How to Revise for Geography GCSE Exams

Do you need to revise for your Geography GCSE exam but don’t know where to start, what to revise or when to finish? You’ve tried a revision planner, but procrastinate the time (your bedroom has never looked so tidy!) and now the exams are around the corner. The thought of GCSE Geography revision may seem like a daunting task, like climbing a mountain. The secret is to concentrate on each step, one at a time, rather than the mountain. 

This guide will help you organise your revision process from base camp to the summit of achievement. You'll discover when to begin your GCSE revision, how to maximise the time you have available, how to put together a productive revision plan, and how to maintain motivation when things get tough.

Key Takeaways

• The earlier you start, the more successful your revision will be.

• Take regular, short breaks. Avoid using your phone, watching television or playing computer games.

• Plan your time, and accept that life gets in the way sometimes.

• Practice, practice and practice exam style questions. Use the exam board website for past papers and marking schemes.

Creating an Effective Study Plan

Unless you have left it to the last minute, you should make a revision timetable around 6 months before the exam season begins. The less time you give yourself, the more panicked you will be. The benefits of giving yourself enough time for revision are:

• Spaced repetition gives you better recall in your exam.

• You have time to identify gaps in your knowledge and then take action to fill those gaps.

• You can maintain a healthy balance between revision and things that you enjoy, such as hobbies and sports.

• You can plan time off for events such as birthdays or family events without feeling guilty  

Develop a Revision Timetable

Many students spend a long time creating their timetables, making it colourful and organised using their computers. Don’t do this. Things change and then you will feel the need to re-do it, taking up more of your time. Think of the timetable as a working document; it’s ok to change it around. Get a couple of A1 sheets of paper and make two timetables: one for a week-by-week plan and the other for a day-to-day timetable. This is a quicker way of checking plans and prevents distractions when opening up your laptop every time you need to check the timetable. Also, this is a good visual for your family to see what you are planning and if they need you for an event. 

• Weekly timetable: 

  • Allocate 15 to 20 hours per week for revision. That is 3 to 4 hours a day over 5 days or 2 to 3 hours over 7 days, etc. 

  • Identify subjects and decide which subjects you will revise each week. Colour code the subjects for easier identification. E.g. green for geography, purple for physics, brown for biology, maroon for math, etc. 

  • Check the syllabus.

  • Identify your weak areas.

  • Gather the resources for that week.

• Day-to-day timetable:

  • Decide how many days of revision you are doing that week.

  • Choose the subjects you are going to study; aim for just a couple of sessions a day.

  • Avoid specific timings. It's better to have slots with extra time than limit yourself to an exact time. Remember that some subjects might be harder than expected, while others may be easier. 

  • Do not cover every subject every day. Have at least one day off between sessions, as this will help your long-term memory recall. 

Set Up Your Study Environment

Get away from distractions to focus. This could be at home, in a library, school, park, or garden. Revision doesn't have to be silent and alone. You may benefit from revising with a friend or family member.

Friends can debate key topics and test each other with retrieval questions in revision notes and guides in group discussions. Ask your teacher about things you don't know.

Manage Distractions

A shorter revising session where you can focus is better than a longer one where you get sidetracked. Phones and computers are the biggest distractions. Leave your phone in another room if you become distracted. Regular breaks can be used to check your phone, if you must.

Don’t use the computer; it is easy to get sidetracked from one web page to another, and never use it to play games during your breaks. An hour will disappear in what feels like 2 minutes. If you must use the computer, set up a separate account that has the absolute basics on it, such as word and slides, and restricted internet search capabilities. I can hear your cries of horror at that. Remember, this is a revision account and isn’t forever. Reward yourself at the end of the day with a quick game, but not at the expense of memory loss. You need to sleep and refresh your brain. Completing one more level in exchange for eight hours of sleep is not a good trade. 

Effective Revision Techniques

Use the Syllabus

This tip works for all your subjects.  

The examiner knows the syllabus and you should too. Knowing the syllabus helps you avoid wasting time revising non-examined material and missing course material.

With a large piece of paper, write out the headings of the main topics around the edge. Then, underneath those headings, write out the key headings of each unit, adding the names of case studies linked to those units to the side of the heading. You are essentially making a flow diagram. Once you have done that, you will know what the syllabus requires. 

 The syllabus works well for traffic lighting. Highlight green for familiar, yellow for uncertain, and red for unknown. Rewrite the red and yellow points and add them to your revision schedule. It will help you focus later and ensure you study the material carefully.

Knowing exam board language is key. If the syllabus asks about sustainability, it may specify what type (economic, social, or environmental), so you can focus your revision.

Your textbooks are usually course-specific, but they can miss points. Certain topics may be covered at  length but may not have a single exam question. Also, textbooks can skim over certain topics, particularly if the syllabus is updated and wasn't included in an earlier edition. Always make sure you refer to the syllabus first and then your textbook.

Remember, your teacher may have taught the curriculum in a different order, so this is a good time to reorganise your thoughts and make sure you understand.

Make Comprehensive Revision Notes

Revision for most people involves reviewing notes, highlighting, and trying to remember what was written. Reading and highlighting are passive revision methods. Besides hoping the information goes in, you do nothing. Revision requires active methods to be effective.

• Read over your notes

• Cover them (this is important: without the information, your brain has to work harder!)

• Write what you can remember

• Check the work

• Re-do until you know it

Practice with Past Papers

Spend an hour or two a week on old papers. Practising past papers is good, but don’t ask your teacher to mark them. When someone else marks, this is passive revision. The answer? Wait 24 hours, mark your work, and then give your teacher the papers to check your marking.

