How to Get 7 in IB Geography With Advice from Experts

Perhaps, you’ve chosen to study IB Geography because our planet and its intricate, interconnected systems captivate you. You probably also want to turn this passion of yours into a top grade. So, what exactly should you do to achieve top marks? Here’s how to get 7 in IB Geography with the right approach and strategy.

Although the subject is indeed fascinating, getting through its intricacies might feel like navigating a challenging terrain itself. That’s why just the fact that you enjoy Geography isn’t enough to get good marks. We asked our IB Geography tutors (all IB teachers and examiners) to explain how to best prepare for your assessment. Below are their expert tips on how to turn your geographical curiosity into academic success.

What to expect in the IB Geography exam

A big part of nailing your exam is knowing what’s actually coming your way. At the end of your course, you’ll face an external assessment split into several parts: Papers 1 and 2, plus Paper 3 specifically for HL. Each piece has its own requirements, timing, and weight in your final grade.

Paper 1

Paper 1 focuses on the optional themes of the syllabus you studied in the class. If you are an SL student, these are two themes, and you’ll need to answer questions on both. You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to do so. HL students, on the other hand, cover three themes. Hence, the first assessment lasts longer at this level – 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Paper 1 is split into two sections:

Section A is a number of structured questions related to a map or graphic;
Section B provides two extended response question options. You must pick and answer only one of them.

Overall, Paper 1 brings a maximum of 40 marks at SL and 60 marks at HL. In both cases, it constitutes 35% of the final grade.

Paper 2

Paper 2 has a similar format for both levels and covers the core themes of the syllabus: Population, Climate, and Resources. It consists of three sections:

Section A provides three short-response questions. You have around 35 minutes to answer them and receive 30 marks;
Section B features a question based on a visual stimulus, typically a graphic from the exam booklet. It takes about 10-15 minutes to interpret the data on the visual and obtain 10 marks.
Section C is one essay question from the choice of two. The task often requires you to connect two core ideas. This section awards 10 marks, and you have approximately 20 minutes to answer it.

Overall, Paper 2 awards 50 marks, which are 40% of your total grade at SL and 25% at HL. The total duration of this part of the exam is 1 hour and 15 minutes

Paper 3 (HL Only)

Paper 3 is specific to Higher Level and based on the HL extension unit – Geographic Perspectives – Global Interactions. You need to choose one question from three options. Each has two parts:

A 12-mark essay on a specific topic from the extension unit;
A 16-mark essay where you tie in broader IB Geography concepts.

It takes 1 hour to complete Paper 3 and receive 28 marks. At HL, it is worth 20% of your final grade.

Here you can find the format and question types for the IB Geography assessment.

Besides your externally assessed exams, there’s a Geography Internal Assessment. In essence, it is a 2,500-word report based on fieldwork you carry out during your course. It contributes 20% of the final score in the subject for the Higher Level, and its value is even higher for SL – 25%.

Key theoretical strategies to get a 7 in IB Geography

Now that you know what to expect from your IB Geography final assessment, let’s take a look at the best preparation strategies. First, we’ll delve into the theoretical part of your exam, from a grasp of the syllabus content to understanding the application of geographical concepts.

Understand Assessment Criteria and examiners’ expectations

To get a 7 in IB Geography exams, you need to have a clear idea of what the examiners are looking for. More specifically, you should understand how they assess your answers. The assessment criteria will tell you exactly which skills and knowledge you need to bring to the table.

According to the IB Geography guide, there are four assessment categories:

1. Knowledge and Understanding of Content

You need to prove you have a solid grasp of the syllabus content, specifically core and option topics, as well as extended content if you’re in HL. Your answers should include:

Relevant examples, key concepts, and statistical data that tie directly to the question;
Accurately used geography-specific terminology;
Responses that match the command term (for example, “evaluate” implies a deeper and more detailed answer than “describe”);
Clear definitions and geographical language naturally incorporated throughout your response.

2. Application and Analysis of Knowledge

These criteria evaluate how well you apply geographic concepts to analyse the data at hand. Your tasks will include

Identify patterns and processes in unfamiliar data, maps, or other types of information;
Analyse data critically, break down evidence, explain trends and patterns, as well as point out exceptions or comparisons;
Keep your arguments balanced and tied to the geographical concepts.

