A Level Geography Revision: A Simple Guide
A Level Geography Revision can be much more effective with the right guidance – Geography teacher and author David Alcock shares his top tips to help you optimise your study and stay on track.
Start as you mean to go on, with these effective methods:
Create clear, accessible notes you can confidently revise from
Cognitive science research shows that effective notes often include writing questions or prompts in the margins (try the ‘Cornell Method’), using bullet points and spider diagrams, and adding visual elements such as sketches to reinforce understanding.
Use retrieval practice actively throughout your A Level Geography Revision
Revisit your notes within a few hours of first making them, and then several times afterwards, using increasingly spaced intervals. This follows the principle of the ‘Ebbinghaus forgetting curve’. Each time you return to your notes, begin by re-reading them, and then actively reformulate the content by chunking it into flashcards. Add a subtitle to each flashcard (like ‘Reasons for water insecurity’) or pose a question (such as ‘What is the role of local government in regeneration?’).
Focus closely on case study detail
When revising for Geography, focus on case study detail, explore connections between topics by drawing concept maps, and weigh up arguments and impacts – for example, using cost-benefit matrices.
Use your Edexcel A Level Geography Revision Guide or AQA A Level Geography Revision Guide to help you fill the gaps in your notes or to help you make flash cards!
Practice with self-quizzing and peer-quizzing
Now it’s time to get active! While passive revision – such as simply reading and highlighting your notes – has been shown to be ineffective, there are better ways to learn. Instead, use the flashcards you created earlier or try online quiz-creation tools. Quiz yourself or a classmate, and then retest yourself later to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Stuck for questions? See the Retrieval page at the end of every three subsections of the your Revision Guide!
Attempt past paper or exam-style questions
Test your exam-readiness with plenty of past paper or exam-style questions, then apply mark schemes (use them yourself, swap with a friend, or ask a teacher).
Your Edexcel/AQA Revision Guide contains dozens of exam-style questions and mark schemes!
Good luck! You’ve got this.
Found David Alcock’s tips and exam strategies useful? Watch more from David Alcock on the Oxford Revise YouTube Channel.
Useful links
Geography revision
A Level Geography Revision Guides
AQA A Level Geography
This revision guides gives you all the key information you need to revise and prepare for your AQA A Level Geography exams. You will cover everything you need to know including water and carbon cycles, changing places and geographical skills.
Edexcel A Level Geography
This revision guides gives you all the key information you need to revise and prepare for your Edexcel A Level Geography exams. You will cover everything you need to know including water and carbon cycles, globalisation and geographical skills.