The document is a revision guide for the GCSE Geography exam covering key themes such as population, natural hazards, and economic development. It outlines exam command words, suggests study methods, and includes checklists for understanding concepts and case studies for urban settlements, natural hazards, and economic development. Additionally, it offers detailed guidance on how to approach different types of exam questions, emphasizing the importance of using real-world case studies.

1. @priorygeography
GCSE Geography Revision
Exam: 18th June 2012
Key Geographical Themes topics:
 Theme 2 Population & Settlement (ignore Population!)
 Theme 3 Natural Hazards
 Theme 4 Economic Development
Don’t forget to use
www.facebook.com/classroomgeography
www.geogdebens.wordpress.com
READ the question:
Recognise - the pattern / feature / process
Explain – use connectives (so, because, therefore, etc.)
Analyse – give advantages and disadvantages, weigh up
Describe – use data from resources and own knowledge
(SEE) For Case Studies / sustainability questions:
Sustainable development is using resources today in a way that helps to protect them for
the future. Sustainability must balance:
Social – families, communities, people
Economic – jobs and money
Environmental – natural and built environment
(PEE) For explain / case study questions:
Point – state your opinion, answer
Evidence – back up what you say with facts, detail, example
Explain – give reasons for what your say

2. Exam command words
Command word: What it means
Compare Show similarities and differences. A balanced answer is required.
Consider Describe and give your thoughts on the subject.
Contrast Point out only the differences between two items.
Define Explain the precise meaning of a concept / word.
Describe Say what something is like, how it works, use adjectives.
Discuss Explain an item or concept, give details about it using info /
examples / facts. Give both points of view & come to a conclusion.
Examine Investigate in detail, offer evidence for and against.
Explain Offer a detailed and exact explanation of an idea or principle.
Identify / State Express the relevant points briefly and clearly.
Illustrate Provide examples to demonstrate or prove a subject.
Justify Give reasons to support your answer / argument, and the main
objections
Summarise / Outline Provide a short summary of all the info on a subject
It might be useful to underline command words in an exam question.
Answering the questions…..
[1mark] questions = can be answered with a single word or simple sentence, often using
data or fact. E.g. Name a climatic hazard = drought [1]
[2mark] questions = either needs two simple sentences, often using data OR needs one
point then explained. E.g. Explain why LEDCs have a higher death rate = poor healthcare
and lack of food [2] OR LEDCs have a higher death rate due to a lack of medicine
(point) and healthcare which means they cannot treat illnesses and disease so die more
easily (explain) [2]
[4mark] questions = requires you to compare, consider evidence, use facts, refer to
examples. The answer should be detailed. You should probably describe and explain. P.E.E.

3. Theme 2 Settlement checklist
Now I’ve reached the end of the Settlement unit:
Yes Think so No
 I can explain the reasons for settlements locating in particular sites
 I can name a local settlement and give reasons what location
advantages it has -Portsmouth
 I can explain the spheres of influence
 I can describe and explain the land use models for MEDC’s cities of
Hoyt and Burgess
 I can give reasons for the patterns of land use in cities
 I can describe and draw a diagram to show the settlement hierarchy
for my local area (Hamlet, village, town, city)
 I can describe the housing in Gunwharf and the positive and
negative impacts of the redevelopment.
 I can name a sustainable settlement, identify its sustainable
features and explain how it is sustainable. Greenwich Millennium
Village
I can explain how land use is changing within cities using the
example of Portsmouth - Gunwharf.
 I can explain why urbanization is happening in LEDC’s. I can give
push and pull factors.
 I can explain the impacts of urbanization in LEDC cities
 I can explain the features of shanty towns and the advantages and
disadvantages
 I can identify different methods to tackle transport issues in cities.
 I can explain what counter-urbanisation is, its causes and effects.
 I can identify and give reasons for the types of goods and retail
services found in urban and rural settlements
I can explain the reasons for town centre decline & retail service
change (include e-tailing, ethical shopping, out-of-town shopping)
I can show how retail provision changes over time through my
case study on Portsmouth.
 I can explain what these terms mean:
Clone town  Urbanization  Counter- Urbanization  shanty town  push/ pull factor suburb 
Urban Sprawl  Settlement  Rural  CBD Infrastructure convenience goods 
Retail change  CBD  inner city  twilight zone  suburbs  e-tailing 
Theme 3 Natural Hazards checklist

