Very High Frequency
What Examiners Ask About Climate Change
- "Describe the evidence for climate change" — temperature records, ice cores, sea level rise, melting ice, changing seasons (3–4 marks)
- "Explain how burning fossil fuels causes climate change" — releases CO₂, enhanced greenhouse effect, more IR trapped, surface warms (3–4 marks)
- "Explain the difference between weather and climate" — short-term conditions vs long-term averages (2 marks)
- "Describe consequences of climate change" — sea level rise, extreme weather, ice melt, habitat loss (3–4 marks)
- "Evaluate mitigation strategies" — pros and cons of renewable energy, carbon capture, individual actions (4–6 marks)
- "State uncertainties in climate science" — complex feedback mechanisms, regional predictions, tipping points (2 marks)
Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 2 (1CH0/2). Edexcel requires evaluation of evidence for human-caused climate change and discussion of measures to reduce carbon emissions — 'Suggest' questions are common here. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.
This exam focus covers Exam Focus within Climate Change for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Climate Change in Atmosphere for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 15 of 17 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Practice questions for Climate Change
Which statement correctly describes the difference between weather and climate?
Explain three consequences of climate change for the environment or human populations. [3 marks]