Top 5 Revision Tips for A-Level Geography

Nathania

Senior Writer

Top 5 Revision Tips for A-Level Geography

1. Summarise your A-level Geography case studies

For every topic in A-level Geography, there are relevant case studies you should have condensed notes for. You want to have good, detailed notes that you can revise regarding your case studies that cover key facts. This could be in the form of notes or flashcards something whatever works best for you. Mind maps can also be helpful, particularly using a colour code for different factors. Sticking it up on a wall in your room can be useful so you can look at it frequently to help you memorise the case study. Watching videos or films on your case studies can help give you greater insight. Try to find case studies that you find interesting as they stick in your mind more.

2. Have a A-level Geography revision timetable

It can be tricky when you’re studying several A-levels knowing how to manage your time, however, you do want to dedicate a few hours a day to cover A-level geography. The best way to do this is with a timetable. You also want to write on your timetable the specific topic that you want to cover in the time you have allocated towards revising A-level Geography for example, you will spend one hour on Tuesday focusing on Globalisation.

Try to have a method of recording which topics you have already covered so you ensure that you cover all your topics before your exams and have time to go back over the topics you struggle with. Be flexible with your timetable, if you know you find a particular topic challenging allocate a few extra slots to going over it. Don’t forget to include breaks in your timetable so you have time to soak in all the knowledge you’ve learned.

3. Read geography focused newspapers and magazines

It’s not enough to just cover the information that is given to you in your A-level Geography textbooks. It’s important to read outside of your textbooks information that you can use in your exams. Good sources that you can refer to are National Geographic, articles in the Times newspaper or ScienceDaily. After reading an article you want to summarise the key points of the article, what you’ve learned from it, and the relevant topics that it relates to. Aim to do this immediately after reading the article whilst it is still fresh in your mind. Don’t leave it till exams when you have lots of other topics to cover. Doing this for each topic means that by the time it comes to exams you will have created a great resource for yourself to incorporate into your essays to get greater marks.

4. Have a personal keywords index

In A-level Geography there are many words was that you’re going to come across as you cover different topics. You want to make sure that you know what these keywords mean and know how to use them. It can be helpful to have your own personal keywords index where you write down a topic and the keywords that come under that topic with their definition. This will help familiarise you with the keywords so you know when they are appropriate to be used during your exam. This will show that you really know your stuff and impress the examiner.

5. Practice A-level Geography past papers

Past papers are one of your most valuable resources. Practice under timed conditions at home and mark your answers, trying to be strict and stick to the mark scheme. Alternatively, you could try asking your teacher if they would mind marking an essay you’ve written at home. Try to study the mark scheme and see what points gain you extra marks. Questions in A-level Geography papers often involve maps and diagrams and you want to show that you can engage with these plus use them within your answers. Practicing past papers will make you more comfortable with doing this.

Try reading through for examiners’ reports which are breakdowns written by the examiners of how students did during the exam. They also cover what the examiners were looking for in different answers and things students often forget. These can be very helpful because it means you start thinking as an examiner and you know what they’re looking for. This means that as you write your answers, you’re able to include the things that you know that the examiner is looking for.

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