Name: ___________________
Class: ________
Teacher: ____________________________
What is this audit about?...
Step 1
Complete a revision audit. This means listing everything we have covered then deciding how
much you remember about it. This will give you an idea of what areas you need to focus
on. Once you have identified areas of weakness you need to start revising them.
1.1 Tectonic Activity
Basic Key Terminology:
Checklist for revision
I know the names of several large tectonic plates
I can recognize a destructive and constructive plate margin.
I know what happens at different plate margins and the
features produced.
I know the world distribution and formation of fold mountains.
I know the world distribution of volcanoes
I know the reasons why they are found at plate boundaries.
I know the appearance and formation of
I know the world distribution of earthquakes
I know why they are located near plate boundaries.
I know how earthquakes are measured.
I know the advantages and disadvantages of settlement in
areas prone to earthquakes and volcanoes.
I know reasons why tectonic events have different effects in:
Case studies
I know one for human activity in fold mountains.
I know one for the effects and response to a volcanic
eruption.
I know one for the effects and response to an earthquake.
Need
Understand
Do not
more
and know
understand
revision
Step 2. Answering the Exam
Examination Command Words
Candidates on average lose 17%
of their marks due to NOT
READING THE QUESTION
PROPERLY!
You NEED to know, recognise and UNDERSTAND these KEY exam command
words. Highlight them when answering the exam and past paper questions.
When completing your GCSE Geography exam you must read the question carefully and
answer it in the right way to make sure that you get as many marks as possible. Always use
geographical terms in your answers e.g. compass directions, use the scale of the map, give
grid references.
Here are some of the command words that you may be given:
Annotate – give a detailed label to identify and describe a key feature.
Compare - look for ways in which features or places are similar or different. e.g. a city in an LEDC
compared to a MEDC.
Complete – finish off a question / add in a feature / etc.
Contrast - look for the differences between features or places. Often the question will ask you to
compare and contrast.
Define – give a meaning of a key word or process.
Describe - give details about what a map or diagram shows.
Discuss – question the for and against of a particular opinion, or issue which is presented to you.
Draw - a sketch map or diagram with labels to explain something.
Explain or account for
Factors - reasons for the location of something such as a factory.
Give your ( or somebody else’s) views- say what you or a particular group think about something ,
for example should limestone quarries be allowed in the Peak District.
Identify – pick out, highlight, be specific!
Mark - put onto a map or diagram.
Name, state, list – same as identify.
Study - look carefully at a map, photo, table, diagram etc. and say what it shows.
With reference to /refer to examples you have
With the help of/using the information provided - make sure you include examples from the
information, including grid references if it is a map.
There are also special geography terms you must be able to understand
Economic, Social, Environmental, Human, Natural/physical, Effects, Increase,
Decrease, Location, Sustainability, Distribution…
Step 3 - Complete the Revision
Once you have completed your revision audit you should use your revision guide to think of a way to
reduce the information even further.
Revision Cards
1. Make notes on an area of study. This could involve highlighting information in your revision book or
writing information out. Grade C+ students avoid copying huge chunks of text. Then read the
information - then summarise (key points) it.
2. Once you have gathered notes summarise your notes on revision cards - blank postcards or post-it
notes are good for this. You can then stick them all around your bedroom, toilet, bathroom etc!
3. Read your cards through regularly. Once you're confident about knowing the information write key
words about the topic on a card. Then revise from these. As your knowledge base builds up you will
need fewer prompts to remember information.
Mind Maps A mind map is a spider diagram that contains information in the form of pictures and
text. Mind maps can be used to plot information relevant to the different topics in geography.