Once more, we’re facing the Edexcel A-Level Geography exam, but this time we’re going to address a case-study specific question. These questions are usually quite explicit in that they ask for a ‘named place’ that students are required to discuss. 

Knowing the case studies your school teaches is essential, case studies are essential in almost all areas of A-Level Geography. However, as schools have little idea which questions to prep students for, they will often pile on the case study knowledge. With so much information, it is important to be selective in what a student decides to memorise. However, there are several points that are important to be able to explain for every case study: 

1. The location, e.g. London is the capital city of the UK, located in the South-East of the country with a direct train line to Paris, France, its neighbour to the south. 

2. The ‘basics’ (usually dates, GDP, population). This is low-hanging fruit that shows you have case-study knowledge and can be deployed regardless of the question. 

3. Question-specific information. You’ll only pick up a certain number of marks if the question is asking specifically about a process like migration in London, and all you can tell the examiner is its location and population (8.7 million in Greater London as of 2016). Knowing the most ethnically diverse areas, the number of spoken languages and net migration figures would be examples of question-specific case-study knowledge that would get marks. 

For example, let’s quickly analyse two responses to a case-study question. 

“With reference to a named example, explain why people have different opinions about rural living spaces. (6 marks)”

The following is a common response from A-Level Geography students:

Named Example: Cornwall, UK. 

Cornwall is a rural area in the UK that people have lots of different opinions about. Some people believe that living in a rural area is really nice and they want to move there. They may be retirees who are looking to escape the noise and busy lifestyle of the city. This is called ‘urban-rural migration’. However, some people, particularly young people, find there are not enough job opportunities and choose to move to urban areas. Tourism is also common in Cornwall, which drives up property prices and makes it unaffordable for some local people to live in the areas they grew up. Farmers like living in a rural area because the land is generally cheaper, particularly outside of the villages, which makes farming easier. Cornwall has fewer farmers due to its rugged landscape but there are a lot of sheep and some dairy cattle. Overall, different people have different opinions of Cornwall, but I think it’s a great place to visit for holidays and get away from the bustle of the city. 

Where this response slips up:

• The response gets tantalisingly close to discussing different stakeholders but isn’t specific enough to pick up the marks. 

• The answer lacks any specific case study knowledge missing both low-hanging fruit and question-specific knowledge. 

• The answer misses opportunities to use key terms and discuss processes or expand on the reasons for the different opinions. 

• The question requires students to explain an opinion from different perspectives; it does not ask for the examinee’s personal opinion, so the ‘link’ at the end of the paragraph is irrelevant. 

Now consider this alternative response to the question (key terminology is italicized, case-study knowledge is bolded): 

Named Example: Cornwall, UK.

Cornwall is a predominantly rural county in the southwest of the UK, with a population of 536,000 as of the 2011 census. Firstly, stakeholders such as the elderly or retirees often engage in urban-rural migration due to the idea of the rural idyll. This may motivate them to wish to preserve their communities’ traditional lifestyle from newcomers or people with different ways of living. Farmers are also important stakeholders in Cornwall as famous Cornish exports like clotted cream and Cornish cheese depend on access to rural farmland and low land costs. Those in the service sector serving tourists also enjoy the benefits of Cornwall’s rural idyll, making an estimated £1.8bn a year from tourism. However, the 45 farms in Cornwall which often rely on cheap, migrant labour, and the tourist industry which relies on tourists visiting in large numbers, create conflict with itinerant populations that may not integrate with the local community. Young families may also choose to move away from rural areas due to a lack of access to education. Currently, only 38 schools in Cornwall are recognised as ‘Outstanding’ and all are oversubscribed, while house prices are rising due to second-home ownership, tourism and retiree competition. This disenfranchises local young people who are also attracted to urban areas by greater job opportunities. Thus along both socio-economic and demographic lines, there are significant differences of opinion about Cornwall as a rural living space.

How this response succeeds:

• This response explicitly addresses the question and discusses stakeholders. 

• There is an integration of key terminology and case-study knowledge that accurately addresses the question. 

• The examinee has successfully explained the issue without any need for the injection of fluffy, personal opinions. 

In summary, case studies are hugely important and in some A-Level Geography syllabi are what will get you most of the marks. Therefore, having a clear understanding about them and knowledge of the vital terminology is non-negotiable. Nonetheless, don’t be overwhelmed by the volume of case-studies; pick some key data (e.g. location, GDP, population) and some question-specific data/knowledge, enough to fit on a flashcard, and remember that. Don’t try to memorise a page for every study; you’ll never manage it all and it will most likely just demotivate you. A flashcard per case study, with diligence, is enough. 

We hope this has helped you with the Case Studies component of A-Level Geography. For many students, receiving targeted guidance is the most effective way of ensuring top marks in the course. Find out more about our A-Level Geography tutoring programmes on our website here. Or, for personalised support on A-Level Geography: Case Studies or the course in general, feel free to contact us today. 

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