4. Now I’ve reached the end of the natural hazard unit:
Yes Think so No
 I can describe the global distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes and give reasons
for this pattern of distribution.
 I can draw and label the structure of the earth. I can explain how this is important in
explaining why earthquakes and volcanoes occur.
 I can draw the different plate boundaries and label the features of them. Constructive
(divergent), destructive (convergent) and conservative (transform).
 I can explain what happens at each type of boundary: divergent, convergent and
conservative/transform
 I can give examples of economic, environmental and social impacts of earthquakes
and volcanoes.
 I can give examples of primary and secondary impacts of earthquakes
 I can name an earthquake in an LEDC and MEDC and describe the impacts and the
responses. E.g. Haiti 2011, Japan 2011
I can name a volcano in a MEDC and LEDC and describe the impacts and responses.
E.g. Iceland 2011, Montserrat 1997
I can explain how the impact of natural hazards can be reduced e.g. technology,
building techniques, education, prediction, evacuation planning, aid etc
 I can describe and explain the global distribution of tropical cyclones and droughts.
 I can explain why tropical cyclones occur and in those areas
 I can give examples of economic, environmental and social impacts of tropical
cyclones
 I can name a MEDC & LEDC case study of a tropical storm and its causes, impacts
and responses e.g. Hurricane Katrina, USA 2005 & Cyclone Nargia, Burma 2008
I can give reasons for the differences in impacts between LEDC and MEDC
I can explain the physical (climatic) and human (overpopulation) causes of droughts
I can explain the social, economic and environmental impacts of droughts
I can name a MEDC & LEDC drought case study with causes, impacts and responses
e.g. Australia La Nina 2011, the Sahel Ethiopia 1985-onward
I can explain why economic development can influence the severity of the impact of
a hazard
I can explain why people choose to continue to live in hazardous areas
 I can explain what these terms mean:
Natural hazard  Epicentre  Eye  Infrastructure  Mantle Tectonic plate 
Mid Ocean Ridge  Tsunami  Levees  Drought Storm surge Subduction zone 
Convergent  Divergent  Transform  Overgrazing  Overpopulation  Desertification 
Theme 4 Economic Development checklist

5. Now I’ve reached the end of the Economic
Development unit:
Yes Think so No
 I can explain what is meant by ‘development’ and how
development indicators are used to measure it
 I can suggest how development means more than just wealth and
be able to explain quality of life
 I can describe and explain types of poverty and attempts to
reduce poverty
 I can suggest what the ‘development gap’ / North-South divide is
and why it exists
 I can suggest how development can be affected by aid, name
different kinds of aid, and describe how sustainable they are
 I can describe & evaluate an aid project such as Water Aid, Goat
Aid or Computer Aid – including how sustainable it is
 I understand what employment structure means & can explain
primary, secondary, tertiary & quaternary employment
 I can explain how & why employment patterns change over time –
comparing LEDC, NIC and MEDC examples
 I understand the social, economic & environmental factors that
influence where an industry locates and how this changes
 I can name, describe & explain the impacts of industries in
LEDCs and MEDCs and NICs
 I have knowledge of my case studies (primary – Kaweh Ijen
sulphur mining, secondary – South Korea manufacturing, tertiary
– Portsmouth retail, quaternary – Cambridge science parks)
 I can describe and explain what a MNC is and the impacts of it
(positive and negative) on the host country (e.g. Coca Cola, India)
 I can explain how MNCs and globalisation affect development
 I can describe and explain the effects of industries upon the
environment
 I can explain what these terms mean:
Development indicator  Quality of life  HDI  sustainable development  NIC 
Absolute poverty  Relative poverty  North-South divide  Brandt line  Bilateral aid 
Primary employment Secondary employment Tertiary employment Quaternary industry 
GDP per capita  MNC  Outsourcing  Footloose industry  Globalisation 

6. GCSE Geography Case Study revision list
Each examination question has a case study at the end worth 8 marks. You will
need to apply relevant knowledge and understanding of real examples.
Theme 2 Settlement
Case Study About Need to know
Bed Zed South London A case study of urban The social, economic and environmental
Or change to illustrate social, impacts of settlements.
Greenwich Millennium Village economic and
Or environmental planning and How settlements can be redeveloped in
London Olympics – Stratford its sustainability. a sustainable way.
redevelopment
Portsmouth CBD / inner city / Example of land use zones How land use changes throughout a
suburbs in a city city; CBD, inner city, industrial, inner
suburbs, outer suburbs
A case study to illustrate That the provision of goods and retail
Portsmouth / Gunwharf Quays how retail service services changes over time.
retail provision changes over
time. Why services change & how they
impact.
Theme 3 Natural Hazards
Case Study About Need to know:
Haiti earthquake 2010 One tectonic hazard
event in an LEDC.
Causes, effects (primary / secondary) &
One tectonic hazard
Japanese Earthquake 2011 response to the hazard.
event in an MEDC.
Or
Iceland volcano 2010
Sahel drought One climatic hazard Be aware that the level of economic
event in an LEDC. development influences the severity of
Or
the impact of a hazard, i.e. LEDCs more
likely to have greater death toll, MEDCs
Cyclone Nargis (Burma) likely to have more $ damages
Hurricane Katrina One climatic hazard
event in an MEDC.
Methods of hazard protection,
Or
prediction & preparation.
Australia drought (La Nina)
Theme 4 Economic Development