Your teacher is marking your marking, not your paper. If your teacher accepts your mark, it shows that you understand the examiner’s requirements and where you stand. Revision works!

However, if your teacher disagrees with your mark, it suggests you may not understand what the examiner is looking for. Ask your teacher for clarification. Revision works!

Practice with Friends and Family

Exam preparation requires sharing information, not just absorbing it! Revision should be active. Make it easy for friends and family to test you by providing answers. Try to do as many practice papers as possible, including some against the clock, before the exams and get your family and friends to look over them (remember to include the answers for them!).

Use Mind Maps and Visual Aids

Create mind maps to visualise connections between topics. Use diagrams to illustrate and remember key geographical processes.

• Have a world map and pinpoint case studies. Add key features on a post-it note around the map with string. This will also show links between the topics.

• Using your syllabus flowchart, make links between points and note what the link is. This makes it easier to identify counter-arguments in extended answers. For example, you are asked a question on climate change responses in the Amazon, which you could link to ecotourism. You could argue that ecotourism in the Amazon could encourage more international flights, as people would feel they are doing less damage to the environment. But flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities, so any gains made through ecotourism are lost in travel.  

Enhancing Memory and Retention

If not reviewed again, 66% of the material is lost within seven days and 88% after six weeks! Give your brain a workout and lock material into long-term memory during revision to overcome that forgetting curve.

Implement Spaced Repetition

To practice recall, review topics periodically. Start a water management review session by quickly recalling energy management. Review prior sections to train your brain to retrieve material from several places on the syllabus.

Use Mnemonics and Acronyms

You can design your own mnemonics and acronyms to help you remember facts that might otherwise be hard to remember. This could be imagining facts as locations on a map, constructing narrative to help recall a sequence of information, or conjuring up vivid mental images.

For example, you are revising river and coastal erosion but can’t remember what they are. Use the first letters of each method and create a memorable word or phrase. I use HACA: hydraulic action, abrasion, corrosion and attrition (it’s easy for me because I used to live in New Zealand and it reminds me of the Haka that the Maori’s do). What about Naughty Elephants Squirt Water for North, South, East and West?

• Create mnemonics to remember lists and sequences.

• Develop catchy phrases to aid recall of complex information.

Applying Geographical Knowledge

Understanding Command Words

Misunderstanding command words is a costly exam error. Practice questions in revision guides or online provide you with loads of exam practice. Many exam boards list command words, their meanings, and how to answer them.

Connect Concepts to Real-World Events

Keep up-to-date with current events and environmental issues and relate them to your syllabus. Can you use them in your case studies? Does it give you an argument you could use in extended answers?

Regularly reviewing key case study content helps you remember it. Challenge yourself to remember 5 facts before getting on the bus, or post notes on the fridge or in the bathroom with important information.

How to Manage Exam Stress and Stay Motivated

Many people suffer from exam stress, and learning coping strategies certainly helps. A tiny bit of stress can help with motivation, but too much can be overwhelming, confusing and exhausting. The website Mind has information on exam stress management and where to go for support. 

• Keep a routine and take regular breaks.  

• Practice mindfulness techniques to stay focused and reduce anxiety.

• Getting some fresh air and moving outside refreshes you and helps with concentration later on. 

• Relax with deep breathing or meditation.

• Ask teachers, peers, or family for help.

• Celebrate minor wins and stay focused on your goals while studying.

Preparing for Exam Day  

Know when you've done enough revising and when to stop. Trying to cram the night before a test stresses many students. If you're reading this, you've undoubtedly started revising early. Revision at the last minute is unlikely to help. Go over your notes one last time, but complete your revision by staring at your massive work and telling yourself you're ready.

Finally, don't burn or throw your notes. Future students may want them from you!

• Get your exam kit with spares in a clear case ready the night before.  

• Make sure you also have a ruler, rubber, coloured pens and pencil sharpener. 

• Unwrap your sweets and pop them in the case—no rustling in the exam room. Check first if you are allowed them. 

• If you are allowed water, remove any labelling from the bottle. 

• Get at least 8 hours of sleep before the exam.

• Eat a healthy breakfast and stay hydrated.

How Save My Exams Can Help

For expert support with your revision journey, sign up and become a member of Save My Exams today. We offer a range of exam board-specific revision notes and topic questions on GCSE Geography written by teachers and examiners, plus we have all the past papers you need to successfully complete your revision.

FAQs

How late is too late to start revising for GCSE exams?

If you are reading this in a panic because you haven’t started revising yet, don’t worry; it’s never too late to start. Follow the steps I have given you, and do your very best with the time you do have. 

How can I avoid revision pitfalls?

Avoid last-minute studying. It will overwork your brain! Don’t leave paper 2 revision until after the paper 1 exam. Don’t get super stressed because time is running out. Stress impacts brain function and it worsens the issue. 

How can I protect my mental health?

Organisation is key to avoiding pressure. Accept that you won't have time to do everything and prioritise. Students often feel overwhelmed as exams approach. Remember to enjoy your hobbies during revision and don't feel guilty. The key is balance. Engage friends and family If you're anxious or sad, telling your loved ones helps, and they'll want to help. Help is available online from Young Minds, Mind, Childline, and Kooth.

References

• © Mind (2023) Information for 11-18 year-olds: exam stress, mind. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/feelings-and-experiences/exam-stress/ (Accessed: July 10, 2024). 

• Mindfulness (2023) HSE.ie. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/mental-health/self-help/activities/mindfulness/ (Accessed: 10 July 2024).

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