20 marks]
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.3 (6 marks): Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges associated with carbon sequestration. [6 marks]
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.4 (20 marks): Evaluate the potential impact of changes in the carbon budget on a tropical rainforest that you have studied. [20 marks]
  9. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (6 marks): Analyse the information shown in Figure 1. [6 marks]
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q01.5 (9 marks): Evaluate how future human intervention in the carbon cycle could affect the size of different major stores of carbon. [9 marks]
  11. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): Explain the concept of negative feedback within the carbon cycle. [4 marks]
  12. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.3 (6 marks): Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges arising out of the changing forest cover. [6 marks]
  13. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (6 marks): Analyse the data shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. [6 marks]
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.5 (9 marks): Assess the scale of changes to stores of carbon in a tropical rainforest you have studied. [9 marks]
  15. November 2021, Paper 1, Q01.3 (6 marks): Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the implications of the data for attempts to manage carbon transfers. [6 marks]
  16. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.1 (4 marks): Outline the process of decomposition in the carbon cycle. [4 marks]
  17. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.4 (20 marks): Assess the impact of farming practices on the carbon budget. [20 marks]
  18. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): In the carbon cycle, which of these represents the process of respiration? [1 mark]
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (3 marks): Outline the process of combustion in the carbon cycle. [3 marks]
  20. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.6 (20 marks): ‘Human activity has led to irreversible changes to the carbon cycle, causing negative impacts for life on Earth.’ To what extent do you agree with this statemen

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