How to revise for Geography
Okay, so GCSE Geography is a 60-40 subject. 60% you'll have to memorise and 40% you'll have to understand the topics.
The thing is...mostly you need to memorise the CASE STUDIES. They are really all you need to know for an exam to at least get a B- or a C+. And if I can be perfectly honest with you, you can actually (but only in the worst case) invent times or for example, magnitudes of earthquakes... Also if you don't have an example for a river or such, you could make one up, as obviously, you teacher cannot know all the rivers in the world...
As soon as you sit down to revise for geography (preferably once a week), look at all keywords. You can produce an index page, where you have all keywords. On the left hand side of the page you have the words, and on the right you have the explanations. Once you have a nice little handful of keywords, just try and start memorising them. Remember: The longer the time period you use to memorise them, the longer they stick in your head. This is very important for two-year courses, such as GCSE.
A good helper for keywords, if you have a hard time memorising them, or fact you want to memorise, are FLASHCARDS.
A good tip for helping to memorise Case Studies, is making a nice POSTER for each case study. Not an actual poster, if you don't like, but an A4 sheet is good enough. The important aspect is the technique... You need to make it, as if you are creating it for clueless students, who you want to teach about this super-interesting case study. This is also a good thing to incorporate in the weekly study session, so it would be a case study a week, instead of cramming all case studies together, the day before an exam/ test. You are more likely to put more effort into one case study, instead of 20.
Another good tip, adding to the 40% of the subject, so to understand the topic, is to explain it to yourself. I did this, too. I was so into it, that I even made a video on it! I figured, if I watch it multiple times, I will memorise it. Unfortunately, the video was 20 minutes long, so it would have been a waste of time. But you get the concept. I also noticed, that as I explained it to myself, I noticed different aspects, I didn't understand yet, so I researched it.
Something I find absolutely crucial to pass Geography, is making well organised notes in class. Do you understand how much time this can save you?! If you make good notes in class, you won't have to do them at home, and can use that time for memorising or studying what you've already learnt and noted down. A thing, that I've noticed, is that if I don't don't feel absolutely comfortable with myself, there is no way of me concentrating in class. WHat you need to make sure of before class:
- Have a full stomach
- wear appropriate clothing (not too warm/ cold)
- have all your material together (pens, pencils, highlighters...)
- Have also all your books and your notebook
As I already explained in a previous post, you need to be prepared the night before. More on my routine you'll find on "How to get good grades and have discipline in high school".
Also make sure, you have different colours of pens, for highlighting keywords. In this way, later on when you make your keywords sheet, you can easily find all keywords.
Last, but not least, is to do your homework. I know, it seems pretty obvious, but try to make the best of your homework, as this is just another method of revising, plus you get review from your teacher. If you put good enough effort, this will count as studying for the topic, and you won't have to do it again... Yet another way of saving your time.