7. Case Study About Need to know
Water Aid / Computer Aid / Goat Case study of an aid That some aid is more sustainable than
Aid project in an LEDC others.
Factors that affect There are physical and human factors
LEDC: sulphur mining (primary)
the location of that influence the location of different
Indonesia, Kawah Ijen volcano
industry in LEDCs and types of industry.
MEDCs
NIC: manufacturing (secondary) in
Industry locations have to change over
South Korea
time (due to competition, lack of
resources, environmental decline, lack
MEDC: retail / services (tertiary)
of workers, etc.)
in Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth, UK
And research & development
(quaternary) Cambridge Science
Parks
Coca Cola (secondary A case study of a The effects MNCs have in the areas
manufacturing), India MNC investment in a they choose to locate in and in other
specific area in an places.
international context.
Positive & negative social,
environmental and economic impacts of
MNCs.
Coca Cola, India (secondary) A case study of How industry and economic
Or where conflicts development can have an impact on the
exist between environment.
Tourism in Thailand (tertiary)
economic
Or development and The impacts of industry.
Aral Sea (water diverted for
environmental
irrigation – primary) damage How these conflicts are managed
sustainably.
Remember case study questions are Level marked i.e.:
Level 1 (1-3 marks): basic description showing limited knowledge and
understanding. Meaning not communicated very clearly.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Refers to named case study, some relevant knowledge
demonstrated and some facts/evidence are included to support answer.
Meaning is communicated clearly.
Level 3 (7-8 marks): Valid case study given and a full range of place-
specific detail used to effectively answer the question. Good knowledge and
understanding shown through facts / evidence. Meaning is communicated
very clearly.
You should try to write three well developed ideas in your answer!
Case study questions preparation

8. Past paper exam questions
Population & settlement case study questions Place/Example Key ideas to include
1 For a settlement which has experienced land use
change:
(i) Name and locate the settlement, stating how it
has changed;
(ii) With reference to specific place detail,
describe and explain the reasons for land use
change and the impacts these had.
2 There is global pressure to make settlements more
sustainable.
For one of more examples that you have studied,
describe and explain how settlements can be made
more sustainable.
3 With reference to a named example, describe and
explain how an urban area has been redeveloped.
Discuss how sustainable the redevelopment has
been.
4 Name and locate an example of changes in retail
service provision in an area. Describe the recent
changes which have taken place and explain why
these changes have occurred.
Economic development case study questions Place/Example Key ideas to include
5 For an aid programme that you have studied:
(i) Name and locate the programme;
(ii) Describe with specific detail the main features
of the programme;
(iii) How sustainable is the programme?
6 For a specific example of an economic activity that
you have studied (for example a mining area, retail
outlet, manufacturing company, etc);
(i) Name and locate the economic activity;
(ii) With reference to specific detail, describe
and explain the factors affecting its
location.
7 Name and locate an economic activity.
How has the economic activity affected the
natural environment? What has been done to
minimise damage to the environment?
8 Name and locate an example of an economic
activity you have studied in an LEDC. Explain why
this economic activity is located in this LEDC.
What factors might influence decisions about
whether the named economic activity remains at
this location in the future?

9. Name a multi-national company (MNC) you have
9 studied and a country where it is located. Explain
how the multi-national company affects local
people and environments and the overall economy
of the country.
Natural hazards case study questions Place/Example Key ideas to include
10 For a natural hazard event that you have studied in
an LEDC:
(i) Name and locate the natural hazard event;
(ii) With reference to specific place detail,
describe the physical processes that caused the
hazard and how human activities affected it.
(iii) Explain how levels of development can affect
the impact of a hazard.
11 For a place with a natural hazard that you have
studied:
(i) State where the natural hazard is located;
(ii) Describe the measures of hazard protection
that have been undertaken in your chosen area;
(iii) Using specific detail, explain how one of these
measures of protection works.
12 For a type of natural hazard that you have studied:
(i) Name the natural hazard;
(ii) With reference to specific examples, describe
and explain its global distribution.
13 Name a type of climatic hazard and the location
where it took place.
Explain the natural processes which caused this
event and how human activities have affected the
impact of the natural hazard.
14 Identify a type of tectonic hazard.
Describe methods used to respond to the hazard.
How successful are these response methods?
15 Name and locate an example of a tectonic hazard
event in an LEDC. Describe the effects of the
hazard event and explain how successful attempts
have been to reduce the effects.