HIGHER EXAM PREPARATION

1
HIGHER EXAM PREPARATION
These slides are designed to help you prepare
each topic in the Higher Physical course. The
principles used here can be also applied to the
Human part of the course, and perhaps even to
other subjects! We will be taking each topic in
the order we did them in the course, and
preparing set answers to the likely questions in
the exam. There is not enough time to do all
possible questions for each topic in class, so
once you have learned how to do this, you can
prepare others in your own time!
2
Where do I get the information to prepare the set
answers?

• From the topic booklet I produced for you.
• From the notes in your jotter.
• From the powerpoint lessons on Prepwork and the
  school website.
• From any how to pass Higher geography books.
• From books of past papers with outline answers.
• Additional guidance can be found on the SQA and
  understanding standards websites, where outline
  answers for the last three years exams can be
  found, and assessors reports on the strengths
  and weaknesses of pupil answers can be viewed.

3
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
In these slides, we will be analysing the methods
of answering past paper questions to maximise
marks and minimise the amount of
useless writing. At the end of each section,
you will be preparing a set answer that will gain
full marks.
4
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
There are two sub-topics in the Biosphere. Let
us look at each briefly- what can they ask
about?
Soil types
Plant succession
Soil types can ask a general question about the
factors that make up a soil type. Then they can
ask about one or more of the three case study
soils.
Plant succession can ask about the principles of
succession. Then they can ask about sand dune
succession -the changing conditions and plants
found there.
5
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
6 marks
How does a soil form? Here are 6 factors. Do you
know enough to write about each?
6
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Similar kind
First say which soil type you have chosen!!
Choose the one you can say most about!!
This 8-mark question needs you to address all six
factors. You need to say the part played by
each, for the soil type you have chosen.
7
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Choose the one you can say most about!!
REVISE THEM ALL
This is a nasty question for it gives no help in
a diagram. You also have to be able to draw the
profile! With labels! There should be something
about colour, horizons, texture and drainage. The
last part is also about the factors influencing
this soil- it must mention at least four factors.
8
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
6 marks
Question- Explain fully what is meant by CLIMAX
VEGETATION.
A question about the principles of plant
succession will ask you NOT about any one area,
like sand dunes, but about the way succession
works.
You will be expected to discuss what happens to
alter the soils, and the plants, animals and
insects that live on them in an area starting
from scratch.
What makes the changes happen?
Dont forget to finish by explaining what CLIMAX
actually is!
9
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES

• Most of the dune transect questions will ask a
  variation on the question on the next slide.
• In it, you have to-
• name the stages/seres
• describe the changes that have happened from the
  previous stage to the next stage
• name at least one plant in each stage and
• say why it likes that stage.

10
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
14 marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
Describe and explain the succession of plants in
a dune habitat. Refer to specific plants in your
answer.
How are you going to earn the 14 marks? Easy-
there are (66)x4 points! There are six seres to
name. Each has at least one plant to name. There
are four factors that change.
PH/saltiness
Water content
windiness
Humus content
11
HIGHER BIOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
You are now in the position that you can answer
virtually any of the questions they could ask you
about SOIL TYPES or SAND DUNE SUCCESSION
Nice feeling- huh?
12
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
You can be asked about any of the three scenery
types in paper 1. The question in paper 2
attached to the conflicts question will be about
a different scenery type! So you need to be good
at two at least! You will not know which two! The
questions will need you to know the names of the
main PROCESSES. Additional marks can be gained
in paper 1 by explaining these processes. In
paper 2, you HAVE to be able to explain the
processes!
13
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
COASTS
There is really only one thing they can ask from
you- to EXPLAIN how the features were formed.
The scenery here is divided into EROSION features
and DEPOSITION features.
Sometimes they give you a map, diagram or a
photograph to look at if so, USE IT and QUOTE
from it where you can.
THIS MUST INCLUDE THE SIX EROSION PROCESSES AND
LONGSHORE DRIFT !!!
You may be asked also to DESCRIBE
14
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Here is the list of features you could be asked
to describe/explain/draw! Revise them all in the
way you have done before. Some are closely
related, so dont use them as separate features !
EROSION FEATURES BLOWHOLE ARCH NEEDLE
CAVE STUMP STACK COVE BAY AND
HEADLANDS WAVE-CUT PLATFORM
Can you name Dorset coast examples of these
features?
DEPOSITION FEATURES BEACH BAY BAR SPIT TOMBOLO H
EADLAND SALT MARSH LAGOON
15
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
There is a strong hint they want a diagram!
HELP !
16
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
The diagram does not show ALL the coastal erosion
features. You cannot explain the ones shown
without going back to the features that helped to
create them!! This means that you need to start
by explaining the headland formation, and then
caves, then blowholes, etc.
Do it in the order they were created in! Do not
keep naming the same erosion process, but drop
different ones in along your answer. Try to
briefly explain each one if you can. At least
ONE must be thoroughly explained at Higher.
17
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
14 marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
Additional marks can be gained by naming local
examples from the case study area. Dont forget
to say where that is!
18
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
MASS MOVEMENTS
The scenery here is divided into FOUR
features. They will not take up a whole
question, but may appear in any scenery type.
A mass movement question will only be asking for
the conditions needed for it to form, so learn
these up like a table or list. This makes them
easier to remember and compare.
Water content?
Vegetation a factor?
Land use a factor?
Rock type a factor?
Slope angle a factor?
19
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
6 marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
Describe and explain the conditions needed for
ONE of these to happen.
REVISE THEM ALL
20
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
KARST
There is really only one thing they can ask from
you- to EXPLAIN how the features were formed.
The scenery here is divided into SURFACE and
UNDERGROUND features.
Sometimes they give you a map, diagram or a
photograph to look at if so, USE IT and QUOTE
from it where you can.
THIS MUST INCLUDE THE CHEMICAL PROCESS !!!
You may be asked also to DESCRIBE
21
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Here is the list of features you could be asked
to describe/explain/draw! Revise them all in the
way you have done before. Some are closely
related, so dont use them as separate features !

