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Subjects · Leaving Cert Geography

Leaving Cert Geography: Aerial photographs

How often Aerial photographs comes up on the Geography papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Geography course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Aerial photographs, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Aerial photographs.

(a)Aerial photograph taken from directly above, looking straight down?
  1. An oblique aerial photograph
  2. A vertical aerial photograph
  3. A ground-level photograph
(b)Feature on a photograph used to estimate the time of day it was taken?
  1. The width of the roads and the streets
  2. The colour of the roofs and roads
  3. The length and direction of shadows
(c)Aerial photograph taken at an angle so the sides of buildings are visible?
  1. An oblique aerial photograph
  2. A satellite image
  3. A vertical aerial photograph
Show the answers

(a) A vertical aerial photograph

(b) The length and direction of shadows

(c) An oblique aerial photograph

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Aerial photographs.

Higher Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026SQ9
2025SQ8, SQ9
2024SQ8
2023SQ8, SQ9
2022SQ8
2021SQ8, SQ9
2019SQ8, SQ9
2018SQ2
2017SQ9
2016SQ8

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Aerial photographs questions

Aerial photographs, 3 marks

Method used to describe location on an oblique aerial photograph?

  1. A six-figure grid reference taken from the matching OS map
  2. Nine equal boxes such as top left, centre and bottom right
  3. Foreground, middle ground and background with left, centre and right
Show the answer

Foreground, middle ground and background with left, centre and right

Distance from the camera changes down an oblique photograph, so position is given by depth as well as by side, for example left middle ground.

Aerial photographs, 2 marks

Evidence on a photograph that a town is a port?

  1. Round bales in large fields
  2. Quays, cranes and moored ships
  3. Terraced houses with gardens
Show the answer

Quays, cranes and moored ships

Quays and cranes show goods are loaded and unloaded there, so the town has a port function.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026SQ8
2025SQ7
2024SQ8
2023SQ8
2022SQ9
2021SQ8
2019SQ7
2018SQ11
2017SQ7
2016SQ1

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Aerial photographs questions

Aerial photographs, 2 marks

Type of aerial photograph taken looking straight down?

  1. An oblique aerial photograph
  2. A satellite image
  3. A vertical aerial photograph
Show the answer

A vertical aerial photograph

The camera points straight down, so the photograph looks like a map, keeps a steady scale and shows roofs rather than the fronts of buildings.

Aerial photographs, 2 marks

Part of an oblique aerial photograph that is nearest to the camera?

  1. The middle ground
  2. The foreground
  3. The background
Show the answer

The foreground

The bottom of an oblique photograph is closest to the camera, so objects there look largest and the most detail can be seen.

Aerial photographs, 2 marks

Best way to judge the time of year shown in an aerial photograph?

  1. Look at the trees and the crops in the fields
  2. Count the number of houses and farm buildings
  3. Measure the width of the roads and lanes
Show the answer

Look at the trees and the crops in the fields

Bare trees, ploughed fields, cut silage or crowded beaches all point to a season, and shadows can also suggest the time of day.

Other Geography topics

All of Leaving Cert Geography