3. Synthesis and Evaluation

This category tests your ability to build a strong argument and reflect on it critically. You’ll need to:

Use geographic concepts and examples to formulate an argument that makes sense;
Explore cause and effect, weigh different perspectives, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your evidence;
For essays, provide a conclusion that is relevant, balanced, and ties back to the question with evidence to back it up.

4. Application of Appropriate Skills

Finally, to get a 7 in your IB Geography examination, you must demonstrate essential geographic skills:

Interpret and create your own maps, graphs, or diagrams when appropriate. It is important to annotate them and explain how they back up your points;
Keep your responses logically structured. They must be easy for a reader to follow and, if needed, end with a conclusion.
Apply prescribed skills (such as reading a topographic map) in the right context.

Understand topics in the syllabus

The IB Geography syllabus is built around three key areas: Core topics, Optional topics, and Extended topics – the latter are only for HL students. Together, they can give you a broad and deep understanding of how the world works.

Core Topics

The core topics are the foundation of IB Geography, and they are a requirement for both SL and HL. They focus on big, universal ideas that shape our planet and set the stage for everything else you’ll learn in the course:

Population distribution focuses on such aspects as growth, decline, and migration, and their significance for societies;
Global climate studies weather systems alongside their effect on ecosystems and human life;
Global resource consumption and security consider how we use and sustain water, energy, food, and other resources.

Optional Topics

Optional topics zoom in on particular aspects of the world, often blending human and physical geography in ways that connect to the core topics. Your school chooses two Optional topics to study for SL and three for the Higher Level. The possible options include:

Freshwater covers the movement of freshwater through the bodies of water and the overall water cycle. It also explores the ways people manage water through dams, irrigation systems, and policies;
Oceans and coastal margins – this topic examines how oceans influence climate, support ecosystems, drive economies, create coastal margins, and what risks they are associated with;
Extreme environments – it takes you to places like deserts, tundras, or high mountain regions and explores how societies and animals adapt to survive in these harsh regions;
Geophysical hazards discusses such events as earthquakes, volcanoes, or tsunamis, their reasons, ways of prediction, consequences, and recovery afterwards.
Leisure, tourism and sport explain why certain places become tourist magnets, how sports shape cities, and how leisure activities affect both economies and the environment.
Food and health – it deals with food production, distribution, and consumption. This topic also discusses the meaning of food systems for people’s well-being.
Urban environments explore how cities grow and function, as well as their impact on the environment.

Extended Topics (HL Only)

The HL geography syllabus dedicates 60 hours to studying the Global Interactions unit. It features three topics covering complex interconnected processes. The topics include:

Power, Places, and Network, which explores how power is organised across the world and how places are linked through networks. Particularly, it looks at how individuals, groups, governments, and organisations shape the global movement of goods, services, and information;
Human Development and Diversity focuses on how we evaluate development and why inequalities exist in people’s well-being and opportunities. Apart from that, it examines how culture, identity, globalisation, and other factors influence the variety of human experiences.
Global Risks and Resilience takes a close look at global challenges and analyses how societies can handle and recover from these risks.

Apply geographical concepts

IB Geography concepts act like lenses that help you see the world’s patterns and connections. Basically, they are what guides your thought process, analysis, and discussion of global issues. These concepts are what you should lean on when writing your exams or fieldwork if you wish to get a 7 in the IB Geography course.

There are four main concepts, the so-called four Ps: Place, Process, Power, and Possibility. They tie directly to the topics of the syllabus. Additionally, Scale and Spatial Interactions, two connector concepts, help you link these ideas across different contexts.

Place

The concept of Place is all about locations and their characteristics, shaped by such factors as culture, environment, or resources. You can study places at different levels, from a small town to an entire country, and compare them based on their wealth, diversity, physical features, how people see them, or how they interact with other areas. For example, you might examine why one city feels vibrant while another struggles, or how trade links two regions together.

