2026 AQA GCSE Geography Exam Predictions 🌍✨

Before we start talking about tectonic plates and urban issues, please remember that your mental health comes first! 💖

Author

Jen - Primrose Kitten
January 29, 2026

Hello Geographers! 👋

Welcome to your run-up to the 2026 GCSEs. We know exam season can feel incredibly overwhelming, and it’s easy to let revision take over your life. Before we start talking about tectonic plates and urban issues, please remember that your mental health comes first! 💖

Success isn't just about how many hours you revise; it's about balance. Take regular breaks, eat well, sleep properly, and be kind to yourself. A rested brain is a clever brain! 🧠💤

A Crucial Disclaimer! 🚨

Before we dive into our predictions for this year, we must issue a massive reminder: Please ensure you review the entire AQA Geography specification.

We have not seen the 2026 exams. These predictions are based on careful analysis of past trends and topic cycles. They are designed to help focus your revision, not replace it. The examiners can, and will, ask questions on anything from the full specification.

Why Use Predicted Papers? 🤔

You might be wondering, how reliable are these guesses anyway? They are fantastic tools to structure your final few weeks of revision and identify gaps in your knowledge.

If you want to know more about our track record, check out our blog post on ‘How Accurate Are Predicted Papers?’ here.

Curious about the science behind our madness? Read about ‘How do we write our Predicted Papers’ here 📝.

The 2026 AQA GCSE Geography Revision Guide 📘

Based on our analysis, here are the topics we think are highly likely to appear on your Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams this year. We’ve put together a brief summary for each to kickstart your revision!

Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment 🌋🌊

Focus on the "3 Ps": Prediction, Protection, and Planning. How do scientists monitor tectonic activity? How are buildings designed to withstand shaking (aseismic design)? How do governments plan for disaster response?

Be ready to explain the relationship between rising global temperatures and tropical storms. Warmer oceans provide more energy, potentially leading to more intense and frequent storms, and affecting areas further from the equator. 🌀

Concentrate on the causes of deforestation (farming, logging, mining) and the impacts on the local economy and environment. Crucially, revise sustainable management strategies—like selective logging and ecotourism—that protect the forest while providing an income. 🌳

Deserts aren't just empty sand! Look at development opportunities in these arid environments, such as mineral extraction, energy generation (solar!), farming (with irrigation), and tourism. What are the challenges of developing in extreme heat with water scarcity? ☀️

How do people survive and thrive in polar or tundra regions? Think about how housing, clothing, and transport are adapted to deal with extreme cold, permafrost, and limited daylight.

Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment 🏙️⚖️

Focus on rapid urbanisation in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs). What leads to the growth of squatter settlements (slums)? What are the challenges of providing basic services like clean water, sanitation, and electricity to these rapidly growing areas? 🏚️➡️🏡

Understand the push factors (what drives people away) and pull factors (what attracts people) leading to rural-to-urban migration. What are the impacts on both the rural areas they leave behind and the cities they arrive in?

As cities in NEEs grow, they face massive environmental hurdles. Revise issues surrounding waste disposal, air pollution from traffic and industry, and water pollution. 😷

How does trade influence development? Look at the role of primary product dependency versus manufacturing. Understand the influence of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in these countries—both the positives (jobs, investment) and negatives (leakage of profits, poor working conditions). 🚢🏭

Why are some countries rich and others poor? Be able to discuss physical factors (climate, resources) and human factors (history of colonialism, trade links) that cause the development gap.

Focus on water transfer schemes. How do we move water from areas of surplus (wet areas) to areas of deficit (dry areas with high populations)? What are the pros and cons of these massive engineering projects? 💧

Understand farming grown primarily to feed the farmer's family, with little surplus for sale. It is usually labour-intensive with low technology use. 🌾

Look at the sustainable management of resources. How do we manage rivers and lakes for water supply? How is biomass used for energy production, and is it truly sustainable?

Smash Your Revision with Our Resources! 💪💥

Ready to test yourself on the topics above?

We highly recommend you download our 2026 Predicted Papers. They are the best way to simulate the real exam experience.

To support your study, make sure you use our unlimited free revision notes and test your memory with our retrieval quizzes.

The Secret Weapon: Video Walkthroughs 📹

Crucially, our geography predicted papers include free video walkthroughs. We don’t just give you the answers; we show you exactly how to interpret the questions, command words, and lay out your answers in a way that allows examiners to give you maximum marks.

Don't just take our word for it! Join thousands of happy students who have used our resources to boost their grades. Our revision resources have over 1,000 5-star reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐—check them out here!

AQA GCSE Geography Exam Structure Breakdown 📅

Knowing the structure of the exam is half the battle! Here is what you will face in the exam hall:

  • Paper 1: Living with the physical environment

    • Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes

    • 88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG)

    • Topics: Natural hazards, The living world, Physical landscapes in the UK.

  • Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment

    • Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes

    • 88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG)

    • Topics: Urban issues and challenges, The changing economic world, The challenge of resource management.

  • Paper 3: Geographical applications

    • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes

    • 76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG)

    • Topics: Issue evaluation (based on pre-release material), Fieldwork questions.

Keep calm, keep revising, and keep that balance! You've got this Geographers! Best of luck! 🍀🌍✨