HKDSE Geography Question setting and marking

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HKDSE GeographyQuestion setting and marking

• CHAN Ka-wai
• September 2008

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HKDSEHKCEEHKALE Geography compared

• Examination duration
• Type of questions
• Assessment criteria
• Learning and teaching strategy

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ALE HKDSE essay questions examples

• Although irrigation and drainage schemes help
  farmers overcome constraints of water supply,
  they often bring negative ecological impacts.
  Improving the sustainability of agriculture
  provides an alternative means to solve the
  problem of world hunger.
• Describe how irrigation and drainage schemes
  affect farm outputs. Explain the negative impacts
  of such schemes on the ecological environment.
  With reference to appropriate examples, discuss
  how far sustainable farming methods provide an
  alternative to improve food supply in the less
  developed world. (ALGeog 2 2007)
• 2. Using a farming region you have studied,
  explain how physical factors have influenced the
  agricultural characteristics of the region. To
  what extent do you think technology is becoming
  more important in affecting the agricultural
  activities in the region? (HKDSE Geog sample 2008)

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ALE essay questions

• Although irrigation and drainage schemes help
  farmers overcome constraints of water supply,
  they often bring negative ecological impacts.
  Improving the sustainability of agriculture
  provides an alternative means to solve the
  problem of world hunger.
• Describe how irrigation and drainage schemes
  affect farm outputs. Explain the negative impacts
  of such schemes on the ecological environment.
  With reference to appropriate examples, discuss
  how far sustainable farming methods provide an
  alternative to improve food supply in the less
  developed world. (ALGeog 2 2007)

3 learning levels describe, explain, discuss
examples Key knowledge concepts Farming as (a)
an ecological system (b) an economic system (i)
physical, social and economic components,
interactions, flows (ii) effects on crops and/or
livestock selection and production
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HKDSE essay questions

• Using a farming region you have studied, explain
  how physical factors have influenced the
  agricultural characteristics of the region. To
  what extent do you think technology is becoming
  more important in affecting the agricultural
  activities in the region?
• (HKDSE Geog sample 2008)

• Knowledge and Concepts
• Physical, economic, social and political factors
  affecting agriculture
• The growing importance of human factors,
  especially technology, in influencing agriculture
• Sahel / Southern California

• 2 learning levels
• explain
• discuss
• example

Directive terms
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Question moderation

• Using a farming region you have studied, explain
  how physical factors have influenced the
  agricultural characteristics of the region. To
  what extent do you think technology is becoming
  more important in affecting the agricultural
  activities in the region?

Biotechnology / irrigation technology /
information technology
Climatic / rainfall conditions / global warming
Issues food crisis, biofuels, GM food, organic
farming, food safety
Sahel / S. California
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Setting essay-type questions

• Closely follow curriculum content and assessment
  objectives
• Key geographical skills or concepts examined vs
  LS approach
• Two levels of learning description, explanation
  / application, discussion, evaluation /
  assessment, examples
• Approximately equal marks allocated to different
  parts of question

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Setting essay-type questions

• Rote-learning not encouraged but some marks to be
  awarded for basic understanding of key concepts
  or knowledge
• Part of questions to include test for higher
  level problem-solving or analytical skills to
  stream the minority of high achievers

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Setting essay-type questions

• Avoid asking for ambiguous and repetitive answers
• Avoid penalizing the general candidate by
  difficult terminology or overly specific issues
  or concepts
• Linkage between different parts of question
• Uniform level of difficulty between questions

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Marking essay-type questions

• No marks for irrelevant answers
• Bonus (unexpected qualities, clear and logical
  presentation) vs penalties (poor referencing,
  stereo-type answers)
• Looking for geographical knowledge / values
• Use of concept map in setting question and
  marking

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Use of concept map in question setting and marking
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Sample script 1
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Sample script 1
Total marks 3 0 0 3
Level 2
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Sample script 2
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Sample script 2
Total marks 6 3 1 10
Level 5
displays comprehensive understanding of their
geographical studies by being able to evaluate
the potential and limitations of geographical
concepts and principles and their relevance to
particular contexts.
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Sample script 3
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Sample script 3
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Sample script 3
Total marks 2 2 1 5
Level 3
displays general understanding of their
geographical studies by being able to apply their
knowledge to different geographical contexts AND
evaluate the geographical concepts and
principles.
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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Poor knowledge of geographical and general
  vocabulary
• Inadequate knowledge on core geographical
  concepts and theories

• Spell and define key geographical terminology
• Learn concepts and theories well before going
  into generalized situations

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Overlooking or misinterpreting key / directive
  terms
• Reciting of materials irrelevant to the question

• Study question carefully and mark all key and
  directive terms
• Refer to question from time to time during
  answering

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Unclear spatial and temporal concepts (e.g.
  city country, urban rural, global
  regional, arid semiarid, current recent
  decades)

• Learn and compare geography concepts at
  situations of different spatial and temporal
  scales

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Learning themes and issues at a discrete manner
• Vague mentioning of place names rather than
  providing descriptions of examples
• Too restricted to Hong Kong / China experience
  and stereotyped or outdated textbook case
  studies

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Develop understanding of relationship between
  different concepts and application to issues
• Need to learn from various forms of media to
  update geographical knowledge and awareness of
  current issues
• Fieldworks, classroom discussions and project
  work to enhance thinking skills and empower
  first-hand knowledge

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Poor time management, incomplete or imbalanced
  answer
• Not treating question as a whole piecemeal,
  repetitive, contradictory and evasive answers
• Lack of logical sequencing and integration of
  ideas

• Learn and practice the skills and steps in
  essay-writing
• Plan the draft of answer and line of reasoning
  in explanation / discussion

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Common weaknesses and Recommendations

• Reproducing textbook-type answers in
  explanation, linear reasoning
• Weak at discussion, lacking evaluation or
  assessment skills

• More training in thinking and reasoning skills

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Training students to write good essays

• Read into each question thoroughly
• Look for key words / directive terms
• Avoid answering any question that they have
  doubts on
• Make a draft of the answer in outline / diagram
  form
• Divide answer clearly in sections or paragraphs
  according to topics asked
• Do not waste time in writing beautiful
  introductions and lengthy conclusions

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Training students to write good essays

• Spell geographical terms or places correctly
• No need to worry about perfect grammar and
  sentence structure
• Write neatly and logically
• Highlight main idea clearly at the beginning of
  each paragraph
• State their viewpoints explicitly before
  elaborating on their supporting reasons

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Training students to write good essays

• Relevant examples and labelled diagrams often
  win credit points
• Outline the key points / reasons

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You comments opinions are welcome

• kawaichan_at_edb.gov.hk