Processes

Processes are the forces that drive change, regardless of how quickly it occurs or how it affects things. Some of the examples of processes include migration, erosion, water cycles through the environment, the spread of urban growth, and many others. When applying this geographic concept, you need to understand what’s driving the changes.

Power

Power can manifest itself in multiple ways. It can have a natural origin, such as storms that alter landscapes, or human power, e.g. governments making laws or communities pushing for change. You can observe it at every level: local (for instance, local initiatives for clean water), national (country’s energy policies), or global (such as regulations of IGOs). Understanding power lets you see who or what is driving change and what it affects.

Possibility

Possibility is a prediction of what may happen and its likelihood. Specifically, it may concern the search for new trends, challenges, and solutions when you process the data at hand. This concept encourages you to think creatively and use evidence to make an educated guess on the outcomes of processes or suggest paths forward.

Scale and spatial interactions

Scale and spatial interactions are the concepts that tie everything together. Scale means looking at issues from different angles and over different time periods. For example, drought might hit one specific country, but it significantly affects global food prices.

Spatial interactions, on the other hand, show how places are linked. You can use this connection, for instance, to understand how migration flows or trade routes connect distant regions.

How to Apply Geographical Concepts?

Let’s say Paper 1 provides you with a map showing global migration flows. Here is how you can use geographical concepts to interpret it:

Place – you can identify high-migration countries on the map (e.g., Mexico to the USA, Syria to Germany, etc.) and explain how the characteristics of their locations contribute to migration (cultural ties, proximity to strong economies, etc.).
Process – examine the forces driving migration (such as economic opportunities or conflict).
Power – who or what controls migration flows (examples are U.S. immigration policies or international refugee agreements).
Possibility – predict the future trends of migration. For instance, if migration from Mexico is high, could stricter policies or economic improvements reduce its flows?
Scale – you can talk about border towns or points of entry to the country (local level), migration policies (national level), and worldwide refugee trends (global level).
Spatial Interactions – it may be beneficial to highlight migration routes from Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean to connect places.

As you can see, geographical concepts can help you gather more evidence for your answers. They are useful for essay-style questions as well to consider an issue or process at multiple angles. In other words, they allow making your arguents more comprehensive.

Focus on global interactions for IB Geography exam HL

If you’re an HL student in IB Geography, you need to additionally master the Global Interactions unit. The three topics that constitute the unit are the focus of Paper 3, which makes up 20% of your final grade. Remember, one of the essays you need to write in Paper 3 focuses solely on global interactions, while the other projects this theme into the broader syllabus.

When learning about global interactions, you get to understand how different processes, from economic and cultural to political and environmental, interconnect on a worldwide scale. If, for example, you’re asked to discuss the impacts of globalisation on urban development, you should be able to pinpoint critical aspects, including migration patterns, economic shifts, and cultural convergence or resistance. You can then relate these elements directly to the question and how you connect theory with real-world examples.

When crafting essays on the Global Interactions topics for Paper 3, you should stick to a clear structure. In the introduction, you need to briefly talk about your topic and present a thesis statement that outlines your main argument. For example, if your question examines whether economic processes play a greater role than cultural and technological factors in global interactions, you may emphasise the role of economics in driving market dynamics, shaping resource distribution, and influencing international power relations.

The main body of your essay should then develop these points, with each paragraph dedicated to a single key factor. So, when the question itself involves three factors (economic, cultural, and technological), all of them must be discussed with related examples to support your arguments.

Lastly, you need to provide a conclusion where you wrap up your arguments and directly answer the main question.

Be able to handle unfamiliar scenarios

Your exam is designed to see how you can take what you’ve learned in the IB Geography course and apply it in new situations. That’s why you won’t see the exact same examples you studied in class. However, a solid understanding of geographic theories, concepts, and models should make you capable of tackling anything the exam dishes out.

The key factor here is to think critically. Remember the case studies you’ve worked with? You can pull up these from your memory and try to connect them to whatever new scenario you’re dealing with. Particular numbers or facts play no big role here, but if you can spot similarities with what you’ve seen before, this can help you better understand the new situation.

