S3 Geography National Exam | NESA 2025

 

NESA Past Paper 2025


PART I: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (50 marks)

Section A: Multiple Choice & Short Answer (26 marks)

For all multiple choice questions, circle a letter corresponding to the correct answer.

1) i) What is the term for a cluster of stars perceived as a figure in the sky? (2 marks)

A) Galaxy

B) Constellation

C) Cluster

D) Nebula

Correct answer

 B

ii) What are the two main types of crust? (2 marks)

 1) Continental crust

2) Oceanic crust.

2) Which of the following is the lowest layer of the atmosphere? (2 marks)

A) Stratosphere

B) Mesosphere

C) Troposphere

D) Thermosphere

Answer

C

3) i) What are the two main drainage basins in Rwanda? (2 marks)

1.  The Congo Basin

2. The Nile Basin

ii) What is the term for the arrangement of a river and its tributaries? (2 marks)

A) River profile

B) Drainage pattern

C) Water cycle

D) River flow

Correct

B

4) i) Which farming method is recommended in hilly areas of Rwanda to protect soil from erosion? (2 marks)

A) Contour farming and terracing

B) Overgrazing

C) Monoculture

D) Slash-and-burn agriculture.

Correct

A

ii) Which is the best practice for water conservation in a rural Rwandan village? (2 marks)

A) Promote rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation techniques.

B) Encourage wastage of water resources

C) Discourage water storage

D) Rely only on existing water sources without any conservation efforts.

Correct answer

 A

iii) How does deforestation contribute to climate change? (2 marks)

A) By increasing the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

B) By reducing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees.

C) By increasing the amount of rainfall.

D) By decreasing the Earth's temperature.

Answer

B

5) i) What is the primary factor that determine the type of vegetation found in a region? (2 marks)

A) Animal species in the area

B) Human activity

C) Availability of water.

D) Temperature, rainfall and soil type

Correct

D

ii) Which of the following is a typical characteristic of grassland vegetation? (2 marks)

A) Dense trees with a high canopy

B) Wide open areas with scattered trees and shrubs

C) Low-growing shrubs and plants adapted to cold climates

D) Tall, dense forests with a variety of plants.

Correct

B

6) i) Which of the following is a characteristic of a dendritic drainage pattern? (2 marks)

A) Stream channels flow on straight lines

B) Steams flow in parallel lines

C) Streams form a tree-blanching pattern.

D) Streams flow in concentric circles

Answer

C) Streams form a tree-blanching pattern. ( A mistake in Exam but we have corrected it "branching")

ii) Which drainage pattern is typically associated with volcanic regions? (2 marks)

A) Dentritic

B) Parallel

C) Centripetal

D) Radial

Correct

D

7) What time is it at city X located at 30° East when the time at Greenwich is noon. (2 marks)

A) 2:00 P.M.

B) 2:00 a.m.

C) 3:00 p.m.

D) 3:00 a.m.

Correct

A

Calculation: 30° East means the location is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. 12:00 noon + 2 hours = 2:00 p.m.

Section B: Attempt only two questions of your choice. (14 marks)

(Students are required to attempt two, but here are the answers for all).

8) Study the table below and answer the questions that follow.

Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean monthly temp 0C

20

18

21

25

28

28

27

28

20

20

21

23

 

i) Which is the mean annual temperature? (3 marks)

A) 250C

B) 240C

C) 230C

D) 210C

Answer

 C

(Calculation: Sum of all months is equal 276, divided by 12)

ii) Which is the annual temperature range? (2 marks)

A) 280C

B) 80C

C) 200C

D) 100C

Correct

 D

Calculation: Highest temp is (28) minus lowest temp (18)

iii) What is the hottest and the coolest month at this weather station? (2 marks)

A. The hottest months are June and July.

B. The coolest month is February.

9) i) Which rock type is formed from the remains of plants and animals? (2 marks)

A) Organically formed sedimentary rocks

B) Mechanically formed sedimentary rocks

C) Chemically formed sedimentary rocks

D) Extrusive igneous rocks

Correct

A

ii) What process that causes the change of limestone into marble? (2 marks)

A) Weathering

B) Erosion

C) Metamorphism

D) Deposition

Correct

C

iii) Why are metamorphic rocks generally harder than sedimentary rocks? (2 marks)

A) They are formed from magma.

