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Case studies are your most powerful tool in the AQA GCSE Geography exam. They provide the specific evidence that lifts your answers from Level 2 to Level 3 in extended writing questions. This lesson shows you how to select, learn and deploy case studies for maximum marks.
The AQA GCSE Geography specification requires you to study specific examples for nearly every topic. In the exam, questions will often ask you to refer to "a named example you have studied" or "an example of a place where…". Even when the question does not explicitly ask for a case study, using one will strengthen your answer.
| Without Case Study | With Case Study |
|---|---|
| "Flood management strategies can reduce the impact of flooding." | "In Boscastle, Cornwall, after the 2004 flood, the Environment Agency invested £4.6 million in flood management, including widening and deepening the river channel, constructing a flood defence wall, and improving culverts. These measures have successfully prevented a repeat of the devastating 2004 flood." |
Exam Tip: The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 on any extended question is almost always the use of specific, accurate case study evidence. Generic answers cannot reach the top marks.
Below is a summary of the main case studies required across the three papers:
| Topic | Case Study Required |
|---|---|
| Tectonic hazards | A named example of an earthquake or volcanic eruption in an HIC or LIC/NEE |
| Weather hazards | A named example of a tropical storm; UK weather hazard |
| Climate change | Evidence and impacts (global examples) |
| Ecosystems | A named tropical rainforest and a named hot desert |
| UK physical landscapes | Named river and named coastal landscape |
| Topic | Case Study Required |
|---|---|
| Urban issues (UK) | A major UK city (e.g., London, Bristol, Manchester) |
| Urban issues (LIC/NEE) | A major city in an LIC or NEE (e.g., Lagos, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro) |
| Economic development | A named LIC or NEE (e.g., Nigeria, India) |
| Resource management | One from food, water or energy (depending on optional topic) |
| Topic | Case Study Required |
|---|---|
| Issue evaluation | Based on the pre-release material — no fixed case study, but you can bring in supporting examples |
| Fieldwork | Your own fieldwork investigations — two contrasting enquiries |
For each case study, learn five key facts that you can recall under exam conditions:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name and location | Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda), Philippines, November 2013 |
| Key statistic | Over 6,300 people killed; 600,000 displaced |
| Cause/context | Category 5 typhoon with wind speeds of up to 315 km/h; 5-metre storm surge |
| Impact | 90% of Tacloban City destroyed; $2 billion in damage; crops devastated affecting food supply |
| Response | International aid ($1.5 billion pledged); UN coordinated relief; long-term rebuilding programme; "build back better" policy |
Exam Tip: Create a revision card for each case study using the 5-Fact Method. Test yourself regularly — if you cannot recall at least 3 facts without looking, you need more practice.
Do not wait until the end of a paragraph to name your case study. Introduce it at the start.
Good: "In Lagos, Nigeria, rapid urbanisation has led to severe housing shortages. The city's population has grown from 1.4 million in 1970 to over 21 million today…"
Bad: "In many cities in developing countries, housing is a problem. For example, in a city I have studied, people live in poor housing." — Too vague; no name, no data.
| Vague Statement | Specific Statement |
|---|---|
| "The earthquake caused lots of damage." | "The 2010 Haiti earthquake (magnitude 7.0) killed approximately 316,000 people and destroyed 250,000 homes in Port-au-Prince." |
| "The river floods sometimes." | "The River Severn flooded in February 2020, with water levels in Ironbridge reaching 5.4 metres — the highest recorded level." |
| "The area has been regenerated." | "London Docklands was regenerated through the LDDC (1981–1998), creating over 120,000 new jobs and 24,000 new homes, and attracting £7.7 billion in private investment." |
Dropping in case study facts is not enough — you must explain how the evidence answers the question.
Just evidence: "In Dharavi, Mumbai, over 1 million people live in an area of just 2.1 km²."
Evidence linked to question: "In Dharavi, Mumbai, over 1 million people live in an area of just 2.1 km², demonstrating the extreme overcrowding that results from rapid urbanisation outpacing the construction of formal housing."
For higher marks, compare two case studies to show the influence of a variable such as level of development.
Example: "The contrasting impacts of the 2010 Haiti earthquake (316,000 deaths, magnitude 7.0) and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake (185 deaths, magnitude 6.3) demonstrate that the level of economic development has a far greater influence on the impact of tectonic hazards than magnitude alone. New Zealand's strict building codes and well-funded emergency services meant that far fewer people died despite a similar-sized earthquake."
Exam Tip: Comparing two case studies is one of the most effective ways to reach Level 3 in extended answers. It shows analytical thinking and deeper understanding.
| Mistake | Why It Costs Marks | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No case study at all | Cannot access Level 3 marks | Always include at least one named example |
| Wrong case study for the question | Evidence does not support the argument | Check the question — does it ask for a UK example? An LIC? A specific topic? |
| Inaccurate facts | Undermines credibility | Learn a small number of facts accurately rather than many vaguely |
| Case study dump | Lists facts without linking to the question | Always explain how the evidence answers the specific question |
| Only one perspective | Limits evaluation | Include both positive and negative impacts, or compare two examples |
Here is a compact reference of commonly used case studies across the specification:
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