Reigate Grammar School · First Form

First Form Geography

Work through each topic, then test yourself with exam-style questions.

Year 7 · End of Year Exam

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Natural Hazards ✓

16 marks · Definitions, plate boundaries, wildfires, structure of the Earth

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Key definitions

Term	Meaning
Hazard	A naturally occurring process or phenomenon.
Natural hazard	A natural event with the potential to cause harm or destruction.
Natural disaster	When a natural hazard leads to actual harm — loss of life, injury, property damage, or disruption to society.

Types of natural hazard

Tectonic hazards

Natural events caused by the movement of Earth's tectonic plates.

Examples: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis.

Climatic hazards

Climate-related physical events with the potential to cause damage.

Examples: wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts, tornadoes.

Structure of the Earth

Layer	Characteristics
1. Crust	Thin, solid outer layer. Two types: oceanic (denser, thinner) and continental (less dense, thicker).
2. Mantle	Thickest layer, made of semi-molten rock. Convection currents here drive plate movement.
3. Outer core	Liquid layer made of iron and nickel. Extremely hot.
4. Inner core	Solid layer of iron and nickel. Hottest layer, kept solid by immense pressure.

Plate boundaries

Constructive (divergent) boundary

What happens: Two plates move apart and magma rises to create new crust.

Why: Convection currents in the mantle pull the plates apart.

Associated hazards: Volcanoes, mild earthquakes (e.g. Mid-Atlantic Ridge).

Conservative (transform) boundary

What happens: Two plates slide past each other without creating or destroying crust.

Why: They move in the same or opposite directions at different speeds. Friction makes them stick, then suddenly release.

Associated hazards: Earthquakes (e.g. San Andreas Fault).

Destructive (convergent) boundary

What happens: Two plates move towards each other; the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the lighter continental plate (subduction).

Why: Friction melts the subducted plate, forming magma that rises and erupts.

Associated hazards: Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis (e.g. Andes Mountains).

Convection currents

Heat from the core causes rock in the mantle to become hot and rise.
As it nears the surface, it cools and sinks back down.
This creates circular convection currents.
These currents drag and push the tectonic plates above, causing them to move.

Wildfires

Three main causes

Climate change — rising temperatures, droughts, drier vegetation make fires more likely.
Natural events — lightning strikes ignite dry vegetation.
Human activity — unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, arson.

Primary effects (immediate)

Loss of homes, buildings, vegetation and habitats.
Damage to infrastructure (roads, power lines).
Injuries and loss of life.

Secondary effects (later)

Loss of jobs in farming and tourism.
Slower ecosystem recovery; soil erosion from rain on exposed land.
Economic decline in affected areas.

✏️ Test yourself — exam-style questions

Question 1 (1 mark)

Define the term "natural hazard".

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

A natural event/process with the potential to cause harm/damage/destruction to people or property (1).

Question 2 (1 mark)

State one example of a tectonic hazard.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Accept: earthquake / volcanic eruption / tsunami (1).

Question 3 (1 mark)

State one example of a climatic hazard.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Accept: wildfire / hurricane / flood / drought / tornado / tropical storm (1).

Question 4 (2 marks)

Outline the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

A natural hazard is a natural event with the potential to cause harm (1).
A natural disaster is when the hazard actually causes harm/loss of life/damage/disruption (1).

Question 5 (2 marks)

Suggest why wildfires have become more frequent in recent years.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Climate change/rising global temperatures (1).
Leading to hotter/drier conditions/droughts which make vegetation more flammable (1).
OR increased human activity/population expansion into wildfire-prone areas (1).

Question 6 (2 marks)

Outline one human cause of wildfires.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Unattended campfires / discarded cigarettes / arson (1).
These can ignite dry vegetation/start fires accidentally or deliberately (1).

Question 7 (4 marks)

Explain how convection currents in the mantle cause tectonic plates to move.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Heat from the core causes rock in the mantle to become hot and rise (1).
As it moves towards the surface, it cools and sinks (1).
This creates circular convection currents (1).
These currents drag/push the tectonic plates above, causing them to move (1).

Question 8 (4 marks)

Explain the formation of volcanoes at a destructive plate boundary.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

At a destructive boundary, two plates move towards each other (1).
The denser oceanic plate is subducted beneath the less dense continental plate (1).
Friction causes the oceanic plate to melt, forming magma (1).
Magma rises through weaknesses in the crust and erupts to form a volcano (1).

