In the subject of Geography under the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), candidates have to be equipped with specific skills so as to get success in their public examination with flying colours.  This is particularly true when they are facing with short-essay questions, involving key question words such as analyze, compare, evaluate, discuss, justify and so on, which are difficult tasks to be solved.  Candidates have to choose one question each from both paper I and II of Geography.  The time for completing such a question is 30 minutes, as suggested by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA).  It is very difficult for candidates to complete a short-essay question requiring high-level analysis within just half an hour.

If candidates lack specific skills