Along with this, it is a must to get comfortable with different kinds of information. You should be able to look at a climate graph and understand what it tells you about a place. Or let’s take population pyramids. The data they provide will tell you a lot about a country’s population. Your exam question includes maps? Reading and understanding what they’re showing is an essential skill for IB Geography. Needless to say, you need to master it.

The same goes for any graphs or data tables you’ll encounter on your Geography exam. In fact, these are a big chunk of what you’ll be dealing with. These visuals often serve as the key evidence to back up your arguments, and not only in the exams but also in your IA. Therefore, learning to analyse real-world data is crucial.

The bottom line, you’ll never know exactly what questions will pop up on the exam. However, the course itself is supposed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to handle unfamiliar scenarios.

Practical tips to achieve a score of 7 in IB Geography

And now it’s time to focus on the exam techniques. Read further to find out how to get a 7 in IB Geography with the appropriate approach to exam questions and effective structures for extended answers. You will also get to know some revision tips and resources, as well as helpful ways to handle stress.

Tips for Writing an Effective IA in Geography

When internal assessment contributes from 20% (HL) to 25% (SL) of your final grade for the entire subject, it is clear that you cannot approach this assignment lightly. In fact, if you fail to submit your Fieldwork, you will not be able to complete the course.

Your Geography IA journey starts with choosing the right topic. It should, on the one hand, be interesting and reflect your interests. On the other hand, you must be able to investigate it with the time and resources you have at hand. It is a no-go if you’ve found a topic you’re passionate about, but it takes so much time to collect and analyse data that you’re not able to catch up with your other commitments. The IBO estimates that it should take around 20 hours to complete this task. Therefore, you should stick to something doable within this time frame.

It is also important to consider the novelty element. If it is a trendy or obvious topic, it is likely that your teacher has already seen it. You probably won’t contribute anything new to exploring it.

Clearly, coming up with a good Geography IA topic isn’t that easy. Luckily, we have a helpful guide explaining the dos and don’ts of choosing a Geography Fieldwork topic.

Besides this, a strong Geography Internal Assessment should:

Be based on well-defined data collection techniques and geographic tools;
Present data using graphs, maps, statistical tools, tables, etc.;
Provide interpretations and analysis of your data;
Include reflections on the validity of the chosen methods, limitations, and improvement possibilities;
Be presented in the form of a 2,500-word report with a logical structure.

Clearly, crafting your Geography IA is no mean feat. If you require assistance with any aspect of your work at any stage of completion, TutorsPlus and our IB Geography tutors are here for you.

Avoid mistakes in answering questions

Often, students fail to craft their answers to meet every assessment requirement. Naturally, this leads to a less-than-perfect score even if they have the skills and knowledge to earn a 7. Our IB Geography tutors, some of whom are also experienced examiners, keep seeing the same common mistakes.

Common Mistakes of Geography Students

First of all, many students fail to include case studies in their answers. Meanwhile, concrete examples can add depth to your response and show that you truly understand the topic. When you back up your ideas with real-world examples, your analysis becomes much more convincing. This also means that you need to regularly expose yourself to case studies as you prepare for the IB Geography exam.

Another common mistake is answers that don’t match the command terms. “Evaluate,” “analyse,” “compare”, these and other words tell you exactly what examiners are looking for. If you misinterpret command terms, you might end up providing incomplete answers or even completely off track. Or vice versa, you go into unnecessary detail and lose time. So, make sure you really know what various command terms ask you to do.

We’ve already talked about geographical concepts – not using them can significantly limit your answer. What you should do is keep these concepts in mind when structuring your responses. They will help you see evaluative points and deliver balanced arguments – all of this proves that you can think critically about the material.

Your exam questions are likely to feature maps, graphs, or data tables. Unfortunately, not many students incorporate the data they provide into their answers. However, if you actively use your geographic skills, you will be able to present stronger arguments for your ideas.

Finally, you need to avoid overloading your answer with too much information without a clear structure. Long and unorganised responses make it hard for examiners to follow. Instead, you need to practice writing clear and concise paragraphs. The most important thing is that you have logical arguments and can smoothly take the reader from one point to the next.

