The secret to success when it comes to your Geography GCSE is revision, revision, revision!
Luckily, you’re in the right place.
Here, we’ll share our top tips and tricks for how to revise for Geography GCSE, so you can reach your full potential and get the grade you’re aiming for.
Psst! Our GCSE Geography tutors are experts at bringing their subject to life and helping learners to boost their grades – start your search today.
How to revise for GCSE Geography: 8 top tips
Staring at your GCSE Geography revision notes and textbook, wondering where to start?
Just follow these expert tips to kick off your revision on the right foot.
1. Start immediately!
Getting started is often the hardest part.
Instead of putting off your Geography GCSE revision until tomorrow (or the next day, or the next), why not just start right now?
An easy way to begin is to simply recap your last geography lesson – read through your notes, check you understand it all and maybe even try out a couple of practice questions.
Taking 10 minutes to do this after each geography class will save you a lot of time later down the road.
The sooner you begin revising, the more time you’ll have to get completely comfortable with the course content and exam structure – and the less panicked you’ll be when your exam dates roll around!
2. Know what to expect
It’s important that you know exactly what could come up in your Geography GCSE exams.
This way, you can make sure to prepare for every element. You can also stress less knowing that there won’t be any nasty surprises on the day.
Every exam board works a bit differently.
However, you’ll usually need to complete 2 or 3 written exam papers.
Plus, you’ll need to complete fieldwork outside of the exam room – which will either be assessed through questions in your written exams, or by completing a report as coursework (depending on your exam board).
We would always recommend finding the specification for your course and printing it off.
This will show you exactly what you can expect – including what you’ll be assessed on in each paper.
Then, you can make sure you have the right knowledge at the forefront of your mind when you head into the exam room.
3. Create a detailed revision timetable
A revision timetable is key to keeping your revision on track.
After all, it will help you to make sure you’re dividing your time up fairly between all subjects and topics.
Plus, you’ll be able to stress less knowing you have everything covered that could come up in the exam room.
- Check your exam schedule
- Calculate how much time you have to study
- Decide which subjects and topics you need to spend the most time on
- Allocate time to each subject and topic.
When it comes to your GCSE Geography revision, using a traffic light system can be really useful – use a green pen or highlighter for topics you’re familiar with, yellow for uncertain and red for unknown.
You can then allocate more time to the red topics to make sure you use your time on the areas that need it most.
4. Pace yourself
There’s only so much a brain can assimilate in a day.
So, try not to cram.
Instead, divide your revision up into manageable chunks, schedule in lots of breaks, and get plenty of fresh air and exercise.
Plus, plan things to look forward to so that you can enjoy a well-earned reward for working so hard.
Remember, revising little and often is typically the best way to help material to stick – and to avoid burning out.
Top tip: Add breaks to your revision timetable to make sure you actually take them!
“I would say don’t cram, take 20-minute study sessions then take a break. Look after yourself and try to stick to regular bedtimes, no computers late at night etc.
“Get some fresh air and exercise to help with pent-up energy or nerves too.”
– Katherine R, GCSE tutor
5. Brush up on fieldwork
Although exam boards can differ, you’ll most likely be assessed on your fieldwork skills in a section of one of your exam papers.
Usually, this won’t just be familiar fieldwork (fieldwork you’ve carried out yourself).
Rather, your skills will be assessed through questions on unfamiliar fieldwork too.
With that in mind, don’t just brush up on the how’ (meaning what you actually did).
Instead, focus on understanding the ‘why,’ so you can justify your methods.
AQA gives the following examples:
- Why is this location the most suitable for my enquiry?
- Why is systematic sampling the most appropriate strategy to use for my enquiry?
- Why is it important to undertake a risk assessment?
- Justify a method of data collection you used?
At the end of the day, it’s not just about showing off your knowledge, but instead about demonstrating your understanding, and your ability to apply that knowledge in different contexts.
6. Revise geography case studies
Geography is a content-heavy subject, and one aspect that you mustn’t neglect is case studies!
Revising geography case studies can seem daunting, but here are some tips:
- Look at a map of the place
- Find newspaper articles and pictures
- Watch videos (if they exist) or (if possible) even visit the place
- Create an annotated map of the area (including causes and effects or social, economic, environmental and political factors)
- Condense and memorise your notes
- Link the case studies to relevant units in the syllabus
- Keep up-to-date with current events and environmental issues that could be used in your case studies
Remember, although you’ll need to learn the information, that won’t be enough to get you a high mark.
