Coastal landscapes in the UK: AQA GCSE Geography questions
Every AQA GCSE Geography exam question on 3.1.3.2 Coastal landscapes in the UK, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
Q03.1
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.2
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.3
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.4
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.5
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.6
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.1
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.2
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.3
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.4
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.5
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.6
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.1
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.2
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.3
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.4
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.5
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.6
The whole paper ↗0 wordsQ03.1
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ03.2
The whole paper ↗0 words
All 37 questions on Coastal landscapes in the UK, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Which term is used to describe the force of waves crashing into the cliffs? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, calculate the median soil pH. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.3 (2 marks): Using Figure 11, describe changes in vegetation from the embryo dune to the mature dune. [2 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.4 (1 mark): Plot the following data on Figure 12. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.5 (4 marks): Explain how a stack is formed in a coastal landscape. Use one or more labelled diagrams. [4 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q03.6 (6 marks): Discuss the effectiveness of using hard engineering strategies to manage the coastline. Use Figure 13 and your own understanding. [6 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): What does ‘managed retreat’ mean? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Using Figure 14, which one of the following grid squares shows a shingle beach? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): Using Figure 14, identify one method of hard engineering shown in grid square 9879. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.4 (2 marks): The area labelled X shows a coastal spit. Using Figure 14, describe the size and shape of the spit. [2 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.5 (4 marks): You have studied a coastal management scheme in the UK. Explain the effects of the scheme. [4 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q03.6 (6 marks): Explain how coastal landscapes are formed by different processes. Use Figure 15 and your own understanding. [6 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Which one of the following is a process of erosion in coastal areas? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Give one type of weathering that takes place in coastal areas. [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, what is the straight-line distance between Hill of Crogodale, marked X, and Duncansby Head, marked Y? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.4 (2 marks): Using Figure 11 and Figure 12, describe two pieces of evidence that show that this coastline is being eroded. [2 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.5 (4 marks): Explain how spits and bars form along the coast as a result of deposition. [4 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q03.6 (6 marks): Discuss the costs and benefits of hard engineering strategies for coastal management. Use Figure 13 and your own understanding. [6 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, what is the mode of annual rate of erosion along the Holderness coastline? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, describe how the rate of erosion changes from north to south. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, what is the coastal landform that has formed at Spurn Head? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.4 (1 mark): Using Figure 11, suggest why there is a headland at Flamborough Head. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.5 (1 mark): Using Figure 12, give one reason why the rate of erosion of the Holderness coast is high. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.6 (4 marks): Explain how a wave cut platform is formed as a cliff is eroded. Use one or more diagrams to support your answer. [4 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.7 (6 marks): Assess the effectiveness of strategies used to protect coastlines against erosion. Use Figure 13 and your own understanding. [6 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): Using Figure 8, how long is the coastline between points X and Y? Shade one circle only. [1 mark]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Using Figure 8, what direction would you be facing from the lighthouse at 676421 to the dunes at 690433? [1 mark]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.3 (2 marks): Using Figure 8, describe one piece of evidence which suggests that Hunstanton is a tourist resort. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.4 (1 mark): Suggest one type of mass movement that is affecting these cliffs. [1 mark]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.5 (4 marks): Explain the formation of a spit. [4 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.6 (6 marks): Discuss the costs and benefits of soft engineering strategies in protecting coastlines. Use Figure 10 and Figure 11 and your own understanding. [6 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.1 (2 marks): Match the following descriptions of coastal landscapes in the UK with the correct letter shown on Figure 12. [2 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Using Figure 13, state what has happened to the area behind the shingle beach at high tide. [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): Suggest one advantage of the coastal management strategy shown in Figure 13. [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.4 (1 mark): Using Figure 14, what is the projected rate of erosion for 2030? [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.5 (4 marks): Explain the benefits of using hard engineering strategies to protect the coastline. [4 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.6 (6 marks): Explain the formation of the physical features of the coastline shown in Figure 15. [6 marks]
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