Top Tips for Geography Revision by Tim Bayliss

Oxford Revise Series Editor Tim Bayliss and the Oxford Revise Team discuss 6 top tips for effective Geography revision.

For successful revision I want my students to think positively and believe that they can do it! Putting the time into your revision is going to help you to feel confident and ready. GCSEs are a culmination of many years of study at school, so it’s worth putting the work in as you approach your exams.

How to revise effectively? Top tips for Geography Revision

Where to revise

Start by finding a quiet space without distractions so you can concentrate. This could be at home, in a library, at school, or even outdoors in a park or garden. However, revision doesn’t always need to be silent or solo – sometimes it helps to study with a friend or family member.

In addition, study groups with friends are great for discussing key topics, testing each other using the Retrieval Questions in Oxford Revise guides, and spotting areas you don’t understand – so you can ask your teacher for support.

Top tips for dealing with distractions

It’s much better to do a shorter revision session where you are able to really focus and concentrate, than a longer one where you get distracted. The biggest distraction culprit can be your phone. If you find you are getting side-tracked, leave your phone in another room. You can check it during your regular breaks.

Improve your long-term memory to boost your Geography revision

66% of material is lost within seven days if it’s not reviewed, and 88% disappears after six weeks! To combat this forgetting curve, your revision sessions must be active – give your brain a workout and lock information into long-term memory. Key strategies include regularly revisiting topics to practise retrieving prior knowledge. For instance, if you’re revising water management, start by quickly recalling energy management first. Oxford Revise supports this with dedicated retrieval sections in your Geography Revision Guide, helping you revisit earlier topics and strengthen recall across the specification.

Know your Geography case studies

It’s important to really know your case studies, so help that knowledge stick by regularly reviewing key information. For example, you could stick Post-It notes on the fridge with key facts, or challenge yourself to recall five pieces of information before getting on the bus.

Know your command words

One of the biggest exam pitfalls is misunderstanding command words, so check you fully understand what they’re asking you to do. Then, use the exam-style practice questions in Oxford Revise to build familiarity with the types of questions you’ll face – there are plenty of useful tips on command words and suggestions for how to approach them.

Top tip for your Geography Revision, think SLOP (Shed loads of practice)!

Remember – exam preparation means actively recalling information, not just passively taking it in. Keep your revision dynamic by using the Retrieval Questions in your Oxford Revise guide. Ask friends or family to test you – the answers are in the book to make it easy for them. Then, use exam-style questions and, as your exams get closer, try to complete as many practice papers as possible, including some against the clock.

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GCSE and A Level Geography Revision Guides