The time allowed for the Leaving Certificate geography examination is three hours and 20 minutes. The total number of marks available to students is 400. Students must answer questions as follows:

Higher level

Four questions 100 marks each 50 minutes per question

Section A: Question 1 (Ordnance Survey map question) is compulsory.

Section B: Questions 2, 3 and 4 (physical, social, and economic geography) - answer two out of three questions.

Section C: Question 5 (regional geography question) is compulsory.

Ordinary Level

Five questions 80 marks each 40 minutes per question

Question 1: Ordnance Survey map question is compulsory.

Questions 14 to 18: Regional and world geography - one question to be answered.

Questions 2 to 18: Physical, social, economic, regional and world geography - three more questions to be answered.

(Not more than two questions may be answered from any one section.)

Higher level

Section A - map work

Question 1 - Ordnance Survey maps

Compulsory question - higher and ordinary

There are usually three parts to the question and each part must be answered. You are given the Ordnance Survey map and a legend (key) to work with. Written descriptions and/or sketch maps are required as evidence of your ability to read and interpret the map. You are expected to use knowledge acquired throughout the study of geography to interpret the map in detail. Most questions concern the interpretation of the physical landscape or the identification of man's imprint on the physical landscape as these are made evident on the map.

The topics which arise in Ordnance Survey interpretation include:

Features of river, coastal and glacial erosion and deposition, drainage patterns and structural trends

Distribution of woodland

The influence of the physical landscape on communications

The location and development of a town

The location of suitable sites in a town for the construction of a factory, school etc.

Transport infrastructure

Settlement patterns

Tourist attractions

When answering the questions ensure that you:

Describe the point using map evidence

State the point clearly

Show location by means of a grid reference

Section B - Higher level

Physical, social and economic geography

Answer two from Questions 2, 3 and 4.

Question 2 - Physical geography

What is mainly examined in the physical geography option is weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition, and the landforms created along rivers, coasts, glaciated areas, etc. If you are answering a question on landforms ensure you:

State the name of the landform

Name and describe the processes involved in formation

Give an example of each landform Use diagrams to explain landform

The second part of a question on landforms may ask you to deal with how human activity interacts with this aspect of human geography. Usually two points must be named and briefly explained.

Students should remember that while the physical geography question is not compulsory, it provides a significant portion of the knowledge required for answering other sections of the exam, e.g. Ordnance Survey maps and aerial photograph interpretation.

Question 3 - Social & economic geography

Note: The social and economic geography section of the course is preparation for two full questions on the exam paper, and students may do both and omit physical geography.

The question on a geographical field study (i.e. study of a local region or of a particular aspect of local geography) normally appears in the set of questions on either social or economic geography. There are likely to be at least five parts to the question and they are usually as follows:

Title and aims (state title and at least three aims)

Preparation (e.g. type of methods used to gather information, choice of study area, type of information needed, where was the information gathered?)

Gathering and recording (three activities must be described. Describe how the information was gathered, describe at least one way the information was recorded, describe activities at relevant locations)

Results and conclusions (state clearly and explain at least three conclusions, provide at least two diagrams e.g. maps, charts etc)

The final part of this section may ask: what merits further study? What skills were developed during the field?

The social geography section usually contains the aerial photograph section. The question is usually divided into 3 parts. Note the following points:

Both oblique and vertical questions can be used for this question.

Ensure that you can provide location on both types of photograph.

Sketch maps are regularly requested.

When answering the question, state your point clearly, provide location, and offer photographic evidence for your point.

Some questions may ask how the photograph and the Ordnance Survey map differ in providing information.

Other topics for examination include population, settlement, development, agriculture, transport, and tourism.

Section C - Higher level

Regional geography

Question 5 - compulsory question

Answer one of four options.

Questions may be on any of the following countries: Ireland, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The key topics here are i) Regional division and ii) Core and peripheral regions.

i) Regional division

Select one country and divide into three distinctive regions.

Ensure you can draw a sketch, if asked, of the country, showing clearly the name and location of each region.

Explain two points on each region. These points should distinguish it from the other regions.

ii) Core and peripheral regions

Define both terms.

Be able to describe the main characteristics of each of the regions.

Usually most marks are awarded for a description of examples of both regions.

Ensure that you can refer to at least two countries (i.e. core/peripheral regions in both countries).

Questions may also refer to problems faced by both regions and policies to reduce gaps between the regions.

Ordinary level

Differences in lay-out

Unlike the format of the higher-level paper described above, there are no enumerated sections on the ordinary-level paper. The questions are distributed as follows:

Questions 2 to 5: Physical geography

Questions 6 to 9: Social geography

Questions 10 to 13: Economic geography

Questions 14 to 18: Regional and world geography

The guides to topics in the higher-level paper above are relevant also for ordinary-level students.

Map interpretation

Map reading - basic skills

The Discovery Series Ordnance Survey Maps are supplied with a "key" to explain the symbols. Height in metres is represented on the map by contour lines, spot heights and changes in colour shadings. The basic skills to develop are measuring distance, calculating area, drawing cross sections and sketch maps and, most importantly, giving specific locations with a grid reference. Grid references consist of the map's sub-zone letter, followed by an easting value (across the top) and northing value (along the side). Six-figure grid references are generally required. Sketch maps should be framed and well labelled. They should include only the details required and they should never be traced. Finally, all answers should consist of a statement, map evidence and an explanation.

Physical geography and O.S. maps

It is important to be able to link the knowledge acquired in physical geography to O.S. map interpretation. Patterns of drainage and river features should be easily identifiable on suitable maps. The most obvious features to be seen on a coastal map include bay and headland, cliff, beach and spit. You should be able to identify glaciation features, Caledonian and Armorican fold mountains. The type and distribution of woodland should be easily acquired from Irish O.S. maps.

Location and development of a town

Features evident on an O.S. map which may explain the location and development of a town include: a river or port or other transport facilities, low-lying terrain, a defensive feature such as a castle or fort, industrial development, service provision, leisure facilities and tourist attractions. With respect to the matter of land use in a town, be ready to identify whether a place is used for transport, residential, educational, religious, industrial, or commercial purposes. It is also important to know how to determine the way in which the physical landscape influences communications. An O.S. map can be used to account for the development of the transport infrastructure over time in a particular region.

Location of a suitable site for . . .

You may be asked to find a suitable site for a factory, school, shopping or sports centre, housing estate, etc. In your response it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of a particular site to both the local community and to the prospective builder or developer.

Settlement patterns

It is important to develop the skill of identifying patterns of settlement on an O.S. map. These patterns may be linear, nucleated, or dispersed - or it may be evident that there is an absence of settlement. Houses are represented by a black square on the map. It is also necessary to be able to trace the history of settlement in a region by examining land use over time.

Tourist attractions

Natural tourist attractions evident on an O.S. map may include mountains, rivers, lakes, coasts, forests etc. Popular activities in natural regions include mountain climbing, walking, water sports and fishing.