How to revise for GCSE Geography

The mere fact that you are reading this blog means that you are motivated to improve your grade. You are more than half way there!

It’s sometimes easy to think of your GCSE subjects as isolated, academic subjects, with little to say about the real world. It’s important to open your mind to the Geography around you! Watch the news, listen to the weather forecast, enjoy the likes of Countryfile and David Attenborough documentaries for a start.

Revision is essential to do well in your GCSE Geography examination. It’s a chance for you to bring the subject together and consolidate your learning.

Here, we will look at our approach to Geography revision in the same way we would a Geography case-study: it helps if we look at the why, where, the how, the when, the what, and the who.

The ‘Why’ – Are you clear why you are revising?

The most obvious answer is to give yourself the best chance of showing the examiners just what a great geographer you are. Motivation is incredibly important when it comes to learning. We have all had the experience of ‘just going through the motions’ and not really engaging with something. Sometimes having a really clear goal can help motivate us when we’re not feeling like revising.

Top Tip: Take 5 minutes now and think about what you want out of your GCSE Geography examinations. It could be a good grade to help study certain A levels or just to help your points average. You might even be a budding Geographer who wishes to continue your studies. Whatever your motivation, write it out on a post-it note or post card and display it somewhere prominent. This way, you will be reminded of your motivation and it should give you a boost

The ‘Where’ – The (Revision) Environment Matters!

It is clear that geography is all around us so don’t switch off! I’m watching traffic go past my window and I am thinking – ‘traffic counts’. However, specifically it is best to have a quiet, comfortable (not too warm – 18 degrees max) space, where you go regularly. You will then associate that space with learning and concentrating. 

Your revision environment should also be tidy and well organised. If things are all over the place it can be harder to focus. When it comes to your Geography revision space you may want to allocate an area for data-samples, another area for case studies, one area for definitions and another for your notes. It pays to be organised!

The ‘How’ – The Most Important Question – How do you revise?

The best revision is when you are actively engaged in what you are learning. There are lots of different methods and techniques, here are a few that I’d recommend.

Do written summaries of your notes.

Colour code your notes – say red for definitions, green for case-studies, and blue for evaluative words or phrases.

Make spider diagrams with the body being a specific topic like Oxbow lake. More smaller diagrams than massive all encompassing are easier to remember.

Do past papers, then check your answer against the mark scheme (more on this below)

Set your own questions then answer them in very short sentences. 

The ‘When’ – When should you start revising?

We are told that revision should be a continual process and this is true, but I have found that there are some pivotal moments when revision works best. For summer exams, it can be a good idea to start seriously in the Easter holiday. Set out a timetable – a bit like the one you use at school and then stick to it.

Remember to be kind to yourself by chunking your time into blocks of 20mins, followed by a short 5-10 min break. Then continue in the evenings and weekends if you get the chance during the summer term when the exam period starts then keep going, but be sure to give your brain a breather after exams.

If you have followed this advice so far then working the day before specifically on past papers can be really beneficial, but I guard against the old fashioned cramming it all in a day or two before!

Sleep well the night before the exam and be a warrior not a worrier.  Before the exam briefly going through your revision summaries may calm nerves but you should be confident now to stroll positively into the exam hall.

The ‘What’ – It’s important you know what you should revise

One of the most essential documents for your revision is provided free by your exam board. You should aim to go through the specification (the course outline) as soon as possible. You will find lots of other useful documents via your exam board’s website:

Edexcel

AQA

OCR A / OCR B

Eduqas A/ Eduqas B

WJEC

Each of the above will link to really useful content:

Past Papers

This will provide you with the opportunity to practice examination papers that replicate the format of your assessment. You should identify which types of questions you need help with and this should inform your revision. But to mark your work (or indeed your friends’), you will need…

Mark Schemes

Mark Schemes provide a really useful insight into the ‘behind the scenes’ processes your examiners will use to assess your work. You should look carefully at what they look for in top tier answers, compared to lower ones. Often, it is a very simple aspect, such as analysis of a case study as opposed to just repeating it.

Examiners’ Report

Perhaps the most under-utilised free resource is the most useful. After each exam cycle, Geography examiners will outline the common trends, successes and pitfalls in that years’ assessments. This can provide crucial ‘inside’ knowledge as to what the examiners are looking for.

Geographical Vocabulary

The syllabus will provide an outline of the course and within it, it will identify key vocabulary you need to know. A rough rule of thumb is that if there is a particular term used in the syllabus, it could come up in a question. Therefore, it’s essential you know the key terms of your course and this should be factored into your revision!

Case Studies

As with vocabulary, the case studies you have been working on all year, are likely feature heavily in your responses. Much like the system we are using in this article, you should use the: why, where, how, what and who approach for each one. Think carefully, are you just ‘reciting’ the case study, or do you really know it inside out? If not, make sure you prioritise this.

Textbooks

While not the most fashionable learning aide, your textbook is a vaulable source of information. Written specifically for your exam board, it should contain useful content and advice. That said, it is important (as noted above) that you revise ‘actively’ and don’t just sit and read the textbook. Write summaries, check your learning, and review. Or alternatively have someone test your knowledge by using the textbook (this way it doesn’t have to be a geographer!

Top Tip: Set aside one hour to read your specification and use the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) method to establish what you have a good understanding of (Green), what you need a little develop in (Amber) and what you do not know (Red). Prioritise the red and remember to update your RAG so you can see you are making progress!

The ‘Who’ – Who is the revision for?

There are 3 groups of players. The most important is YOU. The exams are for YOU to show how good you are. The results are a statement of where you are academically at the time of the exam – no more and no less! The second groups are the examiners . They want you to do well. As an examiner I am told to be POSITIVE when marking. This means we have to look for marks to give, not try and take them away!

But it really helps if you write neatly, follow the instructions in the question and complete the paper in time. Finally don’t forget your teachers/tutors. Again they want the very best for you. Good luck!

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