Practice Past Exam Papers Format

Past papers give a firsthand look at the possible format and style of exam questions. These WILL involve map analysis, data interpretations, essay writing, among other things. So, get to know these nuances with past papers, and you won’t be caught off guard on exam day.

What’s more important, such practice lets you hone your exam techniques. Specifically, you can learn how to organise your answers, enrich them with relevant case studies, incorporate geographic terminology, and much more. With each paper you complete, you will notice patterns in the types of arguments that earn higher marks.

Don’t forget to check your answers against the marking criteria. You can imagine that you are an examiner who awards marks. Did your answers tick all the boxes, or did you miss anything? After each practice session, analyse your errors and adjust your approach to achieve more.

One more important benefit of past papers is time management. As you practice, you learn how to allocate your time for each section of past papers. Knowing how much time you have will help you plan your answer, write in necessary detail, and leave room for double-checking. Plus, getting used to working under time constraints may help reduce the pressure of the exam situation.

Answer all parts of the exam questions

All questions in your exam papers are obligatory unless they clearly state that you must choose between two or three options. Therefore, all the sections contribute to your overall mark. You can’t leave any of these sections unanswered.

You might find yourself in a situation where you don’t know the actual answer. Still, it is not a reason to leave the answer sheet empty. You can try to make an educated guess or rely on the information from other topics for some kind of connection. You just need to try to justify your point of view, even if it might seem unconventional. Even a partly answered question, especially when it features the required elements (such as data analysis, evidence, and reflection), can be worth some marks. A blank answer sheet, on the other hand, will bring you zero points.

Memorise relevant case studies

During your two years in the IB Geography course, you will have to work with a multitude of case studies related to virtually every theme of the syllabus. Along with the facts you get to know from your study books, you should also memorise these case studies. The good news, you don’t have to learn all the numbers and nuances by heart. It is sufficient to commit to memory the general idea, location, specific aspects studied, general trends, and their impact. You should have at least two case studies for every topic.

Why do they matter? Because they provide real-world examples to support your arguments. If your answer is purely theoretical, you won’t be able to claim full marks for the criterion Application and Analysis of Knowledge.

We suggest writing down the key figures and facts of each case study in a notebook or digital file and revisiting them as you prepare for your exam. Also, make sure to apply them when practising with past papers. The more you use them, the better they will stick in your memory.

Provide your answers with relevant data

As we have already pointed out, you need to include evidence of your claims, which is usually data taken from case studies. Those can be both descriptive and numerical. Whenever you provide numbers, don’t forget their units and, if needed, a short description of what they represent.

Some types of questions will give you data to work with. They may come in the form of tables, diagrams, graphs, or maps. Such questions may ask you to interpret what you see or come up with a prediction. Your task here is to use this data for your analysis. Make sure to refer to the data you have in your answer (again, with their units).

Maintain a clear structure in your essay

“Keep your responses logically structured” is one of the IB Geography marking criteria. That’s why making your answer easy to read and understand, especially for essay-style questions, is one of the skills you need to master. After all, essays are a huge part of the test.

One helpful way to structure your essays is the PEEL technique, which stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, and Link. Here’s what it means:

Point – start with an introduction where you provide a clear statement (or hypothesis) that answers the question directly;
Evidence – you need to add some facts, data, or examples to back up your point;
Explanation – show how your evidence proves your point and why it matters;
Link – tie your paragraph back to the main question or lead into the next idea.

If your answer contains a few points, you need to write each of them in a separate paragraph.

Finally, your essay should end with a conclusion where you briefly sum up your arguments and provide a clear answer to the question.

Writing convincing and well-structured essays requires practice. When you’re working on this skill, make sure to keep an eye on the clock. It’s easy to get carried away writing a great answer, but if you spend too long on one question, you may run out of time for others. Therefore, always practice under time conditions and try to figure out how long it takes to plan, write, and check your work.

Create flashcards for key facts

Do you have a hard time learning theory, facts, definitions, or key points of case studies? Flashcards offer one of the ways to memorise them. Traditional or digital, they can hold succinct information about important aspects of each IB Geography topic. The beauty of these cards is that you can assess them whenever you want, such as during the break between classes or while you are waiting for a bus. Even a quick look a few times a day can help commit a lot of valuable information to your memory.