B) They are made of organic materials.

C) They are formed on the earth’s surface.

D) They are subjected to intense heat and pressure.

Correct

D

iv) Which one of the following is an example of igneous rock? (1 mark)

A) Clay

B) Slate

C) Mudstone

D) Granite

Correct

D

10) What are the possible measures taken by Rwanda to mitigate the challenges of being a land locked country? (7 marks)

(Award marks for any well-explained points from the following)

Developing air transport: Expanding RwandAir and building the new Bugesera International Airport for high-value cargo.

Regional Integration: Joining the East African Community (EAC) to benefit from shared infrastructure, single customs territories, and free movement of goods.

Inland Ports/Dry Ports: Developing facilities like the Kigali Inland Port (Masaka) to streamline customs and cargo handling.

Railway Projects: Investing in standard gauge railway (SGR) connections to major seaports (e.g., the Dar es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali route).

Diplomatic Relations: Maintaining strong bilateral ties with transit neighbors (Tanzania and Kenya) to ensure smooth access to the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Focusing on High-Value Exports: Shifting the economy toward services, ICT, tourism, and lightweight/high-value exports (minerals, specialty coffee) that are less impacted by high overland shipping costs.

 

Section C: This question on photographic interpretation is compulsory (10 marks)

11) Study the photograph below and then answer the questions that follow.

S3 Geography National Exam | NESA 2025

a) What type of photograph is this? (2 marks)

Ground-level photograph (or Terrestrial photograph).

b) Name animals shown in the photograph. (2 marks)

1. A Zebras

2. A Giraffe.

c) In which national park and district of Rwanda where the photograph was taken from? (2 marks)

Akagera National Park. It is located in the Eastern Province (spanning Kayonza, Gatsibo, and Nyagatare districts).

d) Give the name of the main activity carried out in the region shown in the photograph. (2 marks)

1. Wildlife conservation

2. Tourism.

e) Give two (2) importance of the activity mentioned in (d) above. (2 marks)

Generates foreign exchange revenue,

Creates local employment (tour guides, rangers),

Promotes infrastructural development (roads, hotels),

Helps conserve biodiversity.

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PART II: HUMAN AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY (50 marks)

Section A: Multiple Choice & Fill-in-the-Blanks (29 marks)

12) i) Why does industrial development attract people to urban centers? (2 marks)

A) It reduces the cost of living.

B) It offers employment opportunities.

C) It improves rural infrastructure.

D) It decreases the demand for goods and services.

Correct answer

 B

ii) Linear settlements typically develop (2 marks)

A) In areas with low rainfall.

B) In mountainous regions.

C) In isolated areas with few inhabitants.

D) Along transportation routes like roads.

Correct

 D

13) If a tea plantation is established on a steep hillside, which soil conservation technique would be most appropriate? (2 marks)

A) Monoculture

B) Bush burning

C) Over cultivation

D) Terracing

Correct

D

14) Fill in the blank spaces with the following proposed words: (a natural; tropical rainforests; Reforestation; afforestation; exploitation) 5 Marks

a) Forestry is the industry that deals with the preservation and exploitation of trees.

b) Planting trees in an area that previously had no forest is called afforestation

c) Reforestation is the planting of trees in an area where a forest has been destroyed.

d) Nyungwe Forest is an example of a natural forest in Rwanda.

e) Hardwood trees, a continuous canopy, and thick undergrowth are characteristics of tropical rainforests

15) i) What is the term for rearing fish in artificial water bodies or ponds? (2 marks)

A) Aquaculture

B) Pisciculture

C) Horticulture

D) Agriculture

Correct

 B

ii) What is the common traditional fishing method in Africa? (2 marks)

A) Spearing

B) Trawling

C) Seining

D) Drifting

Correct

 A

16) i) What is irrigation? (2 marks)

A) The lake reclamation

B) The application of water to land for agriculture

C) The rearing of animals

D) The clearing of forests for farming

Correct

 B

ii) How does subsistence farming differ from commercial farming? (2 marks)

A) Subsistence farming is small-scale and for personal use, while commercial farming is large-scale and for profit.

B) Commercial farming is primarily for home consumption while subsistence farming is for selling purpose.

C) Subsistence farming is done on large-scale land, while commercial farming is done on small-scale land.