Instead, you’ll need to show that you fully understand the case studies you cite, their impact and their relevance to various topics – as well as your ability to use them to support your arguments in extended answers.
7. Regularly complete Geography GCSE past papers
Practice makes perfect!
No matter what kind of learner you are, completing past papers and practice tests can be a huge boost to your revision.
They can…
- Familiarise you with the types of questions you might come across in the real thing
- Allow you to practise managing your time
- Give you valuable practice structuring essay-style answers
- Get you used to dealing with exam pressure
- Boost your confidence for the big day
- Reveal where you’re at in your learning
After completing a past paper, mock exam or practice test, always go through it to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
This way, you can tweak your revision schedule to focus on those areas that need it most.
Top tip: You can find past exam papers for your exam board right here on the Tutorful website! Browse past papers now.
“I would always favour past paper revision over staring into textbooks.
“Seeing how concepts are applied in question form can be very useful. However, this can differ for some students.”
– Matthew B, GCSE tutor
8. Find a geography tutor
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness!
If there’s anything you don’t quite ‘get,’ you need help marking past papers, or you simply want your own personal cheerleader to help you prepare for your exams, a GCSE Geography tutor will be ready and waiting.
They’re experts at bringing their subject to life and will be able to explain difficult concepts in a way that clicks for you.
With tailored lesson plans that take into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style, it’s a fantastic way to improve your grades.
In fact, 90% of Tutorful students improve by at least one grade – and many improve by even more!
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
How to revise geography: 11 tried and tested revision techniques
Every student is different. So, it’s important to figure out your learning style and use the revision techniques that suit you best.
It can also be handy to mix up your revision techniques from time to time, to keep you engaged.
Here are some techniques that can be particularly helpful in your Geography GCSE revision.
1. Pin up a world map
Pinning up a world map can be a great way to visualise some of the case studies you learn.
You can pinpoint case studies on the map and add key features about them on a post-it note with string.
This can help you to see the links between various case studies and topics.
2. Draw diagrams
Likewise, drawing diagrams can help you to illustrate and remember key geographical processes.
For instance, you could draw out the water cycle and then label it to explain what’s happening.
Not only is the process of creating a diagram a great revision exercise in itself, but you can also stick it up on your wall to refer to in the leadup to your exams!
3. Make mind maps
Mind maps are another good tool for visual learners.
They can help you to visualise connections between topics and form links between different case studies and units.
You could even make a mind map to summarise everything you’ve learned after you’ve finished revising a specific topic – then, check if there’s anything you missed off and spend some extra time revising that!
4. Create flash cards
Flash cards can be a valuable tool to help you learn key bits of information – like terminology or facts.
You can also go through your geography textbook or revision guide and pick out short questions to write on one side of each flash card. Then, write the answers on the alternate side.
Now, go through your flash cards and test yourself – or, give them to a friend or family member and ask them to test you instead!
5. Stick up post-it notes
Post-it notes are fantastic for memorising facts and key terminology.
Write the info you need to memorise on colour coded post-its and stick them in places where you’ll see them on a regular basis – like the bathroom mirror.
By seeing them again and again, this can help the information to stick.
6. Record your notes and listen to them back
Many learners like to record their revision notes.
This way, you can listen to them back when you’re doing other things – whether you’re out and about or just doing the washing up!
Repeatedly listening to the information you need to remember can really help to cement it in your mind.
7. Explore different revision resources
There are lots of resources available to help you revise for GCSE Geography.
These include:
- Revision guides
- YouTube channels
- Podcasts
- Revision apps
- Revision websites (like BBC Bitesize)
Using resources like these can help to make your revision more engaging.
A GCSE Geography tutor will also be able to point you towards the best revision resources for your learning style.
8. Speak it back in your own words
Memorising content from textbooks or revision notes can be helpful.
But it’s important to make sure you fully understand it – rather than just learning it word-for-word.
Paraphrasing the content you’ve learned in your own words is a valuable exercise and will help you to check that you really do ‘get it.’
