Get ahead with our AQA A-Level Environmental Science Predicted Papers! 🌍📘 

Perfect for focused revision, these papers come with a free video walkthrough featuring A* essay examples and detailed analysis, showing you exactly how to interpret the questions and structure your answers to hit those top bands 📝💡.

They’re a fantastic way to practise – but remember, they’re just predictions, so be sure to revise everything! 📚✨ 

And most importantly, please take care of your mental health – you're doing your best, and that’s more than enough 💛🌱.

AQA A-Level Environmental Science Paper 1

Mineral Extraction

⛏️

• Understand the methods of extraction: opencast, deep mining, and their impacts.

• Revise environmental impacts: habitat loss, pollution, subsidence.

• Know about sustainability strategies like resource substitution, recycling, and land restoration.

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Changes to the Cryosphere

❄️🌡️

• The cryosphere includes all frozen water (glaciers, ice caps, permafrost).

• Revise the effects of climate change: sea level rise, feedback loops (e.g., albedo effect).

• Understand data collection: satellite imaging, ice cores, and temperature records.

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Aquifers

💧

• Know how aquifers store groundwater in porous rock (e.g., chalk, sandstone).

• Revise issues like over-abstraction, contamination, and saltwater intrusion.

• Understand sustainable use and how aquifers are monitored and managed.

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Air Pollution / Indicator Species

🌬️🪲

• Know sources and effects of air pollutants: SO₂, NOx, particulates.

• Learn about indicator species (e.g., lichens) and what they tell us about air quality.

• Understand monitoring methods: passive sampling, bioindicators, and electronic sensors.

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Oil Extraction

🛢️

• Revise stages: exploration, drilling, extraction, and transport.

• Environmental impacts: oil spills (e.g., Deepwater Horizon), habitat damage.

• Consider mitigation methods: double-hulled tankers, blowout preventers, spill response.

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Chi-Squared

📊

• A statistical test used to compare observed vs expected results.

• Great for categorical data (e.g., number of organisms in different conditions).

• Remember steps: calculate expected values, apply formula, compare to critical value.

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Heavy Metal Pollution

☣️

• Sources: industry, mining, waste disposal (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium).

• Impacts: bioaccumulation, toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial life.

• Control: phytoremediation, filtration, legal limits and monitoring.

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Energy Efficiency

⚡🏠

• Understand ways to reduce energy waste: insulation, LED lighting, efficient appliances.

• Know how to calculate efficiency using input and useful output.

• Environmental benefits: reduced emissions, conservation of finite resources.

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Climate Change

🌍🔥

• Know the causes: greenhouse gases, deforestation, agriculture.

• Understand impacts: extreme weather, ocean acidification, species migration.

• Solutions: renewable energy, carbon capture, international agreements (e.g., Paris Accord).

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The Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

🔄🌿

• Carbon cycle: photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, decomposition.

• Nitrogen cycle: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, assimilation.

• Human impacts: fossil fuel burning, deforestation (carbon); fertilisers, sewage (nitrogen).

AQA A-Level Environmental Science Paper 2

Biomes

🌎🌱

• Understand the major global biomes: tropical rainforest, tundra, desert, etc.

• Revise their climatic conditions, biodiversity levels, and productivity.

• Be able to explain threats (e.g. deforestation, desertification) and conservation strategies.

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Oceanic Islands

🏝️🦎

• These are isolated ecosystems with high endemism and vulnerability.

• Revise evolutionary processes like adaptive radiation (e.g. Darwin’s finches).

• Understand threats like invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change.

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Biomimetics

🦋🔬

• The use of nature-inspired solutions in technology and design.

• Examples: sharkskin for swimwear, bird wings for aircraft, spider silk for materials.

• Understand the link between biodiversity conservation and future biomimetic discoveries.

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Pollinators / Pesticides

🐝⚠️

• Learn about the role of pollinators in ecosystems and agriculture.

• Understand pesticide impacts on pollinators (e.g. neonicotinoids).

• Revise strategies to protect pollinators: habitat corridors, organic farming, regulation.

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Fishing

🎣🌊

• Know the difference between sustainable and unsustainable fishing.

• Revise issues: overfishing, bycatch, habitat destruction (e.g. trawling).

• Management strategies: quotas, marine protected areas, selective gear.

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Measuring Humidity / Transects

🌡️🌿

• Humidity measured using hygrometers or wet and dry bulb thermometers.

• Transects used to study changes in distribution across a gradient (e.g. line and belt transects).

• Understand when to use which method and how to analyse results.

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Indirect Evidence in Ecological Sampling

🐾🌳

• Includes signs like droppings, tracks, nests, calls.

• Useful for studying elusive species without disturbance.

• Often combined with camera traps or acoustic monitors.

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Spearman’s Rank

📈🔢

• A statistical test to find correlation between two ranked variables.

• Perfect for ecological data (e.g. light intensity vs plant height).

• Know how to calculate it and interpret +1, 0, -1 values.

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Comparing Human Activity with Natural Processes

🏗️🌪️

• Human impacts: deforestation, mining, construction, emissions.

• Natural processes: erosion, volcanic activity, storms.

• Be ready to compare scale, speed, and long-term effects.

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Intensive and Extensive Aquaculture

🐟💧

• Intensive: high input/output, controlled conditions (e.g. salmon farms).

• Extensive: low input, natural systems (e.g. shrimp ponds).

• Revise environmental impacts: waste, disease, escapees, habitat loss.

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Sustainable Forestry Management

🌲✅

• Methods include selective logging, replanting, rotation cycles, FSC certification.

• Goals: biodiversity protection, carbon storage, long-term wood supply.

• Understand ecological, economic, and social balancing.