HL/SL 2017-2019
Grade 12 Geography Mock
Exam/Exam Study Guide
Dear Grade 12 student,
This document serves to give you as much information as possible about how you should be revising for the
mock exams, and really, the final exam. It’s a lot of information, but I encourage you all to read it to make
yourself feel more comfortable about what’s to come, to help guide your studying, and to remind you of
things you may have forgotten. All the best in your studying, and as always, contact me if you need help.
Mr. Alberts
Contents:
Paper 1: Pages 1 -2
Paper 2: Pages 3-5
Paper 3 (HL): Pages 6-8
How to study for geography: Page 9
Essays: Page 10
Case studies/detailed examples: Pages 11-13
Command terms: Pages 14-15
Glossary/Vocabulary Paper 1: Pages 16-18
Glossary/Vocabulary Paper 3 (HL): Pages 19-22
Paper 1
This is the paper that tests your knowledge on the ‘options’. Until this point, both HL and SL students
are close to finishing Urban Environments, and HL students have completed Geophysical Hazards.
After the mock exams, we will be completing the final option which is Ocean and Coastal Margins.
HL students will have questions from both Urban Environments and Geophysical Hazards on their
mock, whereas SL students will only have Urban Environments questions on their mock.
On the real exam, you will have the choice of all options to answer questions to, but you have to
choose the ones you have studied (only logical). Use the annotated chart below to help you
understand what is on the exam and how much it is worth to you.
Fig 1.1. What is on the exam
Quick summary: You have 2 minutes and 15 seconds per point. The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes
long. It is divided into 10 points worth of short answer responses, and 10 points of one essay
question. It is worth 35% of your grade if you are in SL, and 35% if you are in HL.
Part A: Short Answer Responses:
You have to answer every single short answer question for your option; you have no choice. They
typically use diagrams, maps, or charts for at least a couple questions. When answering these
questions, remember to:
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-Read the question carefully, the last thing you want to do is answer a question that wasn’t
asked!
-Understand the command term and know how you are expected to answer
-Look at the point value; how much are you expected to say?
-Look at the point structure; an answer worth 4 points should be answered differently than an
answer with 2+2 points
-Do not forget TEA (trends, examples, anomalies) for questions that (typically) start with
‘Describe the patterns/trends/distribution’.
-Do the questions you know, and put a star by the ones you aren’t sure about. Do not waste
time on questions you don’t know the answer to, there are points waiting for you elsewhere!
-When in doubt, give an answer. Guess. You might be right and get a point.
Part B: The Essay
You have a choice between two questions for the essay, both based on the knowledge you have
acquired for that specific option. Choose which one works for you, and then on the lined paper
indicate the correct question number you have chosen. Do not waste time rewriting the question.
Uses the annotated guide below to see what is expected of the best essay responses. For achieving
lower grades, please see the syllabus page 56-58.
Fig 1.2. How to achieve top essay results for Paper 1 Section B
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Paper 2
This is the paper that tests your knowledge on the ‘core’. You have completed all of these units in
grade 11, as indicated on figure 1.3. This exam is comprised of short answer responses, an infographic,
and an essay. The only choice you have of questions on this paper is which of the two essays you
want to do. Use the annotated chart below to help you understand what is on the exam and how
much it is worth to you.
Figure 1.3. What is on the exam
Quick summary: You have 1 minutes and 30 seconds per point. The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes
long. It is divided into 30 points worth of short answer questions, 10 points for the infographic, and
10 points of one essay question. It is worth 40% of your grade if you are in SL, and 25% if you are in
HL.
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Part A: Short Answer Responses
You have to answer every single short answer response question on the exam. They typically use
diagrams, maps, or charts for at least a couple questions. When answering these questions,
remember to:
-Read the question carefully, the last thing you want to do is answer a question that wasn’t
asked!
-Understand the command term and know how you are expected to answer
-Look at the point value; how much are you expected to say?
-Look at the point structure; an answer worth 4 points should be answered differently than an
answer with 2+2 points
-Do not forget TEA (trends, examples, anomalies) for questions that (typically) start with
‘Describe the patterns/trends/distribution’.
-Do the questions you know, and put a star by the ones you aren’t sure about. Do not waste
time on questions you don’t know the answer to, there are points waiting for you elsewhere!
-When in doubt, give an answer. Guess. You might be write and get a point.
Part B: The Infographic
You are the first IBDP students every to have a guaranteed infographic on your exam, one that you
have to deconstruct. Congrats? Anyways, remember what we discussed in the lessons:
1. Whenever you encounter an infographic, on an exam or in real life, the following questions should
be in the back of your mind:
What is the point that is being made?
Why has the infographic been made?
Who produced the infographic?
Where was the data sourced from?
When was the infographic produced?
2. Should you be asked how it can be improved, remember the following ideas to look for:
-Tone of language
-Use of terminology
-Use of labels and headings
-Sources used
-Generalizations
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-Use of images
-Use of colour
-Use of data
-Intended audience
-Scales and proportions or projection of the map
-Effectiveness of the key
Part C: The Essay
You have a choice between two questions for the essay. .Choose which one works for you, and then
on the lined paper indicate the correct question number you have chosen. Do not waste time
rewriting the question. Uses the annotated guide below to see what is expected of the best essay
responses. For achieving lower grades, please see the syllabus page 56-58.
