Preparing for the GCSE OCR B Geography exams

The following slides have been created to help prepareCarter Community School students for the OCR B GCSE

Geography exams in 2014

http://flavors.me/daviddrake

The GCSE exams this summerThe GCSE exams this summer

You will sit two exams this summer in You will sit two exams this summer in GeographyGeography

Tuesday 13 MayTuesday 13 May 20142014 – Sustainable – Sustainable Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 1 hour Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 1 hour 30 mins (25% of final mark).30 mins (25% of final mark).

Thursday 22 May 2014Thursday 22 May 2014 – Key – Key Geographical Themes for 1 hour 45 mins Geographical Themes for 1 hour 45 mins (50% of final mark).(50% of final mark).

The GCSE exams this summerThe GCSE exams this summer

Tuesday 13 MayTuesday 13 May 20142014 – Sustainable – Sustainable Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 1 hour Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 1 hour 30 mins30 mins

This will be based on This will be based on Natural HazardsNatural Hazards

The GCSE exams this summerThe GCSE exams this summer

Thursday 22 May 2014Thursday 22 May 2014 – Key – Key Geographical Themes for 1 hour 45 minsGeographical Themes for 1 hour 45 mins

This will be based on:This will be based on:Rivers and CoastsRivers and CoastsPopulation and SettlementPopulation and SettlementEconomic DevelopmentEconomic Development

So how do you So how do you experience this…experience this…

and not this…

on results day?

Timing is very important, so…..Don’t

repeat the question!

Q: How far does the traveller have to go before reaching Nairobi?

A: The traveller has to go 10 kms before reaching Nairobi.

A: 10 kms.

Be concise

Look at the number of marks available.

Describe the location of the River Ebro (2 marks)

In the north of Spain (1 mark)✔

Flowing through Zaragoza (1 mark)✔

Therefore 1+1 = 2 marks

Describe changes in world population (3 marks)Here you will need to make three points (3 marks) – referring to the graph information (dates, numbers etc)

1000 – 1750 The population was rising slowly ✔

1750 – 2000 The population went up rapidly ✔

The population has increased by approximately 5.5 billion people ✔

Command WordsDescribe Say what you can see (on a photo, a diagram, a

graph etc.)

ExplainThese questions are harder, you will have to show your understanding by giving reasons for something.

CompareUse information provided to say how things are the same or different.

A way to remember..

This is my Geography catHe is called ‘Explain’

Explain the geography CATT

Use these connective words to help explain points you make

A way to remember..

This Chief Compare. He says ‘HOW!’

Use these connective words to help compare when making points

Need some examples?Need some examples?

Take a look at these exam questions and Take a look at these exam questions and take notice of how they are structured and take notice of how they are structured and what a good answer looks likewhat a good answer looks like

Describe this shanty town (2 marks)

The houses are made from scrap materials ✔ 1 mark

The houses are built on stilts over the water 1 mark✔

Look at the photo and say what you see

Explain how conditions like these cause poor health (2 marks)

Reason 1: No sanitation. As a result, disease can spread easily✔

Reason 2: Poor quality building materials. Consequently, little shelter from the wind and rain ✔

EXPLAIN

SO WHAT?

What if the question was worth 4 marks?

Explain, giving two reasons (2 marks)

Reason 1: No sanitation. Therefore, disease can spread easily ✔

Reason 2: Poor quality building materials. Consequently, little shelter from the wind and rain ✔

Explain, giving two reasons (4 marks)

Reason 1: No sanitation. Therefore, disease can spread easily Also, human ✔

waste may be left around, this means that it can cause Cholera ✔

Reason 2: Poor quality building materials. Consequently, little shelter from the wind and rain Also, there may be a hurricane or Monsoon rains. ✔ As a result, the building could collapse✔

Another command word list.

List two positive and two negative outcomes of tourism for The Gambia.

“Tourists create jobs such as taxi drivers and they buy souvenirs made in local workshops. However, there has been an increase in crime in the country and occasionally there are shortages of water.”

This is an accurate answer…….

…….. but remember, you

have a limited amount of time!

SO…

List two positive and two negative outcomes of tourism for The Gambia

PositivePositive NegativeNegative

Jobs are created, such Jobs are created, such as taxi driversas taxi drivers

Crime rates have Crime rates have increasedincreased

Tourists buy Tourists buy souvenirs from local souvenirs from local

peoplepeople

Occasionally there are Occasionally there are water shortageswater shortages

This is better – concise and to the point

Compare…..

