GCSE Geography Unit 1 Edexcel: Geographical Skills

My revision notes for 'Geographical Skills', one of two topics for Unit 1 Edexcel Geography.

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  • Created by: Ajay
  • Created on: 18-06-12 12:19
Preview of GCSE Geography Unit 1 Edexcel: Geographical Skills

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Geographical Skills
Describe what you see in the photograph.
Focus your description on what is being asked in the question.
Use geographical vocabulary (e.g. urban, rural, dense, vegetation, relief, etc.)
Try to refer to a range of different themes (e.g. natural/physical, social/economic).
Natural, economic, social and who decides.
Describe and explain what you see in the photograph.
Focus your annotations on what is being asked in the question.
Remember to explain and not just describe.
Ensure your annotations are connected to the correct place with arrows.
Field sketches
Draw a frame for the sketch, the same shape as the photograph.
Divide the frame into quarters with two light lines.
Draw in the horizon with a lie, as well as other important lines such as a river, etc.
Draw in simple shapes to represent less important features, e.g. roads, trees, etc.
Do not add in too many artistic lines or shading.
Add labels to identify key features and include a title.
Aerial photograph A `bird's eye view' taken from directly above.
Oblique photograph Taken from an angle and therefore show more detail.
Taken from space, and can show patterns on a large scale, but
Satellite photograph
can also zoom in.
Cross sections
1. Lay a strip of paper across the cross section.
2. Mark a line on the strip of paper every time a contour line is crossed.
3. Mark the height above sea level against the lines.
4. Plot the information onto a cross section graph and join the dots with a curved line.
Ajay Shah

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Factors affecting the location of settlements
Selecting a site for defensive purposes was once very
important. A castle was often built on high ground to overlook
Defence surroundings. An island also provides defence, for example a
canal, which not only provides trade but can prevent people
from crossing.
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes receive more
sun than north-facing slopes so are warmer.…read more

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The actual land that a settlement is built upon. E.g. height
Site above sea level, relief and shelter, aspect, gradient, geology,
The site's location in relation to surrounding features. E.g. `near
Situation to'... any other physical and human feature, such as roads,
railways, other settlements, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc.
Atlas maps
Mercator projection Correct shape of countries
Peter's projection Correct size of countries
Presence / absence, type (coniferous, mixed, parkland, etc.),
size, frequency, location, shape, etc.…read more

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Geographical Information Systems (GIS) represent spatial data, which allows geographers
to see spatial patterns. Information can be layered on a map, such as roads, landmarks,
traffic, public services, etc. This allows a user to customise their search to their liking, and
provides them with relevant information which is easy to understand.…read more


Salsabila Hussein

really helpful and useful safe :D

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