Specification points
WJEC GCSE Geology C480QS
81 points in 4 topics, with WJEC's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·WJEC command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from WJEC's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: WJEC’s specification.
1 Key Idea 1: Evidence of rock formation and deformation
- 1.1 Minerals
- 1.1(a) Formation of minerals
- 1.1(b) Laboratory techniques for imaging and analysing minerals
- 1.2 Igneous Rocks and Processes
- 1.2(a) Diagnostic properties of igneous rocks
- 1.2(b) Classifying igneous rocks by texture and mineralogy
- 1.2(c) Crystal size and magma cooling rate
- 1.2(d) Magma viscosity and types of volcanic activity
- 1.2(e) Distinguishing igneous bodies
- 1.3 Sedimentary Rocks and their Fossil Content
- 1.3(a) Weathering, erosion, transport and deposition of sediment
- 1.3(b) Grain size, shape and sorting of sediment
- 1.3(c) Porosity and permeability of sedimentary rocks
- 1.3(d) Diagnostic properties of sedimentary rocks
- 1.3(e) Sedimentary rocks and environments of deposition
- 1.3(f) Sedimentary structures and depositional environments
- 1.3(g) Fossils as indicators of past environments
- 1.4 Metamorphic Rocks and Processes
- 1.4(a) Formation of metamorphic rocks
- 1.4(b) Diagnostic textures of metamorphic rocks
- 1.4(c) Diagnostic mineralogy of metamorphic rocks
- 1.5 Deformational Structures
- 1.5(a) Evidence of tectonic activity in the rock record
- 1.5(b) Folding and compressional stress
- 1.5(c) Faulting and tectonic stress
- 1.5(d) Unconformities
2 Key Idea 2: Major concepts and techniques in geology
- 2.1 The Rock Cycle
- 2.1(a) The rock cycle
- 2.1(b) Rates of rock cycle processes
- 2.2 Plate Tectonics
- 2.2(a) Concentric structure of the Earth
- 2.2(b) Lithosphere and asthenosphere
- 2.2(c) Tectonic plates
- 2.2(d) From continental drift to plate tectonics
- 2.2(e) Evidence for plate tectonics and plate movement
- 2.2(f) Plate boundaries: magmatism, structures and topography
- 2.2(g) Re-evaluating plate theory with new evidence
- 2.3 Geochronological Principles
- 2.3(a) Stratigraphic principles and relative dating
- 2.3(b) Dating and correlation with zone fossils
- 2.3(c) Zone fossil groups: cephalopods and graptolites
- 2.3(d) Radiometric (absolute) dating
- 2.3(e) Deep time and the age of the Earth
- 2.4 Global Climate and Sea Level Change
- 2.4(a) Evidence for global climate change through geological time
- 2.4(b) British climate change caused by changing latitude
- 2.4(c) Evidence for sea level change
- 2.4(d) Sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide
- 2.4(e) Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over geological time
- 2.4(f) Feedback on atmospheric carbon dioxide
- 2.4(g) Global warming, ice sheets and sea level
- 2.4(h) Carbon capture and storage
- 2.5 The Origin and Development of Life on Earth
- 2.5(a) Origin of life
- 2.5(b) Evolution of diversity in the fossil record
- 2.5(c) Mass extinction events
- 2.5(d) Major fossil finds
3 Key Idea 3: Earth and other planetary bodies
4 Key Idea 4: Human interaction with the Earth and risk
- 4.1 Earth Hazards and their Mitigation
- 4.1(a) Geological hazards
- 4.1(b) Factors affecting the level of hazard risk
- 4.1(c) Limits of hazard prediction
- 4.1(d) Methods of reducing hazard risk
- 4.2 Earth Resources and Engineering
- 4.2(a) Resources and reserves
- 4.2(b) Uses of mineral resources
- 4.2(c) Prospecting techniques for new reserves
- 4.2(d) Oil and gas traps and reservoir rocks
- 4.2(e) Difficulties and issues in extracting oil and gas
- 4.2(f) Extracting groundwater from aquifers
- 4.2(g) Waste disposal and vulnerable aquifers
- 4.2(h) Geology and the siting of engineering projects