A-Level Geography: Tips and Tricks from Expert Tutors
The Structure of A-Level Geography
A-Level geography is one of the most popular options available to students, and it is easy to see why. Not only is it a rigorous course that impresses university admissions officers, it provides a fascinating insight into the world we live in.
Most exam boards organise A-Level geography around themes, splitting it between physical and human geography. Whereas physical geography focuses on the various landscapes around the world, both locally and internationally, human geography discusses how we interact with, shape, and are shaped by these systems.
Ultimately, A-Level geography is about learning to identify and appreciate the interconnected natural and man-made systems of our planet.
A-Level geography typically asks students to sit a number of externally assessed examination papers (usually two or three), alongside producing a piece of internally assessed coursework. All of these are given roughly equal weighting, making success across the different components essential.
Content or Skills?
Much like with any A-Level, the challenge of geography comes from the combination of in-depth content, and needing to demonstrate developed skills. It can be overwhelming to know what to prioritise when consolidating or revising.
One of the best tips you can receive for any A-Level, and geography in particular, is to do ‘little, but often’. Setting aside half an hour each week to do things like create flashcards, summarise class notes, or answer a few past paper questions can help keep the content fresh, but also provide ample opportunity to work on geography skills.
Cramming has its place as a revision method, but to avoid getting overwhelmed by the necessary work, students undoubtedly benefit from consistent work instead.
Paying close attention to feedback from teachers can provide great insight into areas that you need to improve. Rather than just looking at the final grade your assignment has been given, consider the additional comments in the margin that urge you to work on your map labelling skills, or elaborating on evidence in sufficient detail, or developing stronger topic sentences. This will indicate the skills that you need to work on in addition to reviewing content.
Internal Assessment: Tips from A-Level Geography Experts
The success of any A-Level internal assessment is determined by the student’s choice of topic. While it can be tempting to opt for something attention-grabbing and ambitious, it’s also important to consider what can be well-executed. Those with busy schedules, or who are prioritising other subjects (especially if those other subjects are compulsory for university entry) may wish to select a comparatively simple project in A-Level geography.
If engaging in fieldwork, A-Level geography students should also consider projects based in their local area. Not only does this make data collection much easier, but it also allows for greater flexibility in the planning stages. Investigating local geographical phenomena (whether physical or human) also gives students a unique perspective on the issues and awareness of context. This will be essential when producing the required reporting on the topic for the internally assessed component.
A-Level Geography Resources
There are many available resources for A-Level geography, and often they are underutilised. It is easy for a student to feel overwhelmed by the amount of content that needs to be learned throughout the two year A-Level course, and one way around that is making use of the freely available resources.
For example, the exam syllabus offers invaluable information for any student. Not only does it give a top-line summary of the course’s content, but paying close attention to assessment objectives can be very helpful. Understanding what you are being assessed on, and perhaps more importantly, what is not being assessed, is essential for any - Level student aiming to earn a high grade.
There are also many resources available for geography specifically, including online quizzes on topics tailored to the exam board specification, or digital flashcards to help memorise key terms. Engaging in these resources can help reduce the burden on the student to produce their own, as well as support a wider variety of revision methods.
How to Use Past Papers and Mark Schemes Effectively
Perhaps the most effective resource in any A-Level student’s arsenal are past papers and mark schemes. While they are, obviously, helpful for those final weeks of revision leading up to exams as students engage in full-length practices, that’s not the only way that they can be used.
A-Level geography students, for example, can make use of past papers throughout their course, not just in the final revision period. They might select specific questions that will be helpful in building their skills and consolidating material. If a student identifies a question type that proves particularly challenging, it can be helpful to spend the time reviewing the method in-depth.
As for mark schemes, they provide more benefit than simply telling you if you got the right answer. A-Level mark schemes offer insight into how they expect students to respond, including keywords and terminology that examiners expect to see on exam papers. Pay close attention to the wording of the marking criteria to ensure a stronger performance in geography.
Is Private Tuition Helpful for A-Level Geography?
Private tuition can be a helpful way of consolidating knowledge in any subject, at A-Level or otherwise. There are some caveats, however. Firstly, students should be sure that their tutors are encouraging them and supporting them to learn, rather than simply feeding the answers to them. While it can be tempting to view essay mills as helpful for a busy A-Level student, it misses something vital: at the end of the course, you will be in that exam hall with nothing but your own knowledge and skills to help you. Developing mastery over the demands of your chosen A-Level syllabus is therefore essential for success.
Private tuition should focus on helping students develop key skills and consolidate content. This is particularly important for a subject like A-Level geography, where students are expected to apply their knowledge to case studies. The guidance and support of a private tutor in this context can be invaluable, and the right outside help can lead a student to achieve their full potential.
BartyED’s A-Level Geography Support
At BartyED, we pride ourselves on understanding the syllabuses that we support, allowing us to give expert advice to our students. Rather than simply focusing on drilling and memorisation, we encourage students to master the underlying skills, allowing them to grow in confidence and become independent learners.
A-Level geography is no exception to this approach. Our familiarity with the course and deep understanding of the assessment objectives allow our expert tutors to guide students through the rigours of the subject.
If you are interested in learning more about our A-Level support, in geography or any other subject, get in touch today by phone, email, or via our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A-Level geography is a rigorous course that combines diverse content acquisition with skills development. Students examine different facets of the subject, including both physical and human geography.
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All A-Levels, including geography, present challenges for students. The difficulty of A-Level geography lies in the combination of memorisation of material, with the need to apply their knowledge to unseen case studies. While geography is challenging, many students enjoy the course and it is a frequently chosen subject for students who enjoy both science and humanities.
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Study for A-Level geography should combine various techniques. Flashcards and quizzing can be effective, but students should also regularly practice using exam-style questions. They should also draft long-form essay responses to develop all the skills needed for success in geography at A-Level.
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Private tutoring can be of great help for A-Level geography students. When seeking out private tutoring, students should make sure that the tutor is able to guide them thoroughly through the syllabus and displays an excellent understanding of the subject and exam requirements. An emphasis on mastery of A-Level geography skills is essential for any good private tutor.