What are the different exam papers for OCR Geography GCSE?
Once you know whether you’re taking Geography A or Geography B, the next step is understanding what each exam paper actually tests.
While both courses cover physical and human geography, the focus of each paper is different.
OCR Geography A
Paper 1: Living in the UK Today
This paper focuses on geography in the UK.
You’ll answer questions on:
- UK landscapes (including rivers and coasts)
- Urban change and challenges (city growth, regeneration projects, housing, transport, and inequality)
- How people and environments interact in the UK
Questions ask you to:
- Use case study examples
- Interpret maps, graphs, and data
- Explain geographical processes and impacts
Paper 2: The World Around Us
This paper looks at geography beyond the UK, focusing on global issues and environments.
You’ll answer questions on:
- Global hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical storms, and extreme weather)
- Climate change (causes of climate change, impacts on different regions, and ways to manage risk)
- Ecosystems and biodiversity (tropical rainforests, polar environments, food webs, and conservation)
Questions often require you to:
- Explain causes and effects
- Apply knowledge to unfamiliar examples
- Link physical and human geography
Paper 3: Geographical Skills
This paper tests the skills you use across the whole course, rather than specific topics.
You’ll be assessed on:
- Map and atlas skills
- Data and graph interpretation
- Using fieldwork information
- Making decisions based on evidence
OCR Geography B
Paper 1: Our Natural World
This paper focuses on physical geography and environmental challenges.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Global hazards (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, and extreme weather)
- Climate change (evidence for climate change, environmental impacts, and how risks are managed)
- Distinctive landscapes (coastal, river, or glacial landscapes and the processes that shape them)
- Sustaining ecosystems (tropical rainforests, polar regions, and balancing use and conservation)
Questions test your understanding of physical processes and your ability to apply them to real-world situations.
Paper 2: People and Society
This paper focuses on human geography and development issues.
You’ll answer questions on:
- Urban futures (rapid urban growth, challenges in cities, and sustainable urban planning)
- Dynamic development (why countries develop at different rates and how development is measured)
- The UK in the 21st century (population change, migration, and economic shifts)
- Resource reliance (global demand for energy, water, and food, and the impacts of overuse)
You’ll often be asked to:
- Use real-world examples
- Interpret data
- Weigh up different viewpoints
Paper 3: Geographical Exploration
This paper brings together knowledge and skills from across the course.
You’ll be given:
- Unseen resources
- Enquiry-style questions
You’ll need to:
- Analyse information
- Apply what you’ve learned
- Make clear, evidence-based judgements
What are examiners looking for?
OCR Geography examiners aren’t trying to catch you out. They’re looking for clear, well-explained answers that show you understand geography and can apply it to real situations.
In simple terms, they want to see what you know, how well you can use it, and how clearly you explain it.
1. Accurate geographical knowledge and understanding
Examiners want to see that you understand the topic you’re writing about.
This means:
- Using key geographical terms correctly
- Explaining human and physical geography processes clearly
- Including case study detail where it’s relevant
Tip: Naming specific places, events, or facts shows secure understanding and helps push answers into higher mark bands.
2. Applying knowledge to real-world situations
Examiners want to see you use geographical knowledge to explain real situations, not just describe a topic.
Examiners look for answers that:
- Use case studies and real examples to explain causes, impacts, and responses
- Adapt case study knowledge to fit the question, even when the example or scenario is unfamiliar
- Apply ideas to the resource or scenario given, not just the example you’ve memorised
- Link every example clearly back to the question
Tip: A strong case study only earns marks if you explain why it’s relevant to the question being asked.
3. Using geographical skills effectively
Geography exams test both skills and knowledge.
Examiners want to see that you can:
- Interpret maps, graphs, photographs, and data
- Spot patterns and trends
- Use evidence from resources to support your answers
Tip: Don’t just describe a graph; use the resource to support an explanation. Quote data or evidence from it and link it directly to the question.
4. Analysing and evaluating issues
For higher-mark questions, examiners want more than one side of the story.
This means:
- Considering different viewpoints
- Weighing up advantages and disadvantages
- Making a reasoned judgement, backed by evidence
Tip: Words like however, on the other hand, and overall help show evaluation.
OCR Geography rewards clear thinking, strong examples, and confident explanation. If you focus on explaining why things happen, not just what happens, you’ll be showing examiners exactly what they’re looking for.
What are the grade boundaries for OCR Geography GCSE?
OCR runs two Geography specifications and each has its own boundaries. In the June 2026 series — the most recent — a grade 4 standard pass took 85 out of 200 (42%) in Geography A (Geographical Themes) and 93 out of 200 (46%) in Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds). A grade 9 took 165 and 157 out of 200 respectively.
The full June 2026 boundaries for both specifications are below. OCR publishes the boundaries for every series on its grade boundaries page.
