Three days left. Paper 2 is human geography: urban issues, development, and resource management. The same rule as Paper 1 applies. Named case study data separates a grade 6 answer from a grade 8 one. Here's the order that gets you the most marks in the time you've got.
One focus per day, building to a timed run. Work it in order.
Ranked from analysed past papers. Start at the top: if you run out of time, you will have covered the most-tested ground.
A named megacity case study in an LIC or NEE, with growth rate and at least one specific problem and solution, is required for the 9-mark urban challenges question almost every series.
Your named UK city needs a location, population figure, and a specific regeneration or sustainability project with a cost or outcome attached. Generic 'they built new houses' answers score low.
Urban change, opportunities and challenges of city growth, and sustainable urban strategies (green space, water conservation, transport) form the foundation of every urban issues question.
Explaining why development varies between countries, and evaluating different measures like GNI, HDI and life expectancy, is a reliable source of 6-mark 'why is one measure not enough' questions.
AQA's named LIC/NEE case study: the role of TNCs, the impact of industrial development, and both the advantages and disadvantages must be known with figures, not just described in general terms.
Deindustrialisation, the shift to services, the North-South divide, and the UK's place in the wider world (transport links, trade) are tested through data-response and 9-mark questions.
Wherever water is your chosen resource option, global inequalities in supply and a named large-scale water transfer or management scheme with a real figure are essential exam content.
The reasons for growing demand for food and energy, and strategies to increase supply or manage demand, are tested through the same point-evidence-development structure as every other 9-marker.
PrepWise has a one-page Knowledge Organiser for every topic above. In your final 3 days, use them the same way each time: cover the page, try to recall everything from memory, uncover and check what you missed, then repeat that topic again tomorrow.
Rules specific to Paper 2. On this paper, structure earns as many marks as knowledge.
Nigeria, your UK city, your megacity, your resource management scheme: for each one, write down one specific figure, the exact place name, and a date or timescale. Use at least one on that card in any question that names the case study.
Make a point, back it with named evidence or a figure, develop the consequence or significance, then link back to the question. Two or three developed points beat six undeveloped ones.
These command words want you to weigh up both sides (for example the advantages and disadvantages of TNC investment in Nigeria) and reach a conclusion in your final sentence. An answer with no final judgement loses marks even if the content is accurate.
If a question says 'using Figure 6 and your own knowledge', quote a specific value, trend or feature from the resource before adding your own case study detail. Ignoring the Figure entirely is one of the most common ways marks are lost on this paper.
The errors examiners see most on this paper. Each one is an easy mark you already know how to keep.
Naming a case study but never using any of its data → Naming Nigeria or your UK city is not enough on its own. You need to deploy a real figure, date or place name from your data card inside the answer to reach the top levels.
Treating LIC, NEE and HIC as fixed labels without explaining why → Be ready to explain why a country like Nigeria is classed as an NEE (rapid industrial growth, rising GNI) rather than just stating the label. Examiners test understanding of the classification, not just recall of it.
Writing about TNCs in Nigeria with only positives or only negatives → Questions on TNC investment almost always want both sides: jobs and infrastructure gained, against environmental damage and profit leaving the country. One-sided answers cannot reach the top level of a balanced question.
Describing a resource management scheme instead of evaluating it → If the command word is 'evaluate' or 'assess', you must weigh advantages against disadvantages and reach a conclusion. A pure description of how the scheme works will not score full marks.
Running out of time and rushing the final resource management question → Paper 2 has three sections of similar length. Check your watch against the mark allocation as you go: a 9-mark question needs roughly 13-14 minutes, not 5.
The 60 minutes before you walk in. Review what you know and settle your nerves.
The marks come from applying it, not reading it. Practise exam-style Geography questions in PrepWise, get instant marking, and see whether your case-study detail is specific enough to score.
Open the Geography Knowledge Organisers, quiz every priority topic and walk in ready. Free during alpha.
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