75% of people live in cities in the USA, the figure is 33% in China.

You live until you are 76 in the USA and until you are 58 in China

In the US the number of people living in cities is much higher than in China

In the US you live until you are 76, whereas in China you only live until you are 58, a difference of 18 years

Use comparison connectives:

Don’t just list, as in the answer above.

“whilst” “however” “worse”

“higher”

“whereas” “on the other hand” “better” “lower”

Much better:

Study the graph showing population change in

Pakistan.

Describe the trend between 1901 and 2001. (4 marks)

Many students forget to use data in their answer

The second issue is that they are unclear about the term “identify trends”

The answer below would get full marks:

The trend was upwards with a huge increase of 130 million people In recent times, the rate of growth has gone up particularly from the period 1961 / 71 onwards, when the increase of 90 million people

Use map evidence to explain why this area was a good site for a reservoir (4 marks)

“They have a lot of rain and the rocks don’t let water through.”

This is much better:

The area has several rivers feeding it, such as the Rio Jatar at GR 211912, this would keep the reservoir full.

> The contour lines (as high as 1000m), are close to each other leading down to the reservoir at 833m, this means a steep slope, suggesting deep water.

Using Photographs

Describe the natural processes at work on the photograph (4 marks)

The sea is attacking the cliff and the cliffs are slumping into the sea.

The storm waves are attacking the base of the cliff with processes such as hydraulic action and corrasion.

The vegetation along the cliffs suggest that they are slumping down due to mass movement.

Using sketch maps

However, they must be drawn quickly and you MUST follow some key rules

You are often encouraged to draw a sketch map to enhance your answer.

On a previous exam paper, a question required candidates to show knowledge of the location of an economic activity

Good sketch maps always have a north arrow

….and an idea of scale

The content reveals a good knowledge of FACTS and LOCATION

Case Studies

On the Key Geographical Themes paper, each question ends with a “case study”.

This is where you are expected to provide information / facts about a specific place or location you have studied, to show your

understanding of a topic.

You need to revise your case studies carefully as the answers are worth a total of:

27 marks on the Foundation Paper!!

CASE STUDIES MATTER!!

Case studies for 2014Case studies for 2014

You You will notwill not needneed to learn the to learn the case studiescase studies for the for the Natural HazardsNatural Hazards unit as this will be the theme for the unit as this will be the theme for the SDME.SDME.

Case studies are only required for the Key Geographical Case studies are only required for the Key Geographical Themes paper:Themes paper:Rivers and CoastsRivers and CoastsPopulation and SettlementPopulation and SettlementEconomic DevelopmentEconomic Development

Use the Case study overview grid and create A5 size Use the Case study overview grid and create A5 size revision cards using the templates provided. revision cards using the templates provided. Use these Use these to revise fromto revise from..

I should have started to revise my case studies

much earlier!

The quality of your case study answer could make all the difference

A*

58 A

48 B

41 C

28 D

N/A E

N/A F

N/A G

I needed a C grade to do “A” Level or get into college, but I forgot some of my case studies! I got a mark of 40

SPAGSPAG

SPAG stands for ‘SPAG stands for ‘Spelling, punctuation and Spelling, punctuation and grammargrammar’ and there are 3 marks attached to ’ and there are 3 marks attached to each case study question. So 9 in total! each case study question. So 9 in total!

Could make the difference between a grade!Could make the difference between a grade!

If you have time at the end of the paper, read If you have time at the end of the paper, read your answers and check for mistakes. Well your answers and check for mistakes. Well worth it!worth it!

Exam papersExam papers

You can download exam papers to try answering You can download exam papers to try answering questions here:questions here:http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-geography-b-j385-from-2012/http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-geography-b-j385-from-2012/

Scroll down an select ‘past papers’ linkScroll down an select ‘past papers’ link

Please note that on your exam you will have to Please note that on your exam you will have to answer EVERY question on the exam paperanswer EVERY question on the exam paper. . This is slightly different to the past papers you This is slightly different to the past papers you will see here where students had to make a will see here where students had to make a choice.choice.

Remember, stick to the what the question is asking you and make sure you know your

case studies…

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(@_DavidDrake) and I’ll do my best to answer your questions.