• SURFACE FEATURES
• Limestone Pavement (Clints and Grikes)
• Dry Valleys
• Scars
• Gorges
• Pot /sink/ swallow/ shake holes,
• Resurgents / re-emergants (springs)

UNDERGROUND FEATURES Caverns Tunnels, passages
and sumps Underground lakes and
waterfalls Flowstone features Dripstone
features-stalactites, stalagmites and pillars.
22
14 marks
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
note you need TWO
You should bring in other features to your
explanation.
Choose the two you can write MOST ABOUT, IN DETAIL
Put the chemistry in EACH answer- just in
case. Word it differently each time- it need not
be a lot of writing!
23
14 marks
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
14 marks
Well-annotated diagrams can help a lot- just not
almost the same as this one!
24
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
GLACIATION
There is really only one thing they can ask from
you- to EXPLAIN how the features were formed.
The scenery here is divided into EROSION features
and DEPOSITION features.
Sometimes they give you a map, diagram or a
photograph to look at if so, USE IT and QUOTE
from it where you can.
THIS MUST INCLUDE THE 3 EROSION PROCESSES !!!
You may be asked also to DESCRIBE
25
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Esker / Drumlin / Terminal Moraine / Outwash
Plain / Till (Ground Moraine /Boulder Clay) /
Kettlehole lake / Outwash Sands and Gravels /
Kame terrace.
Here is the list of features you could be asked
to describe/explain/draw! Revise them all in the
way you have done this last question. Some are
closely related, so dont use them as separate
features !
Arête Hanging Valley Corrie 'U' shaped
Valley Alluvial Fan Pyramidal Peak Corrie
Tarn Misfit Stream Ribbon Lake Truncated
Spur Screes.
Can you name Lake District examples of the
yellow features?
26
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Helpful statement and list given sometimes
Reminder of what they look like
Guess what comes next?
27
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
14 marks
note you need TWO
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
Here is the diagram again
Sometimes they tell you which to do- there isnt
always a choice! There is a strong hint they WANT
a diagram!
28
HIGHER LITHOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
You are now in the position that you can answer
virtually any of the questions they could ask you
about KARST, MASS MOVEMENTS,GLACIAL or COASTAL
FEATURES
Nice feeling- huh?
29
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES
We have already revised the section that deals
with the creation of features.Just remember that
in paper 2, this part is usually worth MORE marks
than the lithosphere question in paper 1! Now we
will concentrate on the other questions you could
be asked in a RLR question- one or both of the
following.. a)Opportunities and/or limitations
of the scenery type for human activity. b) Your
CONFLICT question.
30
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES
Remember these limitations headings? Weather and
climate/ Relief/ Soils/ Drainage /
Geology/ Remoteness / Inaccessibility
Remember these opportunities headings? Agriculture
/ Industry (including mineral exploitation)/
Tourism/ Energy production/ Forestry/ Water
supply
Take the three study areas. For each area, write
a couple of sentences for each heading- you need
not do coastal limitations! Karst and glaciation
will be very similar! Remember to give named
examples in your answers where ever you can!
31
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES
CONFLICTS
Each area has a different dominant set of
conflicts. For the coastal area- the DORSET
COAST- there is the footpath conflict, the MOD
conflict and the non-tourist conflict of
overgrazing. For the Lake District there was the
conflict over the misuse of Lake Windermere, the
traffic congestion in Ambleside and Bowness, and
the footpath conflict at Gamelin End,
Buttermere. For the Yorkshire Dales there was the
footpath conflict at Malham Cove, the failing
farming controversy, and the Swindon and Ingleton
quarries conflict.
32
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES

• Each conflict needs three sections, clearly
  broken up.
• What two groups are in conflict?- explain why.
• What was tried there to solve the conflict?
• What worked and what didnt work so well?