On the Paper 2 essay, you are encouraged to use whatever you have learned in the course to help
develop your answer, but particularly things from the three main units of global change we studied
last year. In this way, the examiner will be looking for synthesis, the ability for you to link and relate
different parts of IBDP geography to each other
Figure 1.4. How to achieve top essay results for Paper 2 Section C
(Note: this is the same markscheme as the paper 1 essay)
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Paper 3
Paper 3: university-level, academic essay writing in one of the quickest exams that comes down to a
bit of planning, some furious writing, and in depth evaluation and synthesis. We started grade 11 with
global superpowers, and we will finish grade 12 with talking about E-passports. You have worked very
hard on this paper, you know the stuff, and you have the ability to do well on this paper. It is two
essays; one worth 12 points, one worth 16 points.
You will have the choice between 3 questions, each with an A (12 point) and B (16 point). You only
have to choose one question, and do the A and B from that question (you can’t choose 1A, and 2B, for
example). The 12 point questions are typically clear, focus on one case studies or a couple of detailed
examples. They look ‘easy’. The 16 point questions are large, will require a lot of synthesis and
evaluation.
My best advice is to choose one of the questions that you think you have a pretty good idea about
how to go about the 16 point question, which sometimes can be worded strangely. However, it
should be obvious that you should not choose a question with an answerable 16 point question, but
you have no idea how to answer the 12 point question. Spend an extra minute reading the questions
(you have 5 minutes reading time in the real exam), making sure you understand them. As
mentioned in class, I have had students not read the question carefully and received 2s and 3s
because they answered a question that wasn’t being asked. Some of you have experienced this in
tests as well. Finally, don’t forget SPEED; chances are you may need to use it writing an essay(s) on
this exam.
Figure 1.5. What is on the exam
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Part A: The 12 point question
The most important thing to remember about the 12 point question is that NO evaluation or
synthesis is expected for a perfect score. Do not waste time evaluating or synthesizing for this
question as it will only bring your score down.
Figure 1.4. How to achieve top essay results for 12 point question
Part B: The 16 point question
This is the big one. Pay attention to the markscheme, as it is quite different than all of the other
markschemes, despite my only adding one annotation. Some teachers say start with the 16 point
question; I disagree. Start with the question that you feel most convinced you can answer well and
get the highest score, but just make sure you don’t write too much and save some time for the other
question.
(Figure 1.5 on next page)
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Figure 1.5. How to achieve top essay results for the 16 point question
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How to Study for Geography
Students tend to have different study habits, routines, and styles. I get that, and even support it.
However, the following is how I strongly recommend you study for geography, in order of
prioritization.
1. The Syllabus. It is truly the most important and easiest way to study the material from the last two
years. Every single lesson I planned, I looked at what I needed to teach according to the syllabus,
used the objectives on the agendas I used in class every day. We covered content between pages 34
to page 46 (54 if you are in HL). But don’t forget, don’t just look at the content. Elsewhere in the
syllabus are definitions, command terms, grade boundaries, types of charts that could be on an exam;
all of this is found in the syllabus.
2. Notes/Agendas/The Geopal (in conjunction). You took pages and pages of notes the last year and
a half. Use them. Remember, as much as I like to joke about how ‘awesome’ www.thegeopal.com is,
it is such a valuable tool for you in your revision. You are the reason I created the website. Every.
Single. Agenda is on there, for you. Use that to your advantage. Relook at the links and activities you
don’t remember. Look at it with other people. Compare notes and see if you missed something.
Look at magister at days you were ill and find the lesson for that day. Use it to remember what we
did, learned, and covered.
3. Past Papers and Markschemes. Past papers are a very useful tool, when used correctly. They
teach you how to answer the exam questions, what examiners are looking for in essays, how to
properly answer a command term, and more. Do not study the questions because you think they will
be on the exam, study them because you want to be able to answer questions like that. Note:
remember you are the first year of a new geography syllabus; things like circular economy,
sustainable development goals, and more material will not be on past papers.
4. Your Own Strategies. Finally, figure out what works for you if you haven’t already. Below is a map
I made with my grade 12 tutor class last year how they studied. Look at some of the things they
mentioned and how they might be helpful for you. Kognity, flashcards, the textbook; they all bring
something to the table.
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Essays
The purpose of this page is to remind you about the nature of writing essays in IBDP geography.
-Plan. By now you should have figured out how much time you need to use in your planning.
Whether or not you use a piece of scrap paper, everybody needs to plan their essays. Planned are
easier and quicker to write, as well as higher scoring. Remember, put a line through your plan when
you are finished so your examiner doesn’t grade it.
