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
Which of the following factors is MOST likely to explain why bauxite mining developed in Jamaica rather than in Barbados?
- Jamaica has a larger population
- Jamaica has deposits of bauxite ore
- Jamaica has better port facilities
- Jamaica has more tourist attractions
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Jamaica has deposits of bauxite ore
Award 1 mark for identifying availability of raw materials as the primary locational factor for extractive industries. A is incorrect — population size relates to labour supply, not mineral extraction. C is incorrect — port facilities are secondary considerations. D is incorrect — tourism is unrelated to mining location.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3
Which of the following BEST describes the term 'tourist'?
- A person who travels to another country to work permanently
- A person who travels away from home for leisure, business, or other purposes for at least 24 hours
- A person who visits another place for less than 12 hours
- A person who migrates to another country to live
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — A person who travels away from home for leisure, business, or other purposes for at least 24 hours
Award 1 mark for identifying that a tourist travels away from home for at least 24 hours for leisure, business, or other purposes. A is incorrect — this describes a migrant worker. C is incorrect — a visit of less than 24 hours describes an excursionist or day-tripper. D is incorrect — this describes an immigrant.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3
In 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, killing over 200,000 people. The earthquake occurred along a transform plate boundary. Which type of plate movement is associated with transform boundaries?
- Plates moving apart
- Plates sliding past each other
- Plates colliding head-on
- One plate subducting beneath another
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Plates sliding past each other
Award 1 mark for recognising that transform boundaries involve lateral/horizontal movement of plates past one another. A is incorrect — this describes divergent boundaries. C is incorrect — this describes convergent boundaries. D is incorrect — subduction occurs at convergent boundaries where oceanic crust meets continental crust.
Q4 · Difficulty 2/3
A weather station in Kingston, Jamaica recorded a sudden drop in atmospheric pressure, increasing cloud cover, and strengthening easterly winds. These conditions most likely indicate the approach of:
- A cold front from North America
- A tropical wave moving westward
- The subtropical high pressure system
- A period of drought conditions
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — A tropical wave moving westward
Award 1 mark for recognising that falling pressure, increasing clouds, and easterly winds are characteristic of approaching tropical waves in the Caribbean. A is incorrect — cold fronts rarely affect Jamaica significantly and would bring northerly winds. C is incorrect — high pressure systems bring stable, clear weather. D is incorrect — drought conditions are associated with prolonged high pressure, not falling pressure.
Q5 · Difficulty 2/3
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Dominica, causing widespread destruction to agriculture and infrastructure. The hurricane was classified as Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. What is the MINIMUM wind speed for a Category 5 hurricane?
- 119 km/h
- 154 km/h
- 178 km/h
- 252 km/h
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — 252 km/h
Award 1 mark for identifying the correct minimum wind speed for Category 5 hurricanes (252 km/h or 157 mph). A is incorrect — 119 km/h is Category 1 minimum. B is incorrect — 154 km/h is Category 2 minimum. C is incorrect — 178 km/h is Category 3 minimum.
Q6 · Difficulty 2/3
A student studying the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles noticed that these islands form an arc shape. Which process best explains the formation of this island arc?
- Hot spot volcanism beneath a moving plate
- Divergence of two oceanic plates
- Subduction of the Atlantic plate beneath the Caribbean plate
- Transform faulting along the plate boundary
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Subduction of the Atlantic plate beneath the Caribbean plate
Award 1 mark for explaining that the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc formed due to subduction of oceanic crust, causing melting and magma rising to form volcanic islands. A is incorrect — hot spot volcanism produces chains like Hawaii, not curved arcs. B is incorrect — divergence creates mid-ocean ridges, not island arcs. D is incorrect — transform faults do not produce volcanic activity.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3
Which greenhouse gas is released in significant quantities from rice paddies and cattle farming in the Caribbean?
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous oxide
- Ozone
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Methane
Award 1 mark for identifying methane (CH₄) as produced by anaerobic decomposition in flooded rice fields and enteric fermentation in cattle. A is incorrect — CO₂ is not the primary emission from these sources. C is incorrect — nitrous oxide mainly comes from fertiliser use. D is incorrect — ozone is not directly emitted from agricultural activities.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3
Which of the following BEST describes a nucleated settlement pattern?
- Houses spread out along a main road
- Houses clustered closely together around a central point
- Houses scattered randomly across farmland
- Houses built in a straight line along a river
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Houses clustered closely together around a central point
Houses clustered closely together around a central point. Award 1 mark for identifying that nucleated settlements have buildings grouped compactly, typically around a focal point such as a church, market, or crossroads. A is incorrect — this describes a linear settlement. C is incorrect — this describes a dispersed settlement. D is incorrect — this describes a linear settlement along a watercourse.
CXC CSEC Geography FAQ
What does the CXC CSEC Geography exam look like?
The CXC CSEC Geography exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1 (Section A): 60 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 75 minutes. Tests knowledge across the whole syllabus. Paper 2: Structured short-answer + 1 extended response question. Section A is compulsory; Section B has a choice. Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes. School-Based Assessment (SBA): Coursework component graded by the teacher, externally moderated. Worth ~20-30% of the final grade depending on subject. Total exam time: ~3.5 hours across Paper 1 and Paper 2 sittings.
Can I download a free CXC CSEC Geography past paper?
Real CXC past papers are published directly by CXC 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 CXC CSEC Geography graded?
Grades: I (highest) to VI (lowest). A grade of III or above is typically required for further study. 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.