i ,l.ll'TiFs i:l$uciels

Link your answer to thequestion - remember theGolden Rule (see top ofpage 17).

Use precise geographicalterminology - credit is givenfor a good geographicalvocabulary.

Write in logical, well-planned paragraphs. Do not regurgitate well-

rehearsed answers - youmust adapt and applyknowledge andu nderstand i ng.

Avoid sweeping,generalizacions, e.g. theSouth of England is richand the North is poor.

Avoid phrases using'l'or'l've'.

Communication is not justabout good handwriting- youmust help your teacher or the

examiner to see howyou are

a nsweri ng the question.

For essays

. Structure the answerinparagraphs.

. Practise writing brieipunchy introductions and

conclusions.

. Include some keywords

from the question in everY

paragraph.

. Use maps and diagrams.

. Essays musl contain facts.

data, information - do notuse vague and trivialized

media comment.

. Read to the end of each

question sentence and

underline the command

words.

. Write an essay plan but do

it quickly in exam

conditions.

For structured questions

. Use all the resources

provided.

. Be prepared to use

geographical skills.

. Practise map skills.

. Understand the difference

between human and

physical factors.

. Develop techniques foranalysis of trends in data

and distributions on maps.

. Read all the words in thequestion and underlinethe command words.

. Be specific and precise.

ln the AS syllabusyou will be

I a rge ly a n swe ri ng stru ctu redquestions. ln A2 you will need

both. Remember: the content

does not change - just the way

you use it.

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ANSWERINC QUESTIONS - Interrpreting a questionThe first five minutes in the exam hall are the most important too man5r candidates interpret thequestion title poorly and so structure their answers incorrectly. Thcre is very little in the content ofA-level Ceography that is diflicult to understand. But how to use this information in the heat of theexam hall or even for a homeworh exercise is much more diflicult. Sections Trn'o and Three of thisbook will help you to interpret A-levei questions.

Thinking about the questionLong questions lihe essays and the linal sections ofstructured questions are always carelully chosen.Usually the basic topic or theme is broad, but one ortwo helrn'ords in the title narrow the question's

scope. It is these words that are often missed bystudents. Look at this quote from arr A-levelexaminer:

'The factual information in most essays wasvery good. There is, however, considerableevidence to suggest that candidates are Iailingto spot the command words [describe,explain, outline ...] of the questions. Manyessays seem to be written as if the candidatewas being asked lbr everything they know on atopic. The best essays are more selective andrecognize that the title deiermines r,l'hat is

going to be relevant to the essay and what is

not.'

Deconstructing a questionLook at the way this question has been deconstructed using thekeyword approach. You must do this for every long question,

Focus: this is notabour shoppingcentres in generalbut about their'rapid growth' - ------------>you musc grveevidence for this.

Topic: the CBDmust be definedand discussed -this is the majortheme.

KeywordsOne extremely useful technique in making sure you are aware ofwhat the question wants from you, is to underiine what you thinkare the keywords or phrases of the title. These include:. Command words - these words teil you what the examlner

wants you to do with the information in your essay; there aremany command words, each with a distinct meaning which youshould learn (look at the next page, Cornrnand words, which Iiststhe most commonly used command words).

. Theme/topic this is what the question is about; students oftensee this n ord - it could be 'Christaller' or 'periglaciation' * andwrite out everything they know about the topic. Remember: theexaminer r,r'ill always try to narrow the theme down in some wavand you must spot hor,u

. Focus - this word or phrase is rrery important; it wiil show youhow the broad geographical theme is to be narrowed for thequestion - words like 'socioeconomic' or 'climatic' are focuswords.

Topic: specific detail is needed on our-of-cown shopping centres * they must bedefined in your introduction.

I'The rapid growth af out-of-townshopping centres is causing the decfine 4of the CBD.' Drscuss this statement withreference to one or more Britt'sh cities.

t\\

\Command word: 'Discuss' suggesrs tharthere are arguments for and against theviewpoint - you mus! give both sides.

Focus: this is noc adiscussion of the CBDbut an essay aboutwhether they havedeclined.

Focus: the title is directing youto use case scudies from -Britain; no credic would begiven ifyou used a Europeanor US example.

Exam hintsI Choose the right question for you:

- have you done a similar question?

- do you prefer broad 25-mark essays or more structured questions?

2 If the question has a broad title then be specific - this usually means relatingyour answer to detailed case studies.

3 If the question is structured (a, b, c ...)then mahe surc you do all the parts.

4 Remember the Golden Rule - the person marking your response should beable to spot the keywords from your answer.

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When faced with any question, the first thing you should do is identify the keywords of the essay

title. These will include the theme of the question but also the command words. Command words

tell you what the examiner wants you to do with the information. The table below gives some of

the more commonly used command words.

Command

Account

word Explanation Example

for Exolain the reasons for - here the marks are

given for explanation rather chan description.

Account for che changes in che UK's urban policy

from 1 960 to the present.

Analyse ldentifl, the main characteristics and rate the

factors with respect to importance.

Analyse the economic effects of regional policy in an

area ofyour choice.

Assess Examine closely with a view to measuring or

'weighing up' a particular si[uation - strengths/

weaknesses; for and against.

Assess the success ofcoastal management using one

named case study.

Comment on This calls for a statement to be assessed; you

need to put both sides ofthe argument.

Comment on the view that desertification is caused

by human rather than physical factors.

Compare ldentifr similarities and. differences berween two

or more things.

Compare the impact of urbanization of LEDCs and

MEDCS.

Contrast ldentiSz the differences between two or more

things.

Contrast the effects ofearthquakes and volcanoes

on the developed and developing world.

Define Cive a clear meaning; the length of your answer

will deoend on the number of marks allocated.

Define river discharge.

Describe Say what something is like: identifl, trends Describe the diagram below.

Discuss Similar to dssess - usually comes at che end ofa quote.

'Clobal warming is a myth.' Discuss

Evaluate See assess. Evaluate che success offlood management schemes.

Emmine Boch description and explanation Examine the atcempts by governments to control

population growth.

Explain Give reasons why something happens. Explain the relationship between river discharge and

sediment load.

How far? This calls for you to put both sides of an

argument.

How far is it true to say that inner-city decline is due

to economic rather than social factors?

lllustrate Use specific examples to suPPort a statement. lllustrate the ways debt makes development difficultin some LEDCs.

Justifu Cive evidence to support your statements. What is the most important factor influencing the

location ofthe iron and steel industry?Justifiyouranswer.

List State che factors, with no explanation or

elaboration.

List the ways a river erodes.

Outline Describe and explain, with the greater emphasis

on description.

Outline the effects of counterurbanization on one

named village.

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