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GCSE AQA Paper 3 Pre-release Resource Pack

Ace Paper 3 – from the topic-specific knowledge to the geographical skills and nuanced debates of the issue!

Fantastic resource that I couldn’t put together myself. Highly recommend this and will buy again next year.

S Anderson, HoD & Customer

Support all students with the basics and challenge high achievers!

  • Walkthrough of the PRB ensures a structured and active reading of the booklet
  • Activities explore the data, maps and figures in depth – practicing skills and anticipating exam questions
  • Debate and decision-making activities fully engage students with the issue – stretching them to reach higher levels of the mark scheme

Plus!

We smashed the Paper 3 this year!...

...Your resources are always on point!

L Green, Customer
  • Two Paper 3 Section A Practice Exam Papers* with mark schemes – perfect for mocks
  • Presentations to aid classroom teaching and independent study: visual ‘Topic Overview’, helpful ‘Skills Summary’, inspiring ‘Debate and Discussion’
  • Bonus digital content including an interactive Google Earth 'Fly-through' orientation

Also available as a group purchase: Topic on a Page

A special edition especially for the 2023 Paper 3 exam! Beautiful A3 handouts to cover the 2023 pre-release. Key points linked and all figures analysed by an experienced Geography teacher and talented illustrator!

Flexible versions for different scenarios:

  • Scaffold: a mind-map structure ready for students to fill in and colour-code details
  • Figure-by-figure: each figure isolated – ideal for projecting while students fill in their scaffold worksheet
  • Stretch and challenge: extension activities guide research and synoptic thinking!
  • Complete: a completed version of the mind map for easy revision

Loved it! Really helpful...

...Clear, organised and in good time for the exam...

...Worth the money! Get it!

N Roberts, Customer

*Also available: Section B Practice Exams

Early Release Activities: All customers who pre-order this resource and register an email address for free updates at zzed.uk/freeupdates will be able to download our early release activities pack before the Easter break. This pack contains a set of self-led activities to help students to familiarise themselves with the content of the PRB during the holidays and come back to school ready to evaluate the issue in class using the complete resource.

Risk-free pre-order: Invoices do not become payable until the resource has been provided, so we won’t tie up your budget.

What do teachers say about this resource? (11734)

Great. Exactly what we needed to get the students focused for the exam. Very timely as we approached the exams. Purposeful well-thought out resource, focused on the requirements of the exam and very engaging too. It gets students to unpack the topics and think things through, as a geographer. It is focused well on engaging the students, it will definitely do this! It will save you hours of planning and prep time and it will really engage the students. Keep up the good work - thank you for such great resources.



J Powell, HoD & Independent Reviewer

An excellent resource that allows students to prepare for the pre-release exam. Will allow students of all ability levels to access the content and prepare accordingly. It also provides links to alternative resources to help provide students with additional reading to gain a deeper understanding of the content. I like how the resource is divided into clear sections, particular the divide between the gaining an overview of the resource and then the delving deeper. This makes it easier for teachers to understand where the priority needs to be. I like the range of activities for students to complete, particularly as they cover written to skill base activities.
I think that this resource is a great way to prepare students for the pre-release section of paper 3. It allows them to delve into the content in more detail, whilst also ensuring that any gaps in their knowledge are identified and fixed. It also includes exam practice to help ensure students gain familiarity with exam questions for the chosen text. I think that the style matches nicely with the specification and there are a variety of questions from a range of assessment objectives. This is a fantastic resource that will really help prepare students with the pre-release booklet.

H Burlton, Head of Geography & Peer Reviewer

Good in depth pack , plenty of activities to enhance subject knowledge and memory recall. The resource followed a clear structure and has appropriate tasks to support knowledge intake and skills practice. Links directly with AQA paper 3 pre-release and ensure learners can practice skills and knowledge before entering the exam. This resource has direct relevance to paper 3 at GCSE level, it is an appropriate resource to support preparation for the seen materials before the exam.