Such platforms as Brainscape, Quizlet, or Nail IB offer various flashcard decks made by other IB students, typically organised by themes and levels. You can also create your own flashcards using whatever app or platform you find the most convenient.

When creating your flashcards, make sure to keep them brief, with a focus on only one definition or aspect and, when possible, some examples or case study data.

Select IB Geography resources

A great way to boost your IB Geography exam performance is to use a variety of extra resources in addition to the ones your school provides. The following websites can help deepen your understanding of Geography:

Geographyalltheway.com will come in handy for both teachers and students. It offers a wide range of lesson plans and interactive materials that make studying more engaging;
IBGeographyPods has study notes, practice questions, and materials that match the syllabus structure. It’s a go-to for understanding key ideas and getting ready for exams;
Richard Allaway’s IB DP Geography Flipboard Magazine provides a vast collection of articles, videos, and news tied to the IB Geography course;
The Geographer Online sorts materials (such as articles, news, and multimedia content) by syllabus themes and can give you a broader perspective on the subject;
Geo41 organises material according to the themes of the syllabus, including relevant case studies that can enrich your answers.

Aside from these websites, you may consider these books:

Geography by Garrett Nagle and Anthony Gillett covers the whole IB Geography syllabus in detail;
Geography: Global Interactions Study and Revision Guide by Simon Oakes is an excellent book for revision, especially if you’re focusing on global interactions.

You can also check out some YouTube channels:

Geography Now – while it doesn’t focus on IB Geography, this channel may become your source of fun facts about countries and regions;
CrashCourse Geography features short videos that explain big geography concepts;
Study with Sam offers revision videos, exam tips, exemplar questions, and more;

On the exam day – stay calm

Imagine that you have been diligently preparing for your IB Geography, and now you are in the exam room, taking a look at your papers and realising that you know nothing. That’s the nightmare of every student. Unfortunately, this can happen, and not because you haven’t prepared. The reason is exam stress and anxiety.

Keeping these under control can make a big difference during your exam. Here are some ways to stay calm and focused.

Avoid last-minute cramming. Instead, create a study schedule well in advance and stick to it. Make sure you give enough time to practice mock exams using past papers;
Get a good night’s sleep (at least 7-8 hours) before your exam;
On the day of your exam, eat a healthy breakfast. It may include eggs, fruit, whole grains, and nuts. Skip heavy junk food or too much caffeine to maintain steady energy levels;
Get to the exam location ahead of time;
If you feel nervous, pause and take slow, deep breaths to refocus;
Take a moment to skim the entire paper before starting. When answering the questions, begin with the ones you’re most confident about;
Monitor the time without fixating on it. If a question seems too difficult, skip it and return later after tackling all other questions;
Don’t dwell on mistakes or unknowns. Concentrate on what you’ve prepared and give it your all.

Remember, being nervous is absolutely ok. Just don’t let it develop into a full-blown panic. Even though your heart may race, your head must stay cool. This way, you’ll be able to show exactly what you’re capable of.

Get feedback and improve your knowledge

Past papers are an excellent diagnostic of your grasp of Geography. They can reveal the areas you need to pay extra attention to. Do you know how else you can test your knowledge before the exam rolls around? One way is to work through the topics and practice applying your understanding with a knowledgeable tutor.

A tutor who is well-versed in the IB syllabus is able to clarify complex ideas, suggest relevant case studies, help you get the exam format hands-on, and provide valuable feedback on your performance. At TutorsPlus, we have exactly these professionals. As teachers in international schools (and some are even Geography examiners), they can prepare you for every exam scenario and every question type. On top of this, they are committed to guiding you through examiners’ expectations and showing you the best approaches to answering exam papers.

We are sure you are diligently preparing for your IB Geography exams. Meanwhile, a tutor can become the key to getting a 7. Let us help you achieve it. TutorsPlus is available at +41 22 731 8148 or to answer all your questions and book tutoring sessions tailored precisely to your needs.

By Sara Lloyd

Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education. She is also a parent of two lively children.