Pass Check: GCSE Geography Skills

Command word

The instruction word in a question, such as describe, explain, assess or evaluate, that tells you exactly what kind of answer is required.

Resource

Any figure supplied with a question, such as a map, graph, photograph, table or diagram, that must be used as evidence in the answer.

Mean

The average of a data set, found by adding all values together and dividing by the number of values.

Median

The middle value in a data set once the values have been arranged in ascending order.

Mode

The value that occurs most often in a data set.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set, showing how spread out the data is.

Interquartile range

The spread of the middle 50 percent of a data set, found by subtracting the lower quartile value from the upper quartile value, less affected by extreme values than the range.

Percentage change

The size of a change expressed as a proportion of the original value, calculated as (change divided by original value) multiplied by 100.

Grid reference

A set of numbers used to pinpoint a location on an Ordnance Survey map, either four-figure for a grid square or six-figure for a precise point within it.

Fieldwork enquiry

An independent geographical investigation involving a question or hypothesis, planning, data collection, presentation, analysis and an evaluated conclusion.