On this instalment of Study Hub 2026 we take a closer look at Geography with Aisling McKean, Geography teacher at Finn Valley College in Stranorlar, Co Donegal
Press play on the image above to listen now and read on for lost more great tip and advice.
Before the exam you have already completed your field investigation, usually rivers or coastal so walking into the exam with potentially 20% .
Starter Tip: When you get your paper check out the aerial photograph and write down your annotation ( aerial and vertical photographs use different directions) this will save time later in the paper and it's helpful to get that out when your head is clear at the start .
You can download extra notes here:
5 Top Tips
- When you choose the question spend a minute writing down some key words for example
- "Examine Secondary economic activities in a European region"
- You will note straight away your key words might be :
- Peripheral region:manufacturing /the Mezzogiorno/ the apennine mountains/ brain drain / labour force/cassa scheme/vanoni plan/ 2.3billion investment
- (Anything which springs to mind when you read the question) this will help you frame the answer.
Also many times in geography you will be asked to write under headings and this is a nice way to split your essay and help you focus so for example it might be relief and government policy (write 6 or 7 SRPs under each heading)
Remember
- Include diagrams and maps anywhere you can (these can be included for marks)
- Finishing the paper is the priority so once you have spent 25 minutes on a section its time to move on - you should have a few minutes at the end to read over and add in anything you left out.
Study Hub 2026 content is available:
- Via RTÉ Podcasts here!
- In full on YouTube
- And in bitesize bits on RTÉ Radio 1's Instagram and TikTok
Visit RTÉ Learn for more great content ahead of the Leaving Cert - we are here to help!
Tune in to Today with David McCullagh on RTÉ Radio 1 at 10.45am every Monday and Thursday as we get set for the exams.