9. Make up mnemonics, acronyms or songs
When it comes to helping complex info to stick in your mind, there are no rules. Clever tricks like mnemonics, acronyms or even making up songs can really help to jog your memory!
As an example, you’ve probably heard of Never Eat Shredded Wheat for North, East, South and West.
You can also try…
- Imagining facts as locations on a map
- Constructing narratives to help you recall a sequence of information
- Conjuring up vivid mental images
- Changing the lyrics to your favourite tunes
- Developing catchy phrases
Ultimately, you do you! If it helps you recall complex information in the exam room, that’s what’s important!
9. Teach someone else
Teaching someone else the content you’ve just learned can help you to increase your confidence on a topic.
It’s also a great test of how well you understand the material.
If you can’t get your student to understand the concept you’re teaching them, you probably don’t know it well enough yourself yet!
11. Form a study group
Meeting regularly with a study group is a great way to give yourself some accountability.
Plus, you can help one another if there’s anything you’re struggling with.
In particular, we think study groups are great for discussing potential arguments to longer essay-style questions – by discussing potential responses together, you can gain different perspectives and new ideas.
Top tip: Make sure to pick your study mates wisely – it can be easy to get distracted!
How to pass Geography GCSE: 5 nuggets of wisdom for exam day
With these revision tips and techniques, hopefully, you’ll be feeling prepared by the time your GCSE Geography exams roll around.
But the right approach to exam day itself can also make a big difference.
Here are some things to bear in mind.
1. Give yourself the right fuel
Don’t stay up late revising the night before.
Instead, get a good night’s sleep and have a proper breakfast in the morning. This will give you the best chance of feeling energised for the day ahead.
2. Overcome exam fear
Try some calming techniques to help you overcome exam fear – like listening to a calming playlist.
Watch those negative voices in your head and try to focus on what you have done rather than what you haven’t. Remember, you’ve worked hard and can be proud of yourself, whatever happens!
3. Plan your time
Keep an eye on the clock in the exam room so that you’re not spending more time than you should on each question.
The last thing you want is to run out of time for those longer questions that are worth lots of marks!
As a general rule, try to spend the most time on the questions that are worth the most marks, and vice versa.
4. Read every question carefully
Read each question at least twice before answering, so that you’re not making silly mistakes.
You can even underline key words in the question to keep you focused.
In particular, make sure to differentiate between different command words so you can be sure you’re providing the answer the examiner is looking for.
5. Stay calm!
Last but not least, don’t panic!
Work through the Geography GCSE exam papers calmly and methodically, without rushing.
And remember that you’ve worked hard. So, you can be proud of yourself whatever the outcome.
Find a tutor to help you revise Geography GCSE and pass with flying colours
If you’re worried about passing Geography GCSE – or getting the best grade possible – you don’t have to worry alone.
A Geography GCSE tutor will have the tools, knowledge and experience needed to help you achieve the grade you’re after.
From tailored plans to practice exams, they’ll give you the one-to-one attention and dedicated time you need to ensure you reach your full potential.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
What is the best way to revise for GCSE Geography?
The best way to revise for GCSE Geography will depend on your learning style.
A few tried and tested methods include:
- Drawing maps and diagrams
- Creating flash cards
- Sticking up post-it notes
- Recording your revision notes and listening to them back
- Speaking content back in your own words
- Making up mnemonics, acronyms or songs
- Teaching someone else
- Forming a study group
Head over to our guide on the best ways to revise for your GCSEs for more revision techniques.
How to improve geography in GCSE?
To improve at GCSE Geography, complete mock tests or past papers and then comb through your answers to identify your areas of weakness.
You can then use your preferred revision techniques to work on those areas and make the biggest improvement in the shortest amount of time.
How to cram for geography in GCSE?
We would never recommend cramming for your Geography GCSE as you’ll typically do better (and stress less) by revising little and often. However, if you’ve left your geography revision until the last minute, be selective about which topics you focus your revision on.
The best approach is often to complete a practice paper and then comb through your answers to pick out your weakest areas. You can then focus your remaining time on those topics that need the most attention from you.
How to get a 9 in GCSE Geography?
To get a 9 in GCSE Geography, you’ll need to not just memorise the content, but to fully understand it and be able to apply it to a range of contexts.
Our Geography GCSE tutors can also give you one-to-one attention to help you reach your potential and get the grade you’re after.