K Moreton, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

It was very comprehensive and had a range of information and activities. Highlights spec links and has many opportunities for further reading. Lots of visual stimulus and video clips, has a strong enquiry focus with the information provided. Activities allow engagement with the graphs and data and examples with the skills part are relevant to the theme. This resource would be beneficial for engaging with the pre release material and preparation for paper 3. Visual clear and engaging and a good balance of text vs diagrams/graphs. It has a strong synoptic natures which highlights its links to the specification and also recaps a lot of paper 2 content as it draws out the themes from the pre-release material. The skills section also draws well on the relevant graphicacy elements that need to be covered.

N Maskel, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (12072)

Another great resource from Zig Zag. Very timely and perfect for the final revision lessons in the run up to the exams. It saved lots of planning time at such a busy time of year and it was full of well-thought-out activities. It helped students to think constructively about the pre-release materials and to unpack the topic and their ideas and think about the sorts of questions that could be asked. The students reaction to the resources will make you realise this was worth the money. Their engagement says it all. It is directly focused on the exam and developed with teachers and students in mind. 

J Powell, HoD & Independent Reviewer

Really engaging resource that is visually clear and accessible for both staff and students. Works well as a way to condense a large amount of information from several sources into a ‘one stop shop’ sheet. Additionally it suits a range of abilities with stretch and challenge as well as scaffolding. They can be used in a range of ways too, groups, individuals etc. the balance of text and diagrams also works well. Has a range of purposes across multiples time frames, can be used a the beginning, the end for revision. Students can also take ownership of it as a resource and potential revision tool. The summery is also useful to help and support staff in planning and delivery this aspect of the paper. Visual appealing and good balance of text vs diagrams. Encompasses a range of grade abilities. Figures from the pre release are directly referred to.

N Maskel, Geography Teacher and Examiner & Peer Reviewer

Very comprehensive with a wide range of additional information, links an activities. The 'topic on a page' posters were very helpful in summarising the issue. It is appropriate for all abilities. A wide range of activities to get to know the resource booklet. Clear information about the economic and environmental issues. Good value for money given that there are more than enough resources (paper and electronic) and lots of support and ideas for how to use it.

R Smith, HoD & Peer Reviewer

The resource was very thorough and made good use of structure guides and WAGOLL. Excellent break down of points to consider and how to form a response to exam questions.

K Moreton, Teacher / Examiner & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (11076)

Amazing. Excellent powerpoints with lots of thinking tasks and questions. We loved the exam papers with mark schemes. They were invaluable and really helped us to prepare our students for the demands of paper 3, section A. I had the flexibility to adapt the resources. I liked the choice of exam paper formats. It is detailed, structured and flexible. It has resources that are student friendly and supports all types of exam questions. These resources are fabulous, they are well planned, offer flexibility and support teaching. They are invaluable and well worth the money.

D Morgan, HoD & Independent Reviewer

Amazing - we have been using these resources for years now. These resources are fabulous, they are well planned, offer flexibility and support teaching. They are invaluable and well worth the money. Excellent power points with lots of thinking tasks and questions. We loved the exam papers with mark schemes. They were invaluable and really helped us to prepare our students for the demands of paper 3, section A.

D Morgan, HoD & Independent Reviewer

Amazing. Excellent powerpoints with lots of thinking tasks and questions. We loved the exam papers with mark schemes. They were invaluable and really helped us to prepare our students for the demands of paper 3, section A. These resources are fabulous, they are well planned, offer flexibility and support teaching. Well worth the money.

D Morgan, HoD & Peer Reviewer

Very useful and effective. Does exactly what I need it to do. Written with students and teachers in mind. Clearly written by experienced, expert teachers. It is so clear and well thought out, plus it saves me time to focus on other things. It is written in very student friendly language. Precise focus on the topic. It is excellent value, saves you hours of planning and you see the impact in terms of students engagement straight away. Remember this paper is 30% of the GCSE course. Outstanding - Thank you again Zigzag!


