The Student Room Group
Reply 1

Please help people, I've just recieved my result for Jan08 Geog AQA B Synoptic Unit 5 paper, and got an E...

I did research and read around the subject, prepared myself pretty well but I still got an E, maybe it's the way I've answered the questions, maybe I need to improve on my exam technique, please give advise on how to answer a synoptic question, please!!!


Hi, did the same exam and got a B.

I'm not sure really what i did, to be honest i thought i'd failed. I jst made constant reference to the pre-release and used quotes and so on from it. Make sure you apply things you've learnt from your previous AS module 1 of work too though.

I'm re-sitting in june, so make sure to pm me when you get the pre-release and we can go through some things that may help :smile:

Michael
have a look on the exam website, they should have previous ones you can look at, or buy the revision book with practice questions, they should have one
Reply 3
Just go through the pre release really well so you know quicky what infomation to use to support your argument. The other important thing I think is to practice, get some old papers off your teacher and get them to mark them. Good luck
Try and answer questions holistically; since it's the synoptic paper the examiners seem to enjoy indulgent overuse of this concept. When offering advice or solutions, consider also the counter-arguments to your proposals. And it goes without saying, but try and write in a mature style.
Reply 5
WOW, thank you y'all, for your good advise, I think I now know why I only got an E now...:frown:

Keep the advise coming people, that'll be great thanks!
Reply 6
Remember that a majority of the answer will be found in the resource material, use every bit of it.If you use details from a map reference also back it up with any photographic evidence information that is provided. If you have letters from planning committees tie that in with what you may have learnt about town planning,rural urban conflict issues if they are relevant. If the synoptic is based on say an African National park do the same thing, the evidence you need will have been supplied, use it and then back it up, say using information for example on sustainable tourism, again if relevant. A synoptic paper is about testing that you have seen the bigger picture and can tie all the threads together to give a comprehensive answer. Good luck and make sure that you do have a all the released material with you in the exam.I know of one case where photos were omitted when the release material was given out. Not a help!!You should be able to check that you have got the right pieces by checking with the exam board.
Reply 7
I got an A for this paper and thought I screwed it up. The paper on the Scottish Borders right?

My answers weren't particularly well structured but I got the marks. The examiners won't be picky in giving marks as long as you do the right things. Make sure you always give evidence from the resources - quote the specific data instead of just mentioning the figure number in your answer. You will also have to write about sustainability.
Reply 8
106 Rob
Just go through the pre release really well so you know quicky what infomation to use to support your argument. The other important thing I think is to practice, get some old papers off your teacher and get them to mark them. Good luck







what is this pre-release?? which exam board gets it? im with edexcel A, didnt get anything.
Its on Cumbria

Main questions are most probably going to be on the use of energy and regeneration of Allelerdale
Reply 10
Maybe you don't get it, i was/am with Edexcel B.
Reply 11
jofebaqua10
what is this pre-release?? which exam board gets it? im with edexcel A, didnt get anything.


i'm with edexcel a too, we didn't recieve any pre-release. Can anyone help for our exam about the kind of stuff you have to read around for the exam, and how you answer the questions, cuz i'm failing geog atm thanks x:smile:
well it all depends on what comes up to be honest u cant predict it :s-smilie: soo yh
just try out the past papers, see what the markscheme looks for like obviously if in the info booklet there are graphs maps and diagrams make sure u use them in ure answers ->theyre there for a reason after all.. etc...

all you can revise are the synoptic essays really,
these are generally on the following topics:
human activity in different physical environments,
hazards,
human resources.

soo if u just familarise yourself with enough case studies about these topics u shud be able to score highly in the synoptic essay section.. :smile: