Case Studies & Exam Practice

This final lesson brings together everything you have learned across the Living World topic. It consolidates the key case studies you need for the AQA GCSE exam, reviews the most common question types, and provides exam technique guidance for every mark tariff. Use this lesson as your revision anchor.

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Essential Case Studies

AQA expects you to have studied specific case studies in detail. Here are the ones you need:

Case Study 1: Tropical Rainforest — The Amazon (Brazil)

Area	Key Knowledge
Location	Northern South America; Brazil holds about 60% of the Amazon
Climate	Hot (25–30°C) and wet (2,000–3,000 mm rainfall) all year
Biodiversity	Over 40,000 plant species, 1,300+ bird species, 3,000+ fish species
Causes of deforestation	Cattle ranching (80%), soy farming, logging, mining, road building (Trans-Amazonian Highway)
Impacts of deforestation	Loss of biodiversity, climate change (CO₂ release), soil erosion, disrupted water cycle, indigenous displacement
Management	REDD+, national parks (e.g. Tumucumaque), selective logging, ecotourism, FSC certification

Case Study 2: Tropical Rainforest — Malaysia