D) There is no difference at all.

Correct

 A

17) i) What is a population census? (2 marks)

A) A study of population preferences

B) An official count of a population

C) A prediction of future population growth

D) A way of controlling population growth

Answer

B

ii) Which is NOT a physical factor influencing population distribution? (2 marks)

A) Climate

B) Soil fertility

C) Religion

D) Relief

Answer

 C

iii) Why are some areas of Africa sparsely populated? (2 marks)

A) Due to reliable rainfall and fertile soils.

B) Due to harsh climates, such as deserts and arid regions.

C) Due to high levels of urbanization.

D) None of the above

Correct

B

18) i) How could the development of efficient transportation infrastructure impact mining operations? 2 Marks

A) Increase production costs

B) Reduce access to mineral deposits

C) Facilitate the transport of mined minerals

D) Decrease demand for the minerals

Correct

C

ii) What is the main advantage of biomass energy? 2 Marks

A) It requires high-cost inputs

B) It is widely available and naturally distributed

C) It contributes to global warming

D) All of the above are correct

Answer

 B

Section B: Attempt only three questions of your choice. (21 marks)

 (Students are required to attempt three, but here are the answers for all).

19) i) Match the tourist attractions in Rwanda with their exact locations. (3 marks)

Locations

Tourist attractions

a) Akagera National Park

i) Home to mountain gorillas

b) Nyungwe National Park

ii) Known for savannah landscapes, buffaloes, and lions

c) Volcanoes National Park

iii) Known for primates, diverse plant life, and canopy walks

 

a) ------ > ii)

b) ------ > iii)

c) ------ >  i)

ii) Match the problem in Column A with a potential consequence in Column B. (4 marks)

 

Column A

Column B

a) Poaching

i) Decrease in tourist arrivals

b) Political Instability

ii) Decline in wildlife populations

c) Environmental Destruction

iii) Difficulty in accessing tourist sites

d) Inadequate Infrastructure

iv) Loss of natural attractions

 

 

a) ------ > ii)

b) ------ > i)

c) ------ > iv)

d) ------ > iii)

20) i) Which of the following is NOT a traditional method of communication? (2 marks)

A) Smoke signals

B) Beating drums

C) Internet

D) Whistling

Answer

 C

ii) What is the major disadvantage of using road transport? (2 marks)

A) Limited flexibility

B) Traffic congestion and accidents

C) High speed

D) Environmental sustainability

Correct

 B

iii) Use the word(s) given in the brackets to complete the following sentences:

(Air transport, Water transport, Land transport) (3 marks)

A) Air transport refers to the use of aircraft to transport people and goods quickly across long distance.

B) Land transport refers to movement of people and goods using roads.

C) Water transport refers to movement of goods and passengers using water bodies.

21) i) Match the type of industry with its description. (3 marks)

Type of Industry

Description

a) Primary Industry

i) Provides services

b) Secondary Industry

ii) Extracts raw materials

c) Tertiary Industry

iii) Processes raw materials into finished goods

 

Correct

a) ------ > ii)

b) ------ > iii)

c) ------ > i)

ii) Which of the following is NOT a major factor in determining the location of industries? (2 marks)

A) Presence of monotheists

B) Availability of raw materials

C) Availability of skilled labour

D) Presence of transport facilities

Correct

A

iii) The presence of which of the following can lead to the growth of an industrial cluster or agglomeration?  2 Marks

A) Government incentives

B) Skilled labour availability

C) Proximity to transportation networks

D) All of the above

Correct

D

22) Discuss the importance of power and energy in Africa. (2 marks) (7 marks)

(Award marks for any well-explained points from the following)

Drives Industrialization: Provides the necessary power to operate machinery, factories, and heavy industries.

Improves Living Standards: Supplies electricity for lighting, heating, and cooking in households, reducing reliance on traditional biomass and improving health.

Modernizes Agriculture: Powers irrigation systems, agro-processing machines, and cold storage facilities, reducing post-harvest losses.

Job Creation: The energy sector itself (generation, transmission, maintenance) creates thousands of jobs, while reliable power allows other businesses to grow and hire.

Supports Essential Services: Crucial for the operation of hospitals, schools, communication networks, and water treatment plants.

Government Revenue: Exporting surplus energy to neighboring countries generates foreign exchange.

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