Exam Guide | Model Answer

Senior Cycle Geography - Exam Guide (O)

(a) Exam Structure & Strategy

Exam Strategy

Timing: Allow 10 minutes to read the paper carefully at the start. This will get your mind attuned to geographical terms, help you to make the correct choice of questions, and remind you of relevant points (which you can jot down on your rough-work page). Resist the temptation to launch headlong into answering questions. Allow 35 minutes for each of the five questions and try to stick closely to this guideline. Leave 10 minutes at the end to review your paper and spot any significant errors or items left out.

Answering style: Essay style answers are acceptable in Geography especially in the social and economic sections. However, answers in point-form are also acceptable and are usually best in the mapwork, physical, and regional sections. Train yourself to approach every question with this in mind – what exactly are they looking for here? Make sure you explain points where appropriate, with reference to the wording of the question e.g. “Explain two effects this debt has on the countries in the Developing World”.

(b) Walk-through the paper (Question by question)

Question 1 - Ordnance Survey Maps – compulsory question 

There are usually three parts to the question and each part must be answered. You are given the Ordnance Survey Map and a legend (key) to work with. Written descriptions and/or sketch maps are required as evidence of your ability to read and interpret the map. You are expected to use knowledge acquired throughout the study of geography to interpret the map in detail.  Most questions concern the interpretation of the physical landscape or the identification of man's imprint on the physical landscape, as these are made evident on the map.

The topics which arise in Ordnance Survey interpretation include:

• Features of river, coastal and glacial erosion and deposition, drainage patterns and structural trends
• Distribution of woodland
• The influence of the physical landscape on communications
• The location and development of a town
• The location of suitable sites in a town for the construction of a factory, school etc.
• Transport infrastructure
• Settlement patterns
• Tourist attractions

When answering the questions ensure that you:

• Describe the point using map evidence
• State the point clearly
• Show location by means of a grid reference

What is mainly examined in the physical geography option is weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition, and the landforms created along rivers, coasts, glaciated areas, etc. If you are answering a question on landforms ensure you:

• State the name of the landform
• Name and describe the processes involved in formation
• Give an example of each landform – an Irish one, if possible.
• Use diagrams to explain landform

The second part of a question on landforms may ask you to deal with how human activity interacts with this aspect of human geography. Usually two points must be named and briefly explained.

Remember that while the physical geography question is not compulsory, it provides a significant portion of the knowledge required for answering other sections of the exam, e.g. Ordnance Survey maps and aerial photograph interpretation.

Note: The Social and Economic Geography section of the course is preparation for two full questions on the exam paper, and students may do both and omit physical geography.

The question on a Geographical field study (i.e. study of a local region or of a particular aspect of local geography) always appears in the set of questions on economic geography. There are likely to be at least 5 parts to the question and they are usually as follows:

1. Title and Aims (state title and at least 3 aims)

2. Preparation (e.g. type of methods used to gather information, choice of study area, type of information needed, where was the information gathered?)

3. Gathering and Recording (3 activities must be described: describe how the information was gathered, describe at least one way the information was recorded, describe activities at relevant locations.)

4. Results and Conclusions (state clearly and explain at least 3 conclusions, provide at least two diagrams e.g. maps, charts etc)

5. The final part of this section may ask what merits further study? What skills were developed during the field?

The Social geography section contains the aerial photograph. The question is usually divided into 3 parts. Note the following points:

• Both oblique and vertical photographs can be used for this question.
• Ensure that you can provide location on both types of photograph.
• Sketch maps are regularly requested.

When answering the question, state your point clearly, provide location, and offer photographic evidence for your point.

Some questions may ask how the photograph and the Ordnance Survey map differ in providing information.

Other topics for examination include population, settlement, development, agriculture, transport, and tourism.

Questions may be on any of the following countries: Ireland, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The key topics here are i) Regional division and ii) Core and Peripheral regions.

i) Regional division:

• Select one country and divide into 3 distinctive regions
• Ensure you can draw a sketch, if asked, of the country, showing clearly the name and location of each region
• Explain 2 points on each region. These points should distinguish it from the other regions

ii) Core and Peripheral regions:

• Define both terms
• Be able to describe the main characteristics of each of the regions
• Usually most marks are awarded for a description of examples of both regions

Ensure that you can refer to at least 2 countries (i.e. core / peripheral regions in both countries)

Questions may also refer to problems faced by both regions and policies to reduce gaps between the regions.

iii) World Geography

An optional question which is always more or less the same. Up to 20 marks are available for identifying major cities and physical features. Remaining marks are for discussing areas which have been in the news of late, e.g. Middle East, Yugoslavia etc.

Exam Guide | Model Answer