Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Geography A (C111) · Spec C3-A, C3-B, C3-C and C3-1
Component 3: fieldwork and decision making
Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.
Key ideas
- Part A uses a methodological approach, such as transects, flows, change over time or a qualitative survey. Part B uses a conceptual framework, such as place, sphere of influence, cycles and flows, mitigating risk, sustainability or inequality. Part C is a UK decision.
- Sampling: systematic sites are at equal intervals, random gives every item an equal chance, stratified takes account of different groups or land uses, and opportunistic is whoever is easy to reach and is open to bias.
- Flows change over time, so repeat counts at different times to avoid missing busy or quiet periods.
- For grouped continuous data, draw bar columns touching, with no gaps.
- A bi-polar survey uses pairs of opposites on one scale. An annotation explains a link, for example green space nearby supports well-being, while a label only names an item.
- Reliability means repeating gives the same result. Accuracy means closeness to the true value. They are not the same.
Key terms
- Transect
- Data collected at intervals along a line across a feature.
- Systematic sampling
- Choosing sites or people at regular intervals.
- Stratified sampling
- Sampling in proportion to the different groups or land uses in the area.
- Qualitative data
- Opinions and descriptions, such as questionnaire views or annotated photographs.
- Quantitative data
- Measured numbers, such as counts, widths and infiltration times.
- Reliability
- Whether repeating the work gives the same result.
- Accuracy
- How close a reading is to the true value.
Common mistakes
- Calling equal spacing between sites random sampling. Equal spacing is systematic.
- Saying asking whoever walks past is a fair random sample. It is opportunistic and open to bias.
- Writing a general account of what a fieldwork group does. Own-fieldwork questions need your own named place, methods and data, never another group's.
- Giving two conclusions that say the same thing in opposite directions. They count as one conclusion.
Exam tip
Component 3 has one 12-mark question at the end, plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terms. It is marked in four bands (1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12). Choose an option, justify it with Resource Folder evidence, weigh the others and reach a clear conclusion.
Free practice questions
8 questions, 13 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A group measures beach height at sites placed every 10 m along a line from the sea wall. Which sampling technique is this? Tick one.
- Question 2 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A group counts pedestrians passing a point for 10 minutes. They repeat the count at other times of day. Which is the best reason to repeat flow measurements? Tick one.
- Question 3 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A group records infiltration times for 20 sites and puts them into continuous classes (0-2, 2-4, 4-6 minutes). They draw a bar graph of the number of sites in each class. How should the columns be drawn? Tick one.
- Question 4 · Sort into groups[4 marks]
Give the approach each method belongs to.
Asking shoppers to describe in their own words how safe they feel in a street
Counting vehicles passing a point in ten minutes
Comparing a 1990 photograph with a photograph taken today
Beach height measured every 10 m from the sea wall
- Question 5 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A group studies whether a town centre is sustainable. Which enquiry question fits the sustainability framework?
- Question 6 · Matching[3 marks]
Match each conceptual framework to what an enquiry using it studies.
- Question 7 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A group studies access to services in a village using a bi-polar survey. Which pair is correctly set out for this enquiry?
- Question 8 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which statement describes reliability in fieldwork?