Question 9 (4 marks)

Explain one primary and one secondary effect of wildfires on the environment.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Primary effect: destruction of vegetation/habitats/trees are burnt (1).
This means wildlife loses homes/food sources/animals may die (1).
Secondary effect: soil erosion / slower ecosystem recovery (1).
Without vegetation, soil is exposed to rain and wind, washing nutrients away / takes years for plants to regrow (1).

Question 10 (4 marks)

Explain why earthquakes occur at conservative plate boundaries.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

At conservative boundaries, two plates slide past each other horizontally (1).
They move in the same or opposite directions at different speeds (1).
Friction causes the plates to become stuck/locked (1).
Pressure builds up and is suddenly released as an earthquake (1).

Question 11 (2 marks)

Outline the characteristics of the Earth's inner core.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Solid (1).
Made of iron and nickel / extremely hot / under immense pressure (1).

Question 12 (1 mark)

State what type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move apart.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Constructive / divergent boundary (1).

🇬🇧

UK ✓

16 marks · Physical geography, population, housing crisis, sustainable settlements

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UK physical geography

Countries of the UK

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Wales and Scotland share a land border with England.

Seas and oceans around the UK

Atlantic Ocean — to the west.
North Sea — to the east.
Irish Sea — between England and Ireland.
English Channel — between England and France.

Major mountains and hills

Pennines — run through northern England.
Cambrian Mountains — Wales.
Scottish Highlands — northern Scotland.

Population distribution and density

Term	Meaning
Population distribution	How people are spread out across an area or place.
Population density	The number of people living per square kilometre.

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Why is south-east England densely populated? More jobs and economic opportunities in London and surrounding cities; flatter land and milder climate; better transport links and infrastructure.

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Why is northern Scotland sparsely populated? Upland and rural areas, harsher climate, rugged terrain, poorer transport links and fewer services make settlement harder.

UK housing crisis

Reasons for the UK housing crisis

Population growth — more people need homes.
Not enough new houses being built.
Planning restrictions and protected green-belt land.
High house prices and lack of affordable housing.
Smaller average household sizes — more homes needed for the same population.

Sustainable settlements — Tudeley Village (case study)

A proposed new development designed to be sustainable across three dimensions: social, economic, and environmental.

Socioeconomic sustainability

• New primary school + space for a secondary school.

• Creates local jobs in construction and long-term services and businesses.

Environmental sustainability

• Over 50% of the site remains as green open space.

• Energy-efficient buildings with potential for solar panels and other renewables.

✏️ Test yourself — exam-style questions

Question 1 (1 mark)

State the name of the mountain range that runs through northern England.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

The Pennines (1).

Question 2 (1 mark)

Define the term "population density".

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

The number of people living per square kilometre / per unit area (1).

Question 3 (1 mark)

State one country that shares a land border with England.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Wales / Scotland (1).

Question 4 (2 marks)

Outline one reason why population density is higher in south-east England than in northern Scotland.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

More jobs/economic opportunities in south-east England/London (1).
This attracts more people to live there (1).
OR northern Scotland has harsh climate/rugged terrain/fewer services (1) making it less attractive for settlement (1).

Question 5 (2 marks)

Suggest why there is a housing crisis in the UK.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Population growth / increased demand for housing (1).
Not enough new homes being built / planning restrictions / high house prices / lack of affordable housing (1).

Question 6 (2 marks)

Outline one way the proposed Tudeley Village development aims to be environmentally sustainable.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Over 50% of site will be green open space/parks/natural areas (1).
Buildings designed to be energy efficient / use renewable energy such as solar panels (1).

Question 7 (4 marks)

Explain why more people live in urban areas of the UK than in rural areas.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Urban areas have more job opportunities in industries and services (1).
This attracts people seeking employment (1).
Urban areas have better infrastructure/transport/schools/hospitals (1).
This makes daily life easier and services more accessible (1).

Question 8 (4 marks)

Explain how building new sustainable settlements could help solve the UK's housing crisis.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

New settlements can provide more homes to meet demand (1).
Sustainable design means homes are energy efficient, reducing running costs (1).
Including schools and services reduces the need to travel, creating self-sufficient communities (1).
Green spaces and environmental design protect habitats while providing housing (1).

Question 9 (4 marks)

Explain two reasons why the south-east of England has a high population density.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

More jobs/economic opportunities in London and surrounding cities (1).
People move there for work, increasing population (1).
Flatter land and milder climate make it easier to build and live (1).
Better transport links/infrastructure make commuting and travel easier (1).

