Introduction: What are examinations all Introduction: What are examinations all about?about?

“I understand taking tests aren’t fun.”

George W. Bush, Former President of the USA.

• Examinations are NOT meant to be easy (fun?), but they are meant to be do-able.

• They are also meant to do a task – which is..?

...they allow you to demonstrate what you understandunderstand, knowknow and

can dodo about Geography.

In order to give yourself the best chance to do this to the best of your ability, you need to:

PLANPLAN your revisionrevision and give it timetime, PRACTISEPRACTISE exam exam questions questions and PREPAREPREPARE your exam technique ...exam technique ...

The aims of this presentation are to:The aims of this presentation are to:

A) Recap on the structure of paper 1.B) Learn the meanings and importance of question command words.C) Know how longer questions are marked.D) Recap the content of The Restless Earth Unit.E) Recap the content of Water on the Land: the Flooding part, including case studies.F) Discuss some top revision tips and revision resources.

This presentation does NOT:

• Do your revision for you – it just points you in the right direction• Give you all the answers.• Do the planning, practise and preparation for you.

A) Structure of the Unit 1 examA) Structure of the Unit 1 examUnit 1 is divided into two sections (A Unit 1 is divided into two sections (A

and B) and seven topics:and B) and seven topics:

Section A• The Restless EarthThe Restless Earth• Rocks, Resources and Scenery• Challenge of Weather and Climate• The Living World

Section B• Water on the LandWater on the Land• Ice on the Land• Water on the Land (2)Water on the Land (2)

Exam Structure:Exam Structure:

• 1 Hr 30 mins = total of 90 mins• 75 marks in total.• You will answer three questions, one from Section A and one from Section B plus free choice of one other. • You answer the questions on the TOPICS YOU HAVE STUDIED. So, as we have not yet covered The Coastal Zone yet - which should be in Section B - we will be doing two Water on the Land questions

B) Command Words – they command B) Command Words – they command that you know them.that you know them.

Correct responses to command words:• DescribeDescribe...paint a picture using words, say what something

is like.• What is meant byWhat is meant by…give the meaning of a definition or

concept.• CompareCompare....the similarities and differences.• Comment onComment on…give your opinion, or state what the evidence

shows.• Using onlyUsing only…will refer to a figure (diagram, sketch, table of

data, map extract or photo).• Why, explain, suggest reasonsWhy, explain, suggest reasons...give reasons.• ContrastContrast....the differences.

C) Longer questions are level markedC) Longer questions are level marked• For questions worth more than 4 marks, your answer

is judged to be basic (level 1) or clear (level 2).• For answers worth 9 marks, a detailed (level 3)

standard is used to mark your answer.

LEVEL 1 ANSWERS SHOW....

....you have a basic knowledge and understanding of the topic.

....you won’t have used many key geographical words.

....your answer won’t be linked together or have much structure.

LEVEL 2 ANSWERS SHOW...

...you have good knowledge and clear understanding of the topic.

...you’ll have used some some key geographical words.

...you have structured your answer well and linked some of your ideas together.

LEVEL 3 ANSWERS SHOW...

...you have answered and linked your answer to all of the command words in the question.

...you have used named example/s of places in your answer to provide background to your answer, even without being asked.

...your answer is well structured. You have defined the key terms, hit the command words and used a range of geographical key words.

...you have given a detailed answer, linking ideas together.

Consider this question & answer....Consider this question & answer....• Use a case study to describe the responses to a tsunami (9 marks).

‘The Indian Ocean Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, caught thousands of people living along the low lying coastal zones of SE Asia and Africa unaware .

Holidaymakers were on beaches in Phuket, Thailand and fled as the wave approached. They tried to get to higher storeys in hotels, out of the way of the wave. In Banda Aceh, the first area to be hit, hospitals couldn’t cope and people were left untreated in corridors.

Afterwards, there were many bodies that had to be buried quickly so that disease would not spread. Mass graves were dug, as the scale of the disaster was so large; on an international scale. Aid agencies brought in water purification tablets and tents for survivors. The Disasters Emergency Committee spent £40m on rebuilding projects in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, following a major appeal for aid.

A new Indian and Pacific Ocean tsunami warning system became operational in 2006, so that warning of future tsunamis can be given. This system was crucial in the reaction time of eastern Japanese coastal settlements during the April 2011 tsunami. The system allowed a 15 minute reaction window of time which the Japanese authorities used to try to evacuate many of the coastal settlements, such as Sendai’.

How would this be marked?How would this be marked?Level 1 (Basic) (Basic) 1–4 marks• SimpleSimple statements, perhaps list like at lower end.• Some idea Some idea about what ecotourism is.• Some idea Some idea about how tourism can be sustainable.• Knowledge of basic basic information• SimpleSimple understanding• Few links; limited detail; uses a limited range of specialist terms

Level 2 (Clear) (Clear) 5–7 marks• DevelopsDevelops statements.• LinksLinks are clearly made between the idea of ecotourism and how it can leadecotourism and how it can lead• to sustainable development.to sustainable development.• There are examplesexamples of this.• There may be the beginnings of explanation.beginnings of explanation.• Knowledge of accurate information• Clear understanding

Level 3 (Detailed) (Detailed) 8–9 marks• Fully developed Fully developed statements.• Will have a clear structure clear structure – likely to be determined by time scale• DetailedDetailed understanding, supported by relevant evidence and exemplars• Well organisedWell organised, demonstrating detailed linkages and the inter-relationships

between factors• Range of ideas in a logical formRange of ideas in a logical form; uses a range of specialist terms where appropriatespecialist terms where appropriate• Well structured response with effective use of sentences. Few spelling,

punctuation and grammatical errors.

• So, what would you give this answer? Compare how you marked it with a friend.

F) Revision Top TipsF) Revision Top Tips• Focus on the topics/areas you do not remember much about. Target revision

for those areas.• Use post-it-notes to do key word tests. You can put post-it-notes up in your

home to keep testing your retention of the theory.• Learn case studies by completing tables /mindmaps in detail. Memorise the

info and test yourself on trying to complete it.• Use the websites to browse instead of sitting on social network sites

wasting time.• Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before your exam.• Get up early and make sure you have some breakfast. Your body needs fuel,

as well as your brain.• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR EXAM.

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/