OCR GCSE & IGCSE Geography
J383
Specification J383. "Paper" and "Mark scheme" open the exam board's official PDF directly — we don't host any files.
OCR GCSE (9–1) Geography A (Geographical Themes) (J383)
OCR GCSE Geography A (Geographical Themes) (J383) is assessed by three untiered written papers, each with a separate resource booklet. Living in the UK Today (1 hour, 60 marks, 30%) and The World Around Us (1 hour, 60 marks, 30%) each cover three themes, UK-focused and global respectively. Geographical Skills (1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 40%) is synoptic: Section A tests geographical skills drawing on the first two papers, and Section B assesses fieldwork, both the student’s own fieldwork and unfamiliar contexts. Each paper includes 3 marks for SPaG.
| Paper | What it covers | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J383/01 Living in the UK Today | Questions on all three themes: Landscapes of the UK, People of the UK and UK Environmental Challenges; all questions compulsory, with a separate resource booklet and 3 SPaG marks. | 1h | 60 | 30% |
| J383/02 The World Around Us | Questions on all three themes: Ecosystems of the Planet, People of the Planet and Environmental Threats to our Planet; all questions compulsory, with a separate resource booklet and 3 SPaG marks. | 1h | 60 | 30% |
| J383/03 Geographical Skills | Synoptic paper. Section A: geographical skills (cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical) applied to material from either or both of the first two papers; Section B: fieldwork, covering the student’s own fieldwork and unfamiliar contexts. Separate resource booklet. | 1h 30m | 80 | 40% |
OCR GCSE (9–1) Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (J384)
OCR GCSE Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (J384) is assessed by three untiered written papers, each with a separate resource booklet. Our Natural World (70 marks, 35%) covers four physical topics plus a physical geography fieldwork section; People and Society (70 marks, 35%) covers four human topics plus a human geography fieldwork section. Geographical Exploration (1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks, 30%) is synoptic and built around a decision-making exercise. Papers 1 and 2 lasted 1 hour 15 minutes up to 2025 and 1 hour 30 minutes from the June 2026 exams; a revised specification for first teaching in September 2025 updates some content.
| Paper | What it covers | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J384/01 Our Natural World | Section A: Global Hazards, Changing Climate, Distinctive Landscapes and Sustaining Ecosystems; Section B: physical geography fieldwork. All questions compulsory, with a separate resource booklet and 3 SPaG marks. | 1h 15m (1h 30m from June 2026) | 70 | 35% |
| J384/02 People and Society | Section A: Urban Futures, Dynamic Development, UK in the 21st Century and Resource Reliance; Section B: human geography fieldwork. All questions compulsory, with a separate resource booklet and 3 SPaG marks. | 1h 15m (1h 30m from June 2026) | 70 | 35% |
| J384/03 Geographical Exploration | Synoptic questions drawing on topics across Our Natural World and People and Society, including a decision-making exercise, with a separate resource booklet and 3 SPaG marks. | 1h 30m | 60 | 30% |
June 20256 papers
J383/01Paper 1 (Living in the UK Today)
J384/01Paper 1 (Our Natural World)
J384/02Paper 2 (People and Society)
J383/02Paper 2 (The World Around Us)
J384/03Paper 3 (Geographical Exploration)
J383/03Paper 3 (Geographical Skills)
June 20246 papers
J383/01Paper 1 (Living in the UK Today)
J384/01Paper 1 (Our Natural World)
J384/02Paper 2 (People and Society)
J383/02Paper 2 (The World Around Us)
J384/03Paper 3 (Geographical Exploration)
J383/03Paper 3 (Geographical Skills)
June 20236 papers
J383/01Paper 1 (Living in the UK Today)
J384/01Paper 1 (Our Natural World)
J384/02Paper 2 (People and Society)
J383/02Paper 2 (The World Around Us)
J384/03Paper 3 (Geographical Exploration)
J383/03Paper 3 (Geographical Skills)
June 20226 papers
J383/01Paper 1 (Living in the UK Today)
J384/01Paper 1 (Our Natural World)
J384/02Paper 2 (People and Society)
J383/02Paper 2 (The World Around Us)
J384/03Paper 3 (Geographical Exploration)
J383/03Paper 3 (Geographical Skills)
November 20216 papers
J383/01Paper 1 (Living in the UK Today)
J384/01Paper 1 (Our Natural World)
J384/02Paper 2 (People and Society)
J383/02Paper 2 (The World Around Us)
J384/03Paper 3 (Geographical Exploration)
J383/03Paper 3 (Geographical Skills)
Every link above points to a PDF published by OCR. The most recent series is usually teacher-only until the board releases it publicly. Broken link? Tell us.
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