During your exams you will come across common command words. It is important that you understand what these words mean in order to know what the examiner is asking you to do. Below is a list of 18 of the most common ones which you will become familiar with!
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Describe Explain List Compare
To write about what something is like, without attempt to explain. To write how or why things occur A number of one word or one line facts or ideas. To write what is similar and what is different between two areas or two ideas. (Two descriptions do not make a comparison.)
Predict
To look at the evidence and suggest what might happen next.
Locate
To write or mark accurately where something is in relation to other places. Using geographical terms.
Comment
On the basis of your knowledge and understanding, give views on…
Give reasons To write two or more points about why or how things happen. for Identify Use State Suggest Study Summarise
‘Pick out’ This means that you must get information from the resources provided. Write in a short, clear way. On the basis of your knowledge and understanding, to write down how and why you think things happen, Look carefully at the resource. Write down the main points.
Select
Choose
Label
Pick out name feature(s) required.
Annotate Justify
Add notes of description or explanation to labels. Make out a case for.
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Geographical knowledge Geographical understanding Geographical skills Map reading (grid references/ compass directions) Measuring distances (scale) Image interpretation Problem solving Graph/diagram completion and analysis Basic calculations.
WHEN GIVEN AN IMAGE. QUESTION IT USING THE FOLLOWING WORDS:
-
WHERE?
In the world may you see such a settlement?
WHO? -
Lives there?
-
HOW?
-
WHY?
Are people choosing to migrate their?
Can this settlement be improved?
-
-
WHAT?
Problems would there be in this settlement?
-
WHEN?
Will the people in this settlement be most at risk from nature?
USE GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS IN YOUR ANSWER!!!
MAPS NORMALLY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Symbols showing key landmarks and features.
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
00 15
02
01
03
Names of places and locations
04
06
05
15
14
14
13
13 Direction – four and eight point compass direction e.g. north , north-east
12
12
N
11
00
02
01
Contour lines show relief height of ground above level) and steepness of land.
to (the the sea the the
03
A grid system of lines to allow you to pinpoint your location. Need to be able to provide four and six figure grid references.
04
05
11 06
A scale and scale bar to allow you to measure distance on the map and convert it to the actual distance on the land.
A key to explain what symbols mean
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET AND USE ALL OF THESE MAP SKILLS
TOP TIPS!!! State trend shown (goes up/down? Occur in certain places etc) Support trend identified by providing examples (e.g. name places/countries, quote data) Use geographical terms in your answer! Explain why such patterns may have arisen
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Trend: Countries south of the equator have the highest percentage of people living below the poverty line.
Figure 1: World Map showing percentage of population living below the poverty line
Explanation: Above the equator are mainly MEDC’s whereas below the equator there are mainly LEDC’s. MEDC’s have a higher GDP which they use to improve health care, education and housing thus reducing the number of people living in poverty. The opposite is true in LEDC’s.
Trend: Bombay has a distinct wet and dry season.
Figure 2: Bombay average annual rainfall.
Support: The continents of Africa and South America show the highest percentage of people living in poverty. For example, Niger and Chad in Africa have over 50% of their population living in poverty as does Bolivia in South America. By contrast the USA above the equator has less than 30% of its population living in poverty.
Support: Between May and September Bombay has its rainy season. Receiving a peak of 950mm of rainfall in July. Whereas from October to April Bombay received less than 50mm making its dry season. Explanation: Bombay is in India which has a monsoon climate. It receives dry winds during its dry season bringing fine weather. Whereas during its wet season it warm air rises and condenses to bring heavy rain.
You must know how to draw and interpret a climate
graph Feb 41
Mar 46
Apr 46
May 48
Jun 53
Jul 51
Aug 66
Sep 51
3
3
6
7
11
14
16
16
13
10
70
18
60
16 14
50
12
40
10
30
8 6
20
4
10
Average monthly temperature (째C)
Climate graphs illustrate average monthly precipitation and temperature for a year for a particular location.
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
HY DEPARTMENT GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Monthly rainfall (mm) Monthly temperature (oC)
Jan 55
STUDY DATA Oct Nov Dec 51 53 53 6
4
Peak rainfall = greatest amount of rainfall Peak temperature = greatest temperature. Annual rainfall = total amount of rainfall in a year
2
0
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months
The blue bars represent rainfall. Use left axis to interpret i.e. Jan received 56mm of rainfall.
The red line represents temperature. Use right axis to interpret i.e. Dec experienced temperatures of 4oC.
Temperature range = maximum temperature minus lowest temperature