J Powell, HOD & Peer Reviewer

An excellent comprehensive resource, which appropriately covers the brief of the specification and provides a wealth of different tasks for pupils at all levels. The external links are excellent and provide a great context for the DME itself. The GoogleEarth contextual flythrough is particularly good ... external links are excellent and give plenty of scope for extended research and development of discussions ... the notes for the debate, outlining the stakeholders so clearly, are an excellent resource ... Excellent breadth of learning tasks which encourage students to truly interrogate the resource and make clear decisions regarding the costs and benefits of the proposal ... This is an excellent fit to the specification, with great focus throughout

J Snelling, Head of Geography & Peer Reviewer

Amazing resource that covers every possible scenario from the pre-release. Really clear and easy to follow. Great range of resources ... I love the range of resources ... Clear structured information through a range of different tasks which help reinforce the knowledge that students will need to know for the exam ... I particularly like the GoogleEarth usage contained within the resources ... Layout of all resources are really clear and simple to follow. All link in together well ... These resources follow the guidance from the specification well. Really clear resources that clearly link to and extract from the pre-release activities

S Messenger, Asst Head & Peer Reviewer

Excellent content and quality... Gives a pre-prepared 'Mock' exam on Paper 3... Gives students an idea of style of questions that will come up. Excellent preparation. Reliable... I have ordered theses resource packs for a number of years and excellent quality. Exactly what AQA requirements are.

C Coghlan, HOD & Peer Reviewer

A very high quality resource with a variety of activities included. The exam papers at the end of the document, I can see will be very useful ... I particularly liked the debate task and the image annotation task which are included ... The use of google earth to enhance pupil learning is nice. This covers the PRB well. Lots of teaching ideas given and ways this can be run in lesson. I think the WAGOLs are strong and so is the PPT of discussion questions

D Sullivan, Head of Geography & Peer Reviewer

This is a high-quality resource which has great potential to help GCSE candidates prepare for Paper 3. The exploration of themes discussed in the pre-release material is thorough. This pre-release resource pack provides more than enough useful material for teachers to approach preparation for this element of the exam with confidence. There is provision for a wide variety of activity styles (e.g. debates, ‘Boxing Matches’ …)

G Senior, Teacher & Expert Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8973)

We smashed the Paper 3 this year! Your resources are always on point!

L Green, Customer

Excellent. Practice Questions were very relevant and useful. Well put together and easy to use. Provided them with an excellent preparation for the real exam. It is very close to what was actually asked of the students in the real exam. Buy it, you will not regret it. It's spot on.

P Corner, Customer

Excellent, as always. All in one place; provided on paper ready to copy and electronically. Don’t delay - pre-order, and express service is absolutely worth it! Excellent, outstanding.

V Shaw, Teacher & Customer

Takes a lot of pressure off teachers. Great work!

L. Green, HoD & Peer Reviewer

It has a clear straight forward format that the students are able to access and it makes sure they thoroughly interrogate the pre-release resource. The mock papers are really helpful resources to test students understanding of the pre-release. It increases student’s familiarity of the pre-releases resource, so they know where the information is in the pre-release so they can turn to that information quickly to reduce time wasting in the exam.

K Crickmore, Leader of Geography & Customer

Practice exam papers were the best part. Practice exam papers save us creating our own.

P Dixon, Customer

A fantastic resource – full of useful information and exam questions. Clearly set out, so quick to use and easy for students to understand. We don’t buy or look at any other [resources]. A definite purchase that I buy every year and ask for money in my budget for. 

S Anderson, HoD & Customer

An excellent resource with a clear understanding of the resource booklet and exam expectations. It appears accessible to all abilities and has a very wide range of various a engaging tasks. An excellent resource obviously created by a knowledgeable author

C. Cottam, HoD & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8242)

Loved it! Really helpful. Clear, organised and in good time for the exam... Clear range of activities and 2x test papers. Activities cater for all parts of the pre-release and student friendly... Allows students to understand the material and progress with it – worth the money! Get it!

N Roberts, Customer

It arrived swiftly at the very start of term which was useful... It meant I could focus on teaching the pre-release not preparing for it over Easter!

L Tresserras, HoD & Customer

Ideas are clearly written and instructions for student on pre-release are useful... As a new specification I have not taught pre-release to GCSE students to it helps greatly with knowing the correct kind of level for Q’s... Fantastic resource that I couldn’t put together myself. Highly recommend this and will buy again next year.

S Anderson, HoD & Customer

Very useful resource – good range of activities and material... It provided sample papers and enabled me to save lots of time... Covers all abilities so that it was really valuable from the glossary though to evaluation questions

A. Wyatt, HoD & Customer