National 5 Geography
National 5 Geography is an 80-mark question paper plus a 20-mark assignment. The 2027 exam is on Thursday 6 May, 13:00 to 15:20.
- Question paper13:00 to 15:20
What grade is my mark?
Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.
How the A and C boundaries have moved
Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100 | 70 | 59 | 49 | 38 |
| 2025 | 100 | 70 | 59 | 48 | 37 |
| 2024 | 100 | 72 | 61 | 50 | 39 |
| 2023 | 70 | 49 | 40 | 31 | 22 |
| 2022 | 70 | 52 | 43 | 35 | 26 |
Paper layout
The question paper lasts 2 hours 20 minutes and has 80 marks across three sections.
| Section | Marks | What you answer |
|---|---|---|
| Physical environments | 30 | Your landscape types, weather and land use |
| Human environments | 30 | All questions |
| Global issues | 20 | Two of the six issues |
The six global issues are climate change, natural regions, environmental hazards, trade and globalisation, tourism, and health.
Ordnance Survey map work runs through the paper. Expect grid references, distance by scale, and reading relief from contours.
The assignment
You research a geographical topic, ideally with fieldwork, over several lessons. You then write it up in up to 1 hour under supervision. You may bring two single-sided A4 sheets or one single-sided A3 sheet of processed information. Leaving this out costs 4 marks.
Processed information means graphs, maps and tables you have made from your data. Raw printouts do not count.
Choose a topic you can investigate with fieldwork or reliable data. A river survey or a land use count both work. A clear aim makes the write-up much easier.
How candidates did in 2025
Map skills were a strength. Many candidates located features correctly at grid references and read urban OS maps well. Case study knowledge was good, especially on land use conflicts and informal settlements.
Weaker areas were:
- explaining physical processes without using diagrams
- describing when the question asked for an explanation
- extended explain questions worth higher marks
- giving reasons for population differences
In the assignment, research methods were well answered. But the quality of processed information dropped, and graphs were poorer again.
The report asked centres to keep case studies current and to practise annotated diagrams. It also confirmed that OS maps will remain central to the exam.
How to score well
When explaining the formation of a landform, use a labelled diagram alongside the text. Each step of the process should be a separate developed point. For human geography, name a real city or country and give specific figures.
For each global issue you choose, learn causes, effects and responses. Back them with named examples, places and dates.
Using past papers
Do the OS map questions first in practice, as they test a skill you can sharpen fast. Then time full papers. Mark with the marking instructions and note which answers were description when explanation was needed.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Practise 4 and 6 figure grid references on a different OS map extract each week.
- Draw and label formation diagrams for five landforms from each landscape you studied.
- Explain each landform as a sequence of developed process points.
- Learn how latitude, relief, aspect and distance from the sea affect local weather.
- Prepare an up-to-date case study for an informal settlement and a developed world city.
- Learn two development indicators of each type and explain why they differ.
- Pick your two global issues early and revise causes, effects and responses for each.
- Turn assignment data into graphs with titles, scales and labelled axes.
- Fit your processed information on two A4 sides or one A3 side.
- Mark practice answers by checking each one explains rather than describes.
Quick answers
- How many global issues do I answer in National 5 Geography?
Two of the six: climate change, natural regions, environmental hazards, trade and globalisation, tourism, or health.
- What can I take into the Geography assignment?
Two single-sided A4 sheets or one single-sided A3 sheet of processed information. Without it, 4 marks are deducted.
- When is the National 5 Geography exam in 2027?
Thursday 6 May 2027, 13:00 to 15:20.