1. GCSE Geography Revision
Physical
Case Studies

2. Physical Geography Units
The Restless Earth;
The Coastal Zone;
Water on the Land.

3. The Restless Earth Case Studies
Human Activity in Fold Mountains:
The Andes;
The Alps.
Volcanic Eruption (only need one):
Montserrat (1995) – LEDC.
Earthquake (need to have two):
Haiti (2010) - LEDC;
Sichuan, China (2008) - LEDC;
Kobe, Japan (1995) - MEDC.
Tsunami:
SE Asia (2005).

4. The Coastal Zone Case Studies
Coastal Flooding (Rising Sea Level):
Norfolk, UK;
Maldives, Asia.
Cliff Collapse:
Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire;
Holderness Coast, NE England.
Coastal Management:
Minehead, Somerset;
Wallasea Island, Essex.
Coastal Habitat:
Keyhaven Salt Marshes, Hampshire.

5. Water on the Land Case Studies
River Flooding:
Tewkesbury, UK (2007) - MEDC;
Carlisle, UK (2005) – MEDC;
Cockermouth (2009) – MEDC;
Bangladesh (2004) - LEDC.
Water Supply Management:
Any UK reservoir which supplies water to a city.

6. Physical Case Studies Exam Questions
The following are examples of questions that have appeared in GCSE Geography exam Paper 1, 2011:
With the help of figure 2 and a case study of a fold mountain range, describe how people use fold mountains [8 marks]
Using a case study, discuss the effects of cliff collapse on people’s lives and the environment [8 marks]

7. Physical Case Studies Exam Questions
The following are examples of questions that have appeared in GCSE Geography exam Paper 1, 2012:
Describe how the effects of an earthquake in a richer area of the world are different from those in a poorer part of the world [6 marks]
Use a case study to describe the responses to river flooding.
[8 marks]
Use a case study to explain why a coastal habitat has distinctive characteristics. [8 marks]

8. Physical Case Studies Exam Questions
The following are examples of questions that have appeared in GCSE Geography exam Paper 1, 2013:
Use a case study to describe the effects of a tsunami [8 marks]

9. Case Study Tips
Don’t overload yourself – you only need a couple for each topic.
Don’t be scared of using one that you haven’t covered in class, if you understand it better.
Revision guides might use different case studies to those covered in class.
Some case studies can be very topical – events are happening all the time.

10. Revision Tips Using Case Studies
Alternatively, especially when using so many case studies try using the following:
Mind Maps;
Annotated Photo’s, Map’s or Field Sketches;
Flash Cards.

11. Examiner Tips for Using Case Studies
When answering questions using information from a case study follow these rules:
Always refer to the case study directly (by name/location/event).
Continue to write specifically about that case study in your answer – don’t write about a generalised event.
Some questions ask you to “use one example or more” – it is best to write about one case study really well than write a little about lots of case studies.
Most case study questions will be levelled and therefore require a good standard of writing rather than ‘bits’ of information.