What mistakes do students make with ICT skills?

Accepting database information without questioning its provenance. Evaluate the source, date, and methodology of the data collection. Downloading excessive, unfiltered data. Use specific search queries and filters within the database to extract only the variables relevant to the research question. Assuming all electronic databases are entirely objective. Recognise that data categorisation and collection methods can introduce bias, even in official databases.

What are the exam tips for ICT skills in Geography AQA A-Level?

Explicitly name the electronic databases you would use for a proposed enquiry, such as the Environment Agency for flood risk data. Explain exactly how you would filter the database, mentioning specific variables, timeframes, or spatial scales. Discuss the limitations of the database used, such as temporal gaps or changes in how variables are measured over time.

AQA · A-Level · Geography

Course version: 7037 · Version from Sept 2018

ICT skills: Use of electronic databases.

Electronic databases are structured collections of digital information that geographers use to access, filter, and analyse large volumes of secondary data.

Checked against the AQA 7037 specification (opens in a new tab) on 10 November 2026.

Point 2 of 4
2 key terms

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

Identify appropriate electronic databases relevant to the specific geographical enquiry being undertaken.
Demonstrate the ability to filter and extract specific datasets using targeted search parameters or queries.
Evaluate the reliability, validity, and potential bias of the secondary data sourced from the chosen database.
Process and present extracted database information using appropriate graphical, statistical, or GIS techniques.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Accepting database information without questioning its provenance.
Put it right: Evaluate the source, date, and methodology of the data collection.
Downloading excessive, unfiltered data.
Put it right: Use specific search queries and filters within the database to extract only the variables relevant to the research question.
Assuming all electronic databases are entirely objective.
Put it right: Recognise that data categorisation and collection methods can introduce bias, even in official databases.

Exam tips

Explicitly name the electronic databases you would use for a proposed enquiry, such as the Environment Agency for flood risk data.
Explain exactly how you would filter the database, mentioning specific variables, timeframes, or spatial scales.
Discuss the limitations of the database used, such as temporal gaps or changes in how variables are measured over time.

Try the lesson

The start of the ICT skills: Use of electronic databases. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Which of the following best describes the primary advantage of using an electronic database for geographical research compared to paper records?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

Electronic databases are structured collections of digital information that geographers use to access, filter, and analyse large volumes of secondary data. They are essential for investigating spatial and temporal trends across both physical and human geography. For example, using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) database allows students to extract demographic data for specific census output areas to evaluate urban inequality. Similarly, the Met Office database provides historical climate records to analyse long-term temperature anomalies. Effective use involves querying the database using specific parameters, downloading the data in formats like CSV, and integrating it into spreadsheets or GIS software for further statistical analysis and visual representation. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify appropriate electronic databases relevant to the specific geographical enquiry being undertaken. Demonstrate the ability to filter and extract specific datasets using targeted search parameters or queries. Evaluate the reliability, validity, and potential bias of the secondary data sourced from the chosen database. Process and present extracted database information using appropriate graphical, statistical, or GIS techniques. A common slip: Accepting database information without questioning its provenance. Instead, evaluate the source, date, and methodology of the data collection. Exam tip: Explicitly name the electronic databases you would use for a proposed enquiry, such as the Environment Agency for flood risk data.

See it

A top-down flowchart showing the steps of using an electronic database. The first box, selecting an appropriate electronic database, leads to querying the database using specific parameters. That leads to filtering and extracting specific datasets. From there the flow continues to downloading data in formats like CSV, then integrating it into spreadsheets or GIS software, and finally statistical analysis and visual representation. A separate branch from filtering and extracting specific datasets leads to evaluating reliability, validity and potential bias, which then leads to questioning source, date and methodology. — The process of sourcing secondary data from an electronic database, from selecting and querying it through to analysis and evaluation.

Key words

Say what each word means before you turn the card.

Data reliability

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

Geographical enquiry

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

See every definition

Data reliability: A quality to evaluate in secondary data sourced from a chosen database, alongside validity and potential bias.
Geographical enquiry: An investigation for which appropriate electronic databases are selected to source secondary data.

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart showing the steps of using an electronic database. The first box, selecting an appropriate electronic database, leads to querying the database using specific parameters. That leads to filtering and extracting specific datasets. From there the flow continues to downloading data in formats like CSV, then integrating it into spreadsheets or GIS software, and finally statistical analysis and visual representation. A separate branch from filtering and extracting specific datasets leads to evaluating reliability, validity and potential bias, which then leads to questioning source, date and methodology.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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