Question 10 (2 marks)

Suggest one socioeconomic benefit of the Tudeley Village development.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Creation of local jobs during construction and in services/businesses (1).
New primary school improves education provision for families (1).

Question 11 (1 mark)

State the sea located between England and Ireland.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Irish Sea (1).

Question 12 (2 marks)

Outline the difference between population distribution and population density.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Population distribution is how people are spread out across an area (1).
Population density is the number of people per square kilometre (1).

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Rivers ✓

18 marks · Water cycle, erosion & transport, waterfalls, flooding

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The water (hydrological) cycle

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the ocean, atmosphere and land.

Category	Processes
Inputs	Precipitation (rain, snow, hail).
Flows / Transfers	Surface runoff, infiltration, percolation, throughflow, groundwater flow.
Outputs	Evaporation, transpiration, river discharge.

River erosion

Process	What happens
Hydraulic action	The force of the water hits the river banks and bed, breaking material away.
Abrasion	Rocks carried by the river scrape and wear away the bed and banks.
Attrition	Rocks collide with each other, breaking into smaller, smoother pieces.
Solution	Minerals in rocks dissolve into the water and are carried away.

River transportation

Process	What happens
Traction	Large rocks rolled along the river bed by the force of the water.
Saltation	Small pebbles bounce along the river bed.
Suspension	Very fine particles are carried within the water.
Solution	Dissolved materials are carried along in the water.

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Deposition happens when a river loses energy (e.g. when it slows down or reaches the sea) and drops the material it was carrying.

Waterfall formation

Differential erosion — a layer of hard rock overlies softer rock. The softer rock erodes more quickly, forming a step.
Plunge pool forms — water falls over the step, eroding the soft rock at the base through hydraulic action and abrasion.
Undercutting — the force of the falling water erodes the soft rock underneath, leaving the hard rock unsupported above.
Collapse of the overhang — the hard rock eventually collapses into the plunge pool.
Retreat of the waterfall — the waterfall moves upstream over time. A long gorge is left behind.

Causes of flooding

Cause	Type	How it leads to flooding
Heavy / prolonged rainfall	Physical	The ground can't absorb more water, so it runs into rivers, which then overflow.
Steep slopes	Physical	Water flows downhill quickly, reaching rivers faster.
Deforestation	Human	Fewer roots to absorb water; more runoff into rivers.
Urbanisation	Human	Concrete/tarmac stops water soaking in, so it flows rapidly into drains and rivers.

✏️ Test yourself — exam-style questions

Question 1 (1 mark)

Define the term "erosion".

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

The wearing away of rock/soil/land by water, ice, or wind (1).

Question 2 (1 mark)

State one type of river transportation.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Accept: traction / saltation / suspension / solution (1).

Question 3 (1 mark)

Define the term "deposition".

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

When a river loses energy and drops/deposits the material it is carrying (1).

Question 4 (2 marks)

Outline the process of abrasion in a river.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Rocks/sediment carried by the river scrape against the bed and banks (1).
This wears away the rock over time, making the channel wider/deeper (1).

Question 5 (2 marks)

Suggest why flooding is more likely in urban areas than rural areas.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Urban areas have impermeable surfaces such as concrete/tarmac (1).
Water cannot soak into the ground, so it flows quickly into drains/rivers, increasing flood risk (1).

Question 6 (2 marks)

Outline one physical cause of river flooding.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Prolonged/heavy rainfall (1).
Saturates the ground so water cannot infiltrate, increasing surface runoff into rivers (1).
OR steep slopes (1) cause water to flow quickly into rivers (1).

Question 7 (4 marks)

Explain how a waterfall is formed.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Waterfalls form where hard rock overlies softer rock (1).
The softer rock erodes more quickly, creating a step (1).
Water falling over the step erodes the soft rock at the base, creating a plunge pool (1).
Undercutting causes the hard rock above to become unsupported and collapse, causing the waterfall to retreat upstream (1).

Question 8 (4 marks)

Explain how deforestation can increase the risk of flooding.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Trees intercept rainfall and slow water reaching the ground (1).
Without trees, more rain reaches the ground directly, increasing surface runoff (1).
Tree roots absorb water from the soil (1).
Without roots, the soil becomes saturated quickly, and more water flows into rivers, increasing flood risk (1).