-Conventions and format. You need to paragraph; put a space in between each paragraph. You need
an introduction of typically 2-3 sentences, though HL students might have a bit larger of an intro in
Paper 3. You need an organised body, with paragraphs that follow what you said you would write
about in your introduction. Use topic sentences for each paragraph. You need a conclusion that
sums up what you have written without introducing new information.
-Cross out neatly. Don’t scribble out something that you don’t like. There is a chance an examiner is
lenient if they can still see what you had written was good.
-Evaluate. Most of the essays require evaluation. Show you are a smart cookie and that not
everything is one sided; there are strengths and limitations
-Remember the 4 P’s and 2 S’. Underline them in your answer so the examiner knows you
understand the conceptual understanding. However, do not go overboard and try to force it. All
essay questions will have elements of these concepts, but don’t try to use all of them.
-PEE. Point, explain evidence. This is how you can organise each of your paragraphs.
-SPEED. Social, Political, Economic, Environmental, and Demographic. We learned about these
because you need to remember there are causes and consequences for all spatial interactions in the
world. In many cases, these can form the basis of your essay. I underline social, economic, and
environmental because they are typically the most commonly used in an answer, though don’t be
afraid to use political or demographic if you see the opportunity to.
-Exemplify and develop. You can’t just state and describe things all the time. Give examples of what
you are talking about, statistic, facts, and numbers to back up your argument. Take the time to
develop upon what you are saying.
-English B students: Bring a dictionary to every exam. You should know this by now, but it can be a
lifesaver. Every single exam I have invigilated where students are allowed to bring their dictionary in, I
have seen them used.
-Don’t rewrite questions. Just clearly indicate the number of the essay question you are answering.
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Case Studies/Detailed Examples
On this page, every single ‘Case Study’ and ‘Detailed Example’ we have discussed in class thus far is
listed, with the link to the corresponding syllabus section. A case study means you should be able to
write about it for up to half an hour, and a detailed example 15-20 minutes. A reminder that we
talked about more examples than what is listed here, these are just the major examples.
Global Change (Core)
Unit 1.1
Two detailed and contrasting examples of uneven population distribution: China and Canada
Unit 1.2
Population change and demographic transition over time, including natural increase, fertility rate, life
expectancy, population structure and dependency ratios
Detailed examples of two or more contrasting countries: Iceland and Nigeria
Unit 1.2
One case study of a contemporary megacity experiencing rapid growth: L agos, Nigeria
Unit 1.2
Detailed examples of two or more forced movements, to include environmental and political push factors,
and consequences for people and places: Bangladesh and Ukraine
Unit 1.3
One case study of a country benefiting from a demographic dividend: Thailand
Unit 2.3
Disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability, including variations in people’s
location, wealth, social differences (age, gender, education), risk perception
Detailed examples of two or more societies with contrasting vulnerability: Bangladesh, Netherlands, and
Haiti
Unit 2.3
Case study of the response to climate change in one country focusing on the actions of non-governmental
stakeholders: Self-chosen/Homework Assignment
Unit 3.2
The implications of global climate change for the water–food–energy nexus
Detailed examples of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security: M auritania and Canada
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Urban Environments
Unit G.2
Case study of infrastructure growth over time in one city: New York City
Unit G.3
Case study of air pollution in one city and its varying impact on people: Beijing
Unit G.3
Case study of one affected city (congestion) and the management response: R otterdam
Unit G.3
Detailed contrasting examples of two affected neighbourhoods and their populations:
City centre in Stuttgart, M
akoko/Eko Atlantic in Lagos
(Two more case studies to come but they will not appear on mocks)
Geophysical Hazards (HL Only)
Unit D.3
Two contemporary contrasting case studies each for volcanic hazards (contrasting plate boundary
locations): M
ount Agung, Indonesia, and Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland
Unit D.3
Two contemporary contrasting case studies each for earthquake hazards (similar magnitudes but with
contrasting human impacts): C hristchurch, New Zealand, and Port au Prince, Haiti
Unit D.3
Two contemporary contrasting case studies each for mass movement hazards (contrasting physical
characteristics (fast/slow; solid/loose): Vargas, Venezuela, and Fargo, North Dakota, USA
Global Interactions (HL Only)
Power, Places, and Networks
Unit 4.1
Detailed examples of at least two actual or potential global superpowers: China and America
Unit 4.1
Two contrasting detailed examples of TNCs and their global strategies and supply chains: Ikea and H&M
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Human Development and Diversity
Unit 5.1
Detailed illustrative examples of affirmative action to close the development gap: H
arvard, South Africa,
Colombia, Brazil
Unit 5.2
Case study of a global diaspora population and its cultures(s): Jewish Diaspora
Unit 5.3
Two detailed examples of places where restricted freedoms have been challenged: Ukraine and Iran
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Command Terms
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15
Glossary/Vocabulary Paper 1
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17
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Glossary Vocabulary Paper 3 (HL)
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20
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Best of fortunes while studying for geography, grade 12s. I hope you use this
document and find it helpful. It seems like a lot but even reading it is going to
help improve your results on the mocks and final exams, of that I am sure.
Just remember, you know this stuff!
Mr. Alberts
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