NAME THE PLACES YOU ARE DISCUSSING
Not just the overall area- ie, In the Yorkshire
Dales, but smaller places throughout your text,
ie. At Town End Farm they.
33
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES
When learning up a conflict for the exam, CHOOSE
PLACES where there really was the solution
mentioned. For example, do not do a by-pass for
Malham- there wasnt one! Nor a one-way system
in Lulworth village- there wasnt one! Get it?
Call things by their correct name- there wasnt
a CAMPSITE at Lulworth- it was a caravan site!
34
HIGHER R.L.R. CASE STUDY REVISION ANSWERING
TECHNIQUES
You are now in the position that you can answer
virtually any of the questions they could ask you
about CASE STUDY AREAS and their CONFLICTS
Nice feeling- huh?
35
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
There are three types of question you can get. 1-
a hydrograph 2- a map analysis 3- a general one.
36
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Hydro- graph

• You will be given a graph- simple or complex.
• You will be asked to analyse it in some way.
• They are looking for the following skills-
• Correct use of river and graph terminology
• Accurate quoting of data and units of
  measurement!
• Logical reasons for the river response to a storm
  event.

37
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Note this asks you to both describe and explain!
Which will be worth more?
Does it ask you to describe the rainfall? Can you
do the question without it, though?
38
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
10 marks
Think it out first- How will you earn the ten
marks? 3 for describing and 7 to explain? Or
4/6? Why no river reaction until the heavy rain?
Then only a smallish reaction! Why the kink in
the gentle recession limb?
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
39
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
This one has a double deluge! Same principle-
harder only to write down.
40
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
OS map
Most are a variation on the same theme!
41
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES

• Note the skills they are looking for here are-
• Not discussing human geography topics in your
  answer.
• Using the evidence from the map
• Grid references- at least one 6-figure
• Place names quoted
• Heights quoted
• Compass directions- from and to
• Distances as the crow flies measured accurately
• Landforms named

42
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
6marks
Fetch a map!
43
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Then there are the features questions. These
should be answered in a similar way to the
lithosphere questions give the names of the
PROCESSES that create the features. For rivers,
that usually means EROSION and DEPOSITION,
although you can show off with attrition,
hydraulic action, abrasion (and solution if the
local rock is chalk or limestone). Details are of
course vital, as vague waffle is never rewarded!
44
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
But, you do not always get a choice !
Delta, alluvial fan, levee, gorge, floodplain
widening, oxbow lake, braiding, terraces, incised
and entrenched meanders.
45
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
general
These luckily seldom- found questions can be
about an aspect of ther rivers topic. They are
designed to see if you understand the topic well
enough to APPLY knowledge to a situation. See
what I mean by looking at the three examples on
ther next slide.
46
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
47
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
How would you go about answering these awkward
questions?
48
HIGHER HYDROSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
You are now in the position that you can answer
virtually any of the questions they could ask you
about HYDROGRAPHS or RIVER FEATURES
Nice feeling- huh?
49
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
There are four types of atmosphere questions.
Solar insolation and the Earths budget
ITCZ
Reasons for the global temperature fluctuations
How heat is equalised through cells and
ocean currents
50
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Solar insolation and the Earths budget
This will ask a question like the one in the
Prelim. It might give a diagram, or ask you to
produce one! It needs you to quote figures and
use terminology.
Like what?
insolation
reflection
absorption
Short/long wave radiation
albedo
51
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
ITCZ
Sometimes a small part of the question is about
the two colliding air masses
Write about- the name of the place of origin,
the relative humidity, the temperature range, the
kind of rainfall, the name of the wind and the
weather conditions
52
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
The main part of such a question will be about
the way the mixing zone-and thus the rainfall-
moves inland and back throughout the year. It
will always be based in this area of Africa.
53
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Usually you are given maps and or graphs, of
tables of data. You are expected to quote from
these in the answer!
54
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
How can I get 18 marks here?

• You need to
• Discuss the principle that the zone of mixing
  brings the rain.
• Explain how the zone migrates with the season.
• Name each of the three places in the graphs in
  turn.
• Describe the changes in rainfall that each place
  gets.
• Quote data from each graph, using correct units.
• Explain WHY they get that rainfall in that month.

55
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
18 marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
56
Reasons for the global temperature fluctuations
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
These questions ask for the Human and /or the
Physical reasons for the variations. (There are
more marks in a question asking for both, of
course! ) There are four physical and three
human- can you explain each?
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
6 marks
They may ask for a description, too!
57
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
Cells and ocean currents
This type of question asks you to explain how
heat and cold are transferred by the 3 types of
cells in the atmosphere and/or the warm and cold
ocean currents- the Atlantic Conveyor System.
For either question, you are expected to be able
to explain -using the correct tems and names of
the cells/currents- exactly how the heat gets
moved from Tropics to Poles or vica versa. (You
do not need to explain the principle of
convection cells, but to use the terms to
indicate understanding.)
58
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
8marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
59
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
8 marks
TRY THIS QUESTION NOW!
60
HIGHER ATMOSPHERE REVISION ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
You are now in the position that you can answer
virtually any of the questions they could ask you
about ATMOSPHERE
Nice feeling- huh?
61
In fact, you have just finished all your revision
for physical geography!!