Exam skills
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

This week I will continue my discussion on the testing of practical skills in the examinations. I have already indicated that this is done in the school-based assessment, the compulsory question one on Paper 02 and part (a) of other questions on Paper 02. For the later, I shared that you can be given stimulus material which you study and deduce your answers. The list of such materials includes maps, sketches, tables, graphs, charts and photographs. This week I will continue with this section of the discussion.

• The drawing of diagrams can also be given in part (a) of the question. Do these neatly, using your sharp-pointed pencil, and try to be as correct as you can. The diagrams must be properly labelled and be given a title. Do block printing rather than cursive writing when you are labelling the diagrams. Although this is not a rule, use black ink pens for the labelling.
  

• Another way in which practical skills are tested in part (a) of questions is via the construction of graphs from a given set of data. For this, it is advisable to read the data carefully to decide what goes on to the horizontal and the vertical axes. Label them neatly and put in the data accurately. Remember your title.
  

• You can be required to complete a table. Some of the data is given on the table. You must, therefore, calculate the remainder and include on the table.
  

• You can also be asked to construct a pie chart to illustrate a given set of data. You must do some calculation to know how much of the circle will be allotted to each sector given. Having done so, remember the rule of thumb that you put in the smaller sectors to the top left section of the circle. In other words, the 9 o'clock position. When you have completed putting in all the sectors in the circle, shade each differently and draw a key to indicate what each sector is representing. The title is also needed here.
  

• Drawing of sketch maps can also be tested. You are at liberty to choose the country to draw. Just make sure that what you are asked to indicate on the sketch map can be found in the country you choose. These would be countries that you have studied. It goes without saying that the proper completion of the sketch map is absolutely important. The shading, the label, title and key are all a part of this. If you have not been doing so, may I encourage you to practise drawing the different Caribbean territories as you study them in the different topics. Of course, you would be doing this from memory and not peering in the atlas.

The focus so far is on the testing of practical skills on Paper 02 of the examination. May I hasten to say that these skills are also tested on Paper 01, the paper with the multiple-choice items. Here are some of the ways:-

• On a given contour map, you can be asked to do such tasks as identifying landforms, calculating heights of points, calculating distances and stating directions of points/places.
  

• Calculating gradients after you are given the sets of data for this.
  

• Identifying features on sketches or photographs.
  

• Charts and graphs are sometimes given from which you are to deduce some data.

From this you would realise that what is given on Paper 01 is the same as for Paper 02. So, many students tend to be fearful in doing practical skills. My advice to you all is that you spend time to revise and practise the different skills. This will boost your confidence level for the examinations. Remember that 'Practice becomes perfect' - it may be a cliché but it is advice that should be adopted and implemented. This is one way of ensuring that you realise your set goal of passing the geography examination with distinction.

In the next lesson, I will begin a series of discussion on some of the more frequently tested practical skills.

Marjorie Henry is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com