Past papers - CCEA GCSE Geography

Here you can find CCEA past papers for GCSE Geography.

Use the links below to download question papers and mark schemes (which contain the answers or indicative content and explain how marks are awarded).

CCEA past papers and mark schemes are the intellectual property of CCEA and are copyright © CCEA. All CCEA material is linked to with their permission.

Understanding Our Natural World

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Living in Our World

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

Fieldwork

Summer 2025 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2024 - Past paper | Mark scheme
Summer 2023 - Past paper | Mark scheme

You can find more geography past papers and mark schemes on the CCEA website.

Past papers and mark schemes going back as far as 2018 are available there, along with many Irish Medium and modified versions of the papers.

1. Know your terms
Key terms - including features, measures and processes - are listed at the start of each of the eight themes you studied. Make sure you understand and can define and use all of these. For example, throughflow and percolation in River Environments, or suburbs and gentrification in Changing Urban Areas. Test yourself with these – don't just keep re-reading your notes.

2. Know your real world examples
These are the case studies found in each of the eight themes. Firstly, you need to know which case study links to each part of your course. For example, a named refugee group who have migrated in Population and Migration, or an extreme weather event outside the British Isles in Our Changing Weather and Climate. Secondly, learn the details of each study with place names, dates, figures and events. Make summary notes or draw mind maps for each of your case studies to revise and practice your knowledge.

3. Maintain your focus
You should practice answering past paper questions using your case study knowledge. Make sure your answer is focused on what the questions asks and provides factual detail. Do not just write down everything you know about each case study.

4. Sharpen your skills
Each theme’s question will use resources such as maps, tables and graphs, so remember to practice related skills including OS map grid references, symbol recognition, direction and distance.

5. Using past papers and mark schemes
Past papers will help you to recognise the style of questions asked. Mark schemes will help you avoid mistakes and see more clearly what the examiners are looking for in your answer. However, do not forget that your case studies may not be the same as those shown in some mark schemes.

It can also be useful to read the reports of the Chief Examiner and Principal Moderator - these can help you to understand common mistakes made in CCEA GCSE Geography exams.

1. Be well equipped
As you may be required to draw on a graph or measure distance on a map, make sure you bring pencils, a ruler and a clean eraser with you to your exam. For the exam in Unit 3, you must bring your completed fieldwork booklet into the examination with you.

2. Know what's coming
The exam in Unit 1 covers the four physical themes and the exam in Unit 2 covers the four human themes. The section for each theme will usually include short questions or tasks relating to resource materials and case study questions. The exam in Unit 3 tests your knowledge and experience of fieldwork skills, eg planning, drawing conclusions and evaluating.

3. Case study sections
These can gain you the most marks, so make sure you use the correct case study and plan your answer to address the specific question that has been asked.

4. Command words are important
Read the command words on the exam paper questions carefully. While the terms name or state usually require short, factual answers, other terms such as describe, explain or evaluate generally demand more depth in your responses. You can download a PowerPoint presentation from CCEA to help understand the GCSE Geography command words.

5. Keep an eye on the time
As every question must be answered, you should simply work through the paper. The examinations in Units 1 and 2 are 90 minutes long, so allow just over 20 minutes for each of the four themes. The exam in Unit 3 is an hour long, but not every question is worth equal marks, so don't spend too long on questions worth fewer marks. If you get stuck on any section in any of the papers, make a note beside it, move on through the paper and go back to it if you have time.

If practising with past papers has highlighted a particular area you need to improve, then further help is at hand.

You can go straight to the most relevant Bitesize study guide for CCEA GCSE Geography and refresh your knowledge.

All topics in Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World and Unit 2: Living in Our World are covered, along with geographical skills and fieldwork.

Follow the links to the topic of your choice, where you'll find easy-to-understand revision materials, including videos, diagrams and quick quizzes.

Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World

River environments | Coastal environments | Weather and climate | The restless earth

Unit 2: Living in Our World

Population and migration | Changing urban areas | Contrasts in world development | Managing our environment

Unit 3: Fieldwork

Fieldwork skills | Geographical enquiry process

Geographical skills

Map skills | Graph skills | Numbers and statistics

There are plenty more geography questions to tackle with our Bitesize quizzes.

You can have a go at our quick-fire ten question GCSE Geography quiz or practise with 50 exam-style GCSE Geography questions.

You can also select which topic you want to focus on in this quiz based on GCSE Geography past papers. Choose from questions on: Natural hazards; Weather, climate and biomes; Rivers and coasts; Population and urbanisation; Economic activity and development; Resources; Fieldwork and geographical skills.

Explore more geography resources with the full range of help from Bitesize.