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“Geography is about memorising facts!” 

 

Let’s face it, studying Geography isn’t exactly the walk in the park our parents made it out to be. And trust me, I feel you. Back then, distinctions in Geography seemed almost guaranteed if you could regurgitate definitions and churn out paragraph-long explanations. Sprinkle in a bit of luck on the multiple-choice questions (yes, there used to be MCQs in O-level Geography) and you were good to go.

But times have changed. With MCQs removed and less emphasis on straight-up memorising definitions, Geography assessments today focus on whether you can apply your Geographical understanding to meet the question’s demands. No more hiding behind endless lists of definitions. It’s all about using what you’ve learned in context.

So, how can you switch up your study strategy? Here are four essential steps to guide you when you crack open your Geography textbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you have a brief overview of how to approach learning, let's explore the different clusters of your syllabus!

Identify the key themes and objectives for each topic

Under the new syllabus, the geographical content are grouped into clusters, with three topics per cluster. Each topic is organized around  specific learning objectives. These outline the big ideas you need to grasp, the processes you should understand, and the skills you will be tested on. So, before diving in, skim through the syllabus guide and your textbook to pinpoint the core focus areas of each topic. This approach helps you figure out exactly where to direct your attention when studying, giving you a clearer sense of the Geographical concepts and case studies that matter most.

Work backwards with the end in mind

Now that you’re clear on the key themes and objectives for each topic, picture your end goal: being able to explain or apply these ideas in assessments. Ask yourself, “What do I need to understand so I can confidently tackle exam questions or assignments?” This backward approach helps you see how each piece of content connects to those objectives, making your study sessions more focused and meaningful.

Identify the key geographical terminologies

Recognise that not every word in the textbook is important! Teachers are primarily looking out for your ability to craft an answer with the use of geographical terminologies to address the question demand. They are not looking out for your ability to regurgitate textbook information. Remember this! 

So first, read through the textbook content to understand the key ideas underpinning the geographical issue. Next, re-read the content again and carefully identify key terms that you know must be included in your answer. 

Craft your answer by linking key ideas

After identifying the key geographical terminologies and understanding the key ideas of the geographical issue, you can now easily craft your explanation by linking the key ideas together while ensuring that the key geographical terms are embedded within your answer. Not only is this a more efficient and effective way to study, you now have the ability to be more flexible in adjusting your answer to address the question demand. 

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