Question 9 (4 marks)

Explain the difference between traction and saltation as methods of river transportation.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Traction is when large rocks/boulders are rolled along the riverbed (1).
This happens because the rocks are too heavy to be lifted (1).
Saltation is when smaller pebbles are bounced along the riverbed (1).
The force of the water lifts them briefly before they fall back down (1).

Question 10 (2 marks)

Outline how a plunge pool forms at the base of a waterfall.

Your answer

Mark scheme (2 marks)

Water falling from the waterfall has high energy (1).
It erodes the base of the waterfall through hydraulic action/abrasion, creating a deep pool (1).

Question 11 (1 mark)

State one input in the water cycle.

Your answer

Mark scheme (1 mark)

Precipitation / rainfall (1).

Question 12 (4 marks)

Explain how urbanisation increases flood risk.

Your answer

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Urbanisation replaces natural surfaces with impermeable materials like concrete and tarmac (1).
Water cannot infiltrate into the ground (1).
This increases surface runoff, meaning water flows quickly into drains and rivers (1).
Rivers receive more water in a shorter time, increasing the risk of them overflowing/flooding (1).

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Geographical Skills ✓

Compass directions, map symbols, grid references, continents & oceans

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Compass directions

The eight main compass directions are based on the four cardinal points (N, E, S, W) and the four intermediate points between them.

The 8-point compass — the red needle always points North.

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Memory aid: Never Eat Shredded Wheat (N, E, S, W — going clockwise from the top).

Grid references

4-figure grid reference

Identifies a whole square on the map (1 km × 1 km on a 1:50,000 OS map).
Read along the bottom (eastings) first, then up the side (northings).
Format: 4 digits (e.g. 2552).
Mnemonic: "Along the corridor, up the stairs".

Grid reference example: square 25 across, 51 up → 2551.

6-figure grid reference

Identifies a more precise point within a square (down to 100 m).
Each square is divided into 10 imaginary parts on each axis.
Format: 6 digits — three for eastings, three for northings (e.g. 255524).

Continents and oceans

Seven continents	Five oceans
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America	Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Southern

Major mountain ranges

Himalayas — Asia (highest in the world)
Andes — South America (longest in the world)
Rockies — North America
Alps — Europe
Atlas — North Africa

✏️ Test yourself

Question 1 (1 mark)

What are the four cardinal (main) compass directions?

Your answer

Model answer

North, East, South, West (1)

Question 2 (2 marks)

Explain the difference between a 4-figure and a 6-figure grid reference.

Your answer

Model answer

A 4-figure grid reference identifies a whole 1 km grid square on the map (1).
A 6-figure grid reference is more precise, pinpointing a location within that square (down to 100 m) by dividing each side of the square into ten parts (1).

Question 3 (1 mark)

State the names of three of the world's continents.

Your answer

Model answer

Any three of: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America (1)

Question 4 (1 mark)

Name the largest ocean in the world.

Your answer

Model answer

The Pacific Ocean (1)

Question 5 (2 marks)

Outline what is meant by "along the corridor, up the stairs" when reading a grid reference.

Your answer

Model answer

It is the rule for reading a grid reference: read the easting first by going along the bottom of the map (1), then read the northing by going up the side (1).

Topic Flashcards

Quick-fire flashcards across all geography topics

All topics · First Form Geography

🃏 Topic Flashcards

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Reinforce what you've learnt

Optional · Watch the video for an alternative way to revise

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🎯

These are for reinforcement Watch the video any time you want a different way to revisit the content. Look over the slides whenever you like. No notes needed — just notice how much you recognise now.

🎬 Video — First Form Geography revision

A short film recapping the key concepts from across the course.

📑 Slides — The Geographer's Blueprint

Slide deck reviewing the key concepts. Opens full screen with a back button.

RevisionHub

First Form Geography

Key definitions

Types of natural hazard

Tectonic hazards

Climatic hazards

Structure of the Earth

Plate boundaries

Constructive (divergent) boundary

Conservative (transform) boundary

Destructive (convergent) boundary

Convection currents

Wildfires

UK physical geography

Population distribution and density

UK housing crisis

Sustainable settlements — Tudeley Village (case study)

Socioeconomic sustainability

Environmental sustainability

The water (hydrological) cycle

River erosion

River transportation

Waterfall formation

Causes of flooding

Compass directions

Grid references

Continents and oceans

Major mountain ranges

🎬 Video — First Form Geography revision

📑 Slides — The Geographer's Blueprint