Mini practice paper: 8 questions
Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Geography syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.
Q1 · Difficulty 1/3
Fig. 5.2 shows a cross-section of a river valley.
[Diagram shows: V-shaped valley with steep sides, interlocking spurs, narrow channel with large boulders]
In which course of the river was this cross-section most likely taken?
- Upper course
- Middle course
- Lower course
- At the river mouth
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Upper course
Award 1 mark for identifying the upper course based on the characteristic features shown. V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, narrow channels, and large boulders are all features of the upper course where vertical erosion dominates and the river has high gradient but low discharge. B, C, and D are incorrect — middle and lower courses have wider, flatter valleys and finer sediment.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3
What is the name of the instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure?
- Anemometer
- Barometer
- Hygrometer
- Thermometer
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Barometer
Award 1 mark for identifying barometer as the instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. A is incorrect — an anemometer measures wind speed. C is incorrect — a hygrometer measures humidity. D is incorrect — a thermometer measures temperature.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3
The table shows population data for Country X.
| Year | Birth rate (per 1000) | Death rate (per 1000) |
|------|----------------------|----------------------|
| 2020 | 12 | 10 |
What is the natural increase rate for Country X in 2020?
- 2 per 1000
- 22 per 1000
- 1.2 per 1000
- 120 per 1000
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — 2 per 1000
Award 1 mark for correct calculation (12 − 10 = 2). B is incorrect — this adds birth and death rates rather than subtracting. C is incorrect — this divides rather than subtracts. D is incorrect — this multiplies the rates.
Q4 · Difficulty 2/3
A geographer studying urban change in Detroit, USA, noted that between 1950 and 2020, the city's population declined from 1.8 million to under 640,000. Many factories closed and residential areas were abandoned.
What process does this describe?
- Urbanisation
- Suburbanisation
- Urban decline/deindustrialisation
- Urban sprawl
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Urban decline/deindustrialisation
Award 1 mark for identifying the correct process. Detroit experienced severe population loss due to factory closures and job losses in manufacturing. A is incorrect — urbanisation involves population growth in cities. B is incorrect — suburbanisation is movement to the urban fringe, not population loss. D is incorrect — urban sprawl refers to physical expansion, not decline.
Q5 · Difficulty 2/3
The table shows employment data for Country X.
| Sector | % of workforce |
|--------|----------------|
| Primary | 65 |
| Secondary | 12 |
| Tertiary | 23 |
Based on this data, which statement best describes the level of development in Country X?
- Country X is a newly industrialised country (NIC)
- Country X is a low-income country (LIC)
- Country X is a high-income country (HIC)
- Country X has completed the demographic transition
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Country X is a low-income country (LIC)
Award 1 mark for correctly identifying that a high primary sector workforce (65%) indicates a low-income country. A is incorrect — NICs typically have a larger secondary sector due to industrialisation. C is incorrect — HICs have dominant tertiary sectors (often >70%). D is incorrect — employment structure does not directly indicate demographic transition stage.
Q6 · Difficulty 2/3
Which type of rainfall is most commonly associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
- Frontal rainfall
- Orographic rainfall
- Convectional rainfall
- Cyclonic rainfall
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Convectional rainfall
Award 1 mark for identifying convectional rainfall. At the ITCZ, intense solar heating causes air to rise rapidly, cool, condense and form cumulonimbus clouds producing heavy convectional rainfall. A is incorrect — frontal rainfall occurs where air masses meet at mid-latitudes. B is incorrect — orographic rainfall requires mountains to force air to rise. D is incorrect — cyclonic rainfall is associated with depressions.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3
Which process involves the wearing away of cliff bases by rocks and pebbles thrown by waves?
- Hydraulic action
- Abrasion
- Attrition
- Solution
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Abrasion
Award 1 mark for identifying abrasion as the process where waves throw sand, pebbles and rocks against the cliff face, wearing it away like sandpaper. A is incorrect — hydraulic action is the force of water and air compression in cracks. C is incorrect — attrition is when rocks collide with each other and become smaller and rounder. D is incorrect — solution is the chemical dissolving of rocks by seawater.
Q8 · Difficulty 2/3
A government in a rapidly urbanising country is concerned about the growth of squatter settlements. They plan to implement a self-help scheme.
Which of the following best describes a self-help housing scheme?
- The government demolishes squatter settlements and relocates residents to new towns
- Residents are provided with materials and technical support to improve their own homes
- Private developers build high-rise apartments to replace informal housing
- International organisations build prefabricated housing units for residents
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Residents are provided with materials and technical support to improve their own homes
Award 1 mark for correct identification. Self-help schemes involve community participation and are more sustainable than top-down approaches. A is incorrect — this describes forced relocation. C and D are incorrect — these are top-down approaches without community involvement.
CIE IGCSE Geography FAQ
What does the CIE IGCSE Geography exam look like?
The CIE IGCSE Geography exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1 (Multiple Choice): 40 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 45 minutes. Tests breadth of knowledge. Paper 2 (Core) / Paper 4 (Extended): Structured written paper. 1 hour 30 minutes (Core) or 1 hour 45 minutes (Extended). Tests depth of understanding and application. Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical): Written paper assessing practical skills for candidates without lab access. 1 hour. Worth ~20% of the total. Total exam time: ~3 hours, depending on tier (Core vs Extended).
Can I download a free CIE IGCSE Geography past paper?
Real CIE past papers are published directly by CIE on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is CIE IGCSE Geography graded?
Grades: A* (highest) to G (lowest), with U (ungraded). Most universities require C or above. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.