Geography is a very scoring subject. The most important thing is to be thorough with NCERT. Social sciences, as is the misconception, are not about mugging up. If you understand the subject, it becomes very easy. Analyse it and study.
For Geography, make short notes. Map work is very important as it gives 10 marks. Practice as much as you can, remember all the places. Try to mark them again and again. Don't ramble and never write any paragraph.
Preparation tips
1. Read each and every line and understand it. That will help you crack the one markers.
2. Go through the important topics every day.
3. Revise as many time as possible.
4. Make flow-charts for quick revision.
5. Prepare a time schedule. Divide the time between map work and theory.
6. Make short notes. Mark the important points. It will help you revise quickly.
7. Solve as many question papers of geography as you can. The previous year question papers are available on the CBSE website. This will help you to understand your weaker sections in the subject.
8. Try to seek as much information as possible about what you are studying by studying the culture, climate, environment, landscape, people, economy and history of that particular place.
9. You can make flash cards with definitions of the new terms, causes, consequences, solutions etc. 10. Use these flash cards while traveling. These come handy while revising.
11. You can write the definitions in your own language without altering the meaning if learning them is difficult. Focus on understanding the concepts rather than learning the theory by heart.
Theory
1. Read all the chapters thoroughly.
2. Make topic-wise short notes.
3. Keep marking at least 5 points for the expected questions as you read through.
4. Read all case studies so that you know the gist of it.
5. Don't leave the boxes. Questions may be asked from them.
6. Both books are equally important. There are some topics that overlap. Don't get confused. You can make a list of them and prepare a collusive answer.
Map skills
1. To enhance the understanding of maps, one must have good knowledge about the World and Indian map in general.
2. You can go through an Atlas from time to time. This will give a general idea about the location of different countries and important places.
3. Mark all the prescribed maps separately and keep them with you. You can go through them while traveling. It will also help you for the last-minute revision.
4. Remember, the world map comes for identification only. Places will be marked in the map and a hint will be given. You only need to identify the place.
5. For the India map, you will have to mark the place. You will be given a political map. Take care of the state boundaries.
Miscellaneous tips
1. Choose an appropriate place for studying. It must be a quite and calm place where one can concentrate easily. Avoid watching television or listening to music while studying geography as this may cause diversion of concentration from the subject.
2. Sleep and eat well. You must not study over time without sleep. It may badly affect your learning. 3. It is a must to sleep at least 6 hours daily. Eat good food which is rich in vitamins and proteins.
4. Avoid junk food as it might upset the stomach at the time of examinations.
5. Practice locations on maps and secure 10 marks out of 70. Practice questions related to maps.
6. Getting 30 out of 30 in the practical exam gives a significant boost to your overall percentage.
Distribution of Marks and Approach
The marks distribution as observed in the past few years is as follows. (Unit wise distribution of marks is subject to change. Weightage of different sections remains the same.)
Written Examination (70 marks)
Part A-: Theory (60 marks)
Book 1-: Fundamentals of Human Geography (30 Marks)
Unit 1: Human Geography (3 marks)
Unit 2: People (5 marks)
Unit 3: Human Activities (7 marks)
Unit 4: Transport, Communication & Trade (10 marks)
Unit 5: Human settlements (5 marks)
Book 2-: India: People and Economy (30 Marks)
Unit 1: People (4 marks)
Unit 2: Human Settlements (4 marks)
Unit 3: Resources and Development (12 marks)
Unit 4: Transport, Communication and International Trade (6 marks)
Unit 5: Geographical Perspective on selected issues and problems (4 marks)
Part B-: Map work (10 marks)
Book 1-: Fundamentals of Human Geography (5 Marks)
For identification only
Book 2-: India: People and Economy (5 Marks)
For locating only
Practical Examination (30 marks)
Part C:
Written exam (25 marks)
Practical record file (3 marks)
Viva-voce (2 marks)
Books to be referred
1. One must only refer NCERT for both parts i.e. FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY and INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY. No reference book is advised.
2. To get an idea about the variety of questions, one can look into past year question papers.
3. Since past few years, there is a new trend of questions being asked where sentences are taken as it is from the text and students are asked to explain or elucidate it. Such questions can be attempted only if one is thorough with the text (NCERT). No reference book can give you a list of all such questions.
4. It is advisable that you must read the prescribed text again and again.
5. Also, make notes for all the chapters.
6. You can also refer to NCERT CLASS 10th. Its content is quite similar to that of class 12th.
Importance of mock tests
1. Take as many mock tests as possible. It will give you an idea about how to attempt the paper.
2. You must devise your own strategy for attempting the paper.
3. Divide 3 hours and 15 minutes in scanning the paper carefully, attempting 7 one markers, 6 three markers and 7 five markers, completing both the maps - one world for identification only and one Indian for locating and finally to revise the answer script.
4. The more you practice, the more it will become easy for you to attempt the paper in time.
Utilizing Preparatory leave
1. Although CBSE is known to be generous, one must never rely on the preparatory leave. During preparatory leave the only thing that should be done is REVISION.
2. Go through the chapter notes and flash cards.
3. Revise Maps thoroughly.
4. You can also go out for a walk or cycle or play with your friends. This will help you to reduce stress and retain more.
Before exam
1. Sleep well (at least for 8 hours).
2. Avoid junk food.
3. Spend time with family. This will help in relieving stress.
4. Check your exam kit and stationery at least a day prior. This will prevent last minute panic and keep you calm.
During the exam
1. Write and Present well.
2. Draw margin on both sides.
3. You have to present your ideas in an attractive and understandable manner in the examination. This will help you to create an impression before the evaluator.
4. Attempt all the questions as required in the question paper.
5. Answer the easier questions (the ones you are more confident about) before moving towards the difficult questions.
6. It is advisable to write answers in points. Avoid writing long answers and paragraphs.
7. It is a good idea to give separate heading to all the points that you write.
8. As such handwriting doesn't matter much. But it should be legible.
9. Write at least as many points as the question is weighed. You can always write some extra points. 10. One point for each mark is usually expected.
11. Before starting, frame a skeleton of the answer in the right margin.
12. Give pictorial or graphical illustrations wherever possible.
We hope these tips will aid you in performing your best. Good luck and happy learning!
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