Geography Exam Technique

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Geography - Exam Technique
Every year, the examination board produces a
report about candidate performance.
The report tells your teacher what candidates
generally did well..
.. and what they did badly!
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Geography - Exam Technique
This presentation looks at ?? things that the
exam board regularly reports as being done badly
by students.
The aim is to help you avoid making the same
mistakes!!!!
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Geography - Exam Technique
Using Photographs
You are nearly always asked to study a
photograph.
. and then you are asked to describe what you
see..
. or explain what the photograph tells you
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Describe questions are relatively easy, but the
result is often a lazy answer that doesnt pick
up all the marks available.
Describe the landscape in the photograph (4 marks)
A typical answer is There are hills with a
lake and a dam..
However, this is not as good an answer
as.. The area is mountainous with bare rock.
One valley has been dammed at the point where it
is quite narrow. A large reservoir has been
formed behind the dam
Why is the second answer better?
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Explain questions are harder because you have to
go beyond description and give reasons. The key
is to think more carefully and avoid being lazy
in your response
Using evidence from the photograph, explain why
this area is ideal for a creating a large
reservoir (4 marks).
In your class, discuss why you might give 4
simple reasons or 2 developed reasons for your
answer.
Both answers below get 4 marks, discuss why
The valley sides trap water There is little
vegetation around Few people live here The
valley narrows where the dam is
The area has few people in it, so hardly any
would have to be moved when it was built. The
valley sides are steep, so the water would be
deep and it would store huge amounts.
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Geography - Exam Technique
Location
You are nearly always asked to study a map, often
its an Ordnance Survey map.
An opening question is often about locating a
place or a feature on the map
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Every year the exam board tells your teacher that
you make weak location statements!
Describe the location of Landguard Fort (3 marks)
This is a typical poor answer often given by
students. it is near Felixstowe on the coast
This is a much better answer Why? 1 km south
of Felixstowe docks, facing west, towards Harwich
Harbour.
Discuss this in your group
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Geography - Exam Technique
Drawing Sketch Maps
Often you are asked to draw a sketch map to
enhance your answer to a particular question.
Many students choose to ignore this invitation.
Those who attempt to include one, often present
incomplete or inaccurate maps.
There are some simple guidelines to drawing
useful sketch maps. Follow these
rules.........
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Make sure that the purpose of the sketch map is
clear by including a title
You should be able to draw the map in a few
seconds, otherwise it isnt a sketch map!
Always give an idea of scale on the map
Always show a north arrow
Use features such as roads / rivers to give a
basic idea of location
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Geography - Exam Technique
Looking for TRENDS on a graph
No matter what the topic, expect to be given a
graph in the exam.
Most students can lift specific information from
the graph.
What was the population of Pakistan in 1901? (1
mark) Work out the increase in population from
1901 to 2001 (2 marks)
However, students often struggle to cope with
questions that ask them to identify TRENDS on the
graph (4 marks).
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Study the graph showing population change in
Pakistan.
Describe the trend between 1901 and 2001. Use
figures from the graph to help in your answer. (4
marks)
Discuss the way that you could get all 4 marks
for this question. A good answer will be revealed
shortly.
The trend was upwards ? with a huge increase of
130 million people ? In recent times, the rate of
growth has gone up ? particularly from the period
1961 71 onwards ?
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Geography - Exam Technique
Using map evidence
Expect to be given an Ordnance Survey Map
Most students cope well with skills questions.
What is the grid reference of ? What is the
extent of the area of the proposed mine? What is
the direction of from ?
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Geography - Exam Technique
Using map evidence
. but when it comes to showing UNDERSTANDING,
using MAP EVIDENCE, students often fall well
short of a good answer.
In your group, agree on a good answer to the
following question
A mine is to be built in the area shown on the
map. Using map evidence, explain how the mine
might impact on peoples lives.
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Using map evidence, explain how the mine might
impact on peoples lives.
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Did you make the mistake of giving answers such
as

• The mine would cause noise and air pollution.
• The mine would destroy peoples homes
• The mine would make travel around the area more
  difficult

Whilst all of these answers are factually
correct, where is the map evidence to show your
understanding?
Answers like this are better

• Villages like Stranocum, only 2kms to the
  north-west, might suffer from noise and air
  pollution when the wind blows.
• Villages like Culramoney at g.r.987286 would
  have to be demolished
• The B15 road would be cut, making travel
  difficult to places like Ballymoney

Why are these answers better?
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Geography - Exam Technique
Looking for patterns using climate graphs
Climate graphs appear on most exam papers.
Students respond well when they are asked to give
specific facts..
What is the temperature in May? Which month has
the highest rainfall?
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but students are not good at
Identifying patterns across the whole graph!

• Can you..
• Identify any SEASONS?

• Identify any link between rainfall and
  temperature?

• Identify a month when farming might be difficult.
  Explain why.

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As stated previously, the presentation is
incomplete at this stage
What aspects of exam technique are your students
most in need of help with?
In small groups, agree on a number of additional
themes / issues that you would like to see
included in such a presentation.
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It would be helpful if you could sketch out the
content of the new slides
This will enable me to complete the presentation,
before making it available to you all.
Please sketch out ideas for any illustrative
material, suggest any headings, prompt questions
etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
At the end of the workshop, we can share ideas to
see if there is a consensus view