Pupils of 2A1 and 2A2,
I have collected your exam scripts, and will commence marking shortly.
I understand that this exam might have been quite tough for many of you. I hope that at least some of my hints and tips proved to be useful. And I am sorry I did not realise that many of you had serious problems with mapwork; if I had known mapwork was going to be such a challenge for many of you, I would have devoted a few lessons towards refreshing your memories and helping you remember things that you had been taught in Secondary 1.
It definitely has not been easy for all of you, having to cope with so many changes in teachers over the past year. I wish it did not have to happen to your classes. But it is too late for regrets, and I do hope that all of you at least gave your best for this paper.
In any case, don't worry too much about it. What's done is done. Now is the time for you to focus on the other subjects. You've got Literature and Art tomorrow, and there's History on Friday.
And I hope that the experience from this exam has not completely turned you off Geography. Do try and remember the stuff that you have been taught over the past 2 years, especially if you plan to take Geography at the O-levels, because much of what you learned is directly relevant to the Geography syllabus at the upper secondary level.
All the best for the rest of your subjects.
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Summary of the year's syllabus
Very sorry if this comes a little late for many of you, but I've managed to find a diagram that will help neatly summarise the entire year's syllabus. Click on the image to view at full size:
Exam Format
Section A [25 marks]
Multiple-Choice Questions [25 marks]
Section B [25 marks]
Part I: Basic Techniques [15 marks] Two questions; do both of them.
Part II: Mapwork [10 marks]
Section C [50 marks]
Part I: Structured Questions [20 marks] Three questions are offered, choose to answer only TWO of them. [10 marks per question]
Part II: Structured Questions [30 marks] Similarly, three questions are offered, and you choose to answer only TWO. [15 marks per question]
Other important links:
Multiple-Choice Questions [25 marks]
Section B [25 marks]
Part I: Basic Techniques [15 marks] Two questions; do both of them.
Part II: Mapwork [10 marks]
Section C [50 marks]
Part I: Structured Questions [20 marks] Three questions are offered, choose to answer only TWO of them. [10 marks per question]
Part II: Structured Questions [30 marks] Similarly, three questions are offered, and you choose to answer only TWO. [15 marks per question]
Other important links:
Things to bring for the exam
Please remember to bring the following items to the exam.
I must also stress the importance of writing your answers in blue or black ink ONLY. Strictly NO funny colours likegreen, purple, pink or red will be accepted. Even bright blue is pushing the limit a little. I can promise all of you that if I see any answer scripts written in colours other than black or blue, your answer script goes straight into the trash. And even if I deign to be somewhat more merciful, I can still penalise you for not following instructions. I'm not sure how different things are from my time, but back in my time, any pupil who tried to be funny and submitted homework or test papers written in colours other than blue or black was seriously asking for trouble. =P
Besides that, happy studying, and good luck for the exams! =)
- String: While string will be provided for you to tie your writing paper together, there might not be enough string for everyone, or the string provided might be too short for you to measure distances on the topographical map. So please bring your own string. I can recommend that you do what I did back when I was still in secondary school (not too long ago): I brought an entire spool of thread with me in my pencil case.
- Ruler: It amazes me how many students can forget to bring something as essential as a ruler. If you don't have a ruler, how are you going to make sure that your lines are straight? And even more importantly, how are you going to measure distances?
- Protractor: Without a protractor, you will definitely not be able to measure bearing for your mapwork.
- Other stationery such as pens, pencils, correction fluid, erasers, etc. Borrowing from your neighbours will not be allowed during the examination.
I must also stress the importance of writing your answers in blue or black ink ONLY. Strictly NO funny colours like
Besides that, happy studying, and good luck for the exams! =)
Monday, 1 October 2007
EOY Exam: Hints
Chapter 2: Population
• Low rate of population growth (pgs. 18–23)
Chapter 3: Settlements
• Settlement patterns (pgs. 33–37)
Chapter 4: Agriculture
• Shifting cultivation (pgs. 43–48)
• High-tech farming (pgs. 57–61)
Chapter 5: Transport and Communications
• Accessibility & connectivity (pgs. 67–68)
• Globalisation and the shrinking world (pgs. 78–79)
Chapter 6: Introduction to Managing the Changing Environment
• Protecting and conserving the environment (pgs. 95–97)
Chapter 7: Land Supply*
• Reasons for the rising demand for land (pgs. 101–102)
• Responses to the rising demand for land (pgs. 103–107, 113–119)
a. Increase in price of land (pg. 103)
b. Increasing supply of land
(i) Clearing land (pgs. 104–105)
(ii) Land reclamation (pgs. 106–107)
c. Maximising existing land use (pgs. 113–117)
Chapter 8: Water Resources*
• Distribution of water (pgs. 123–124)
• Responses to the rising demand for water (pgs. 128–129, 131)
a. Increase in price of water (pg. 128)
b. Increase in supply of water
(i) Increase the size of catchment areas (pg. 129)
(ii) Harnessing technological advances (pg. 129)
c. Conserving water (pg. 131)
Chapter 9: Pollution*
• What is pollution? What are the different types of pollution? (pg. 140)
• Air pollution (pgs. 140–144)
a. Natural vs. Manmade air pollution (pg. 140)
b. Air pollutants released by human activities, and their impacts (pgs. 142–143)
c. Acid rain (pg. 143)
d. Haze (pg. 144)
• Water pollution (pgs. 145–147)
a. How agriculture contributes to water pollution (pg. 146–147)
b. Oil spills (pg. 147)
c. Contaminants (esp. mercury)
No need to study the Mediterranean Sea as an example, but use it as a guide as to how human activities create water pollution.
