Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · 1GA0
Geography A — Keywords & Key Terms — Definitions Glossary (2026)
Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Geography A — Geographical Themes and Challenges (1GA0)
Topic-by-topic keywords, key terms and definitions for precise exam language—separate from our revision checklists (topic coverage) and formula sheets (equations).
Keywords & Key Terms — definitions
Examiner-style keywords and definitions organised by syllabus topic. Terms are tagged Essential (start here), Core (typical exam standard), and Advanced for harder distinctions — tick each row when you can recall it. Your progress is saved in this browser for this list.
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0)
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0)
Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Geography A — Geographical Themes and Challenges (1GA0)
Aligned to Pearson Edexcel 1GA0: Paper 1 (The Physical Environment — hazardous Earth, UK's evolving physical landscape), Paper 2 (The Human Environment — development dynamics, challenges of an urbanising world, UK's evolving human landscape) and Paper 3 (Geographical Investigations — fieldwork and decision-making).
Mark schemes: Pearson rewards named case-study detail (place, scale, statistics) and linked process chains — cause → process → impact → response. Skills questions need accurate map techniques (4- and 6-figure grid references, scale, contour interpretation) and correct statistical methods.
Active recall: 0 / 23 terms ticked
| Recalled | Topic | Level | Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous Earth | Essential | Tectonic plates | Sections of Earth's lithosphere — boundaries cause earthquakes and volcanoes. | |
| Hazardous Earth | Core | Constructive vs destructive boundary | Plates move apart vs collide/subduct — different hazards result. | |
| Hazardous Earth | Core | Tropical storm | Rotating low-pressure system with high winds and heavy rain forming over warm oceans. | |
| Hazardous Earth | Core | Climate change | Long-term shift in global temperature and weather patterns, largely human-driven. | |
| Hazardous Earth | Advanced | Mitigation vs adaptation | Reducing causes (e.g. emissions cuts) vs adjusting to impacts (e.g. flood defences). | |
| Development dynamics | Essential | HDI | Human Development Index — composite of life expectancy, education and income. | |
| Development dynamics | Core | Development gap | Difference in wealth and well-being between richer and poorer countries. | |
| Development dynamics | Core | Factors affecting development | Physical (climate, location), economic (trade, debt), social (health, education), political (governance). | |
| Development dynamics | Core | Dependency ratio | (Under-15 + over-65 population) ÷ working-age population × 100 — burden on workers. | |
| Development dynamics | Advanced | Demographic Transition Model (DTM) | Five stages tracking how birth and death rates change as a country develops. | |
| Challenges of an urbanising world | Core | Urbanisation | Growing proportion of population living in towns and cities. | |
| Challenges of an urbanising world | Core | Megacity | Urban area with more than 10 million inhabitants. | |
| Challenges of an urbanising world | Core | Push and pull factors | Reasons people leave rural areas vs reasons they are drawn to urban areas. | |
| Challenges of an urbanising world | Advanced | Informal economy | Unregulated, untaxed work — common in megacities of the developing world. | |
| UK's evolving physical landscape — rivers & coasts | Core | Erosion | Wearing away of land by hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution. | |
| UK's evolving physical landscape — rivers & coasts | Core | Transportation | Movement of sediment by traction, saltation, suspension and solution. | |
| UK's evolving physical landscape — rivers & coasts | Core | Deposition | Sediment dropped when energy falls below the transport threshold. | |
| UK's evolving physical landscape — rivers & coasts | Core | Longshore drift | Zig-zag movement of beach sediment by prevailing wave direction. | |
| UK's evolving physical landscape — rivers & coasts | Advanced | Hard vs soft engineering | Sea walls/groynes vs beach nourishment/managed retreat — cost, lifespan and impact differ. | |
| Geographical investigations & skills | Core | Random sampling | Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. | |
| Geographical investigations & skills | Core | Systematic sampling | Selecting at fixed intervals (e.g. every 10 m along a transect). | |
| Geographical investigations & skills | Core | Stratified sampling | Sampling proportionally from defined sub-groups within the population. | |
| Geographical investigations & skills | Advanced | Spearman's rank | Statistical test for the strength and direction of correlation between two ranked variables. |
Pair this with our revision checklists, formula sheets hub and past paper finder.
Geography A (1GA0) — Keywords & Key Terms FAQ
- What is on this Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A keywords and key terms list?
- It is a topic-organised glossary of important geography a terms with short, exam-style definitions aligned to Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Geography A — Geographical Themes and Challenges (1GA0) (1GA0). It is designed for “define”, “state”, “outline” and “explain” questions where precise vocabulary earns marks.
- How should I use this Geography A glossary alongside past papers?
- Tick terms when you can recall them without reading the answer, then check your wording against mark schemes. Pair vocabulary practice with past papers for GCSE Geography A (1GA0) so you apply terms in context.
- Is this the same as a revision checklist or a formula sheet?
- No. Revision checklists help you track which syllabus topics you have covered and your confidence—separate pages on Tutopiya. Formula sheets summarise equations and quantitative relationships. This page is only a definitions and key-terms glossary for Geography A.
- Can I download this Geography A keywords and key terms list for free?
- Yes. After a quick free sign-up you can download a UTF-8 CSV (opens in Excel or Google Sheets) or open a print-friendly page and save as PDF. Browsing the list on the page is free.
- Is this Geography A list aligned to the 1GA0 specification?
- Topic groupings and wording follow Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Geography A — Geographical Themes and Challenges (1GA0) for Pearson Edexcel GCSE. Always confirm final learning objectives and any regional options in your official specification and recent examiner reports for your exam session.
- Why focus on definitions instead of full notes?
- Mark schemes reward correct technical terms and clear links between ideas. A compact glossary lets you drill the exact language examiners expect for Geography A at GCSE, separate from longer notes or topic trackers.