• Land pollution
a. How agriculture can pollute the land (pg. 150)
• Reducing pollution at the international, national and individual levels (pgs. 153–156)
• Environmental protection in Singapore (not covered in class, but all you need to read up is pg. 157, on current environmental issues facing Singaporeans)
Chapter 10: Global Warming and Ozone Depletion*
• Greenhouse gases and their sources (pgs. 164–166)
• Impacts of global warming, and how life on Earth will be affected (pgs. 167–169)
• Impacts of ozone depletion (pg. 171)
• Reducing the impact of global warming at the international, national and individual levels (pgs. 172–175)
• Low rate of population growth (pgs. 18–23)
Chapter 3: Settlements
• Settlement patterns (pgs. 33–37)
Chapter 4: Agriculture
• Shifting cultivation (pgs. 43–48)
• High-tech farming (pgs. 57–61)
Chapter 5: Transport and Communications
• Accessibility & connectivity (pgs. 67–68)
• Globalisation and the shrinking world (pgs. 78–79)
Chapter 6: Introduction to Managing the Changing Environment
• Protecting and conserving the environment (pgs. 95–97)
Chapter 7: Land Supply*
• Reasons for the rising demand for land (pgs. 101–102)
• Responses to the rising demand for land (pgs. 103–107, 113–119)
a. Increase in price of land (pg. 103)
b. Increasing supply of land
(i) Clearing land (pgs. 104–105)
(ii) Land reclamation (pgs. 106–107)
c. Maximising existing land use (pgs. 113–117)
Chapter 8: Water Resources*
• Distribution of water (pgs. 123–124)
• Responses to the rising demand for water (pgs. 128–129, 131)
a. Increase in price of water (pg. 128)
b. Increase in supply of water
(i) Increase the size of catchment areas (pg. 129)
(ii) Harnessing technological advances (pg. 129)
c. Conserving water (pg. 131)
Chapter 9: Pollution*
• What is pollution? What are the different types of pollution? (pg. 140)
• Air pollution (pgs. 140–144)
a. Natural vs. Manmade air pollution (pg. 140)
b. Air pollutants released by human activities, and their impacts (pgs. 142–143)
c. Acid rain (pg. 143)
d. Haze (pg. 144)
• Water pollution (pgs. 145–147)
a. How agriculture contributes to water pollution (pg. 146–147)
b. Oil spills (pg. 147)
c. Contaminants (esp. mercury)
No need to study the Mediterranean Sea as an example, but use it as a guide as to how human activities create water pollution.
• Land pollution
a. How agriculture can pollute the land (pg. 150)
• Reducing pollution at the international, national and individual levels (pgs. 153–156)
• Environmental protection in Singapore (not covered in class, but all you need to read up is pg. 157, on current environmental issues facing Singaporeans)
Chapter 10: Global Warming and Ozone Depletion*
• Greenhouse gases and their sources (pgs. 164–166)
• Impacts of global warming, and how life on Earth will be affected (pgs. 167–169)
• Impacts of ozone depletion (pg. 171)
• Reducing the impact of global warming at the international, national and individual levels (pgs. 172–175)
Monday, 24 September 2007
A BBC documentary on Global Warming
Here's a documentary produced by the BBC about climate change and global warming. Presented by world-renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, this 2-part series shows us some of the impacts of global warming, and what we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Part 1: Are We Changing Planet Earth?
Part 2: Can We Save Planet Earth?
Part 1: Are We Changing Planet Earth?
Part 2: Can We Save Planet Earth?
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Oil spills: The Exxon Valdez
The Exxon Valdez was an oil tanker owned by the Exxon Corporation (now the Exxon Mobil Corporation after Exxon and Mobil merged in 1999). Laden with 53 million gallons of crude oil, the ship departed the Valdez oil terminal in Alaska for California on March 23, 1989.
However, en route, the Exxon Valdez struck a reef, discharging approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into the surrounding water.
For more info, visit this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill*
For more websites with information on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, its impacts on the environment, and how it is still affecting organisms living in and around Prince William Sound today, the following links might be helpful:
*(Note: Because Wikipedia can be edited by anybody with Internet access and plenty of spare time, Wikipedia is not always the most accurate and reliable source of information. Vandalism and even blatant planting of misinformation can occur in any article. I would recommend that before immediately accepting the contents of any Wikipedia entry as fact, one should check the article for references, and verify the accuracy of the information first)
However, en route, the Exxon Valdez struck a reef, discharging approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into the surrounding water.
For more info, visit this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill*
For more websites with information on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, its impacts on the environment, and how it is still affecting organisms living in and around Prince William Sound today, the following links might be helpful:
- Valdez Science
- Exxon Valdez, Oil Program, United States Environmental Protection Agency
- United States Environmental Protection Agency: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council
- Fishing village still recovering from Valdez impact
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Research
- Legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
- Survivors of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
- Encyclopedia of Earth: Exxon Valdez oil spill
*(Note: Because Wikipedia can be edited by anybody with Internet access and plenty of spare time, Wikipedia is not always the most accurate and reliable source of information. Vandalism and even blatant planting of misinformation can occur in any article. I would recommend that before immediately accepting the contents of any Wikipedia entry as fact, one should check the article for references, and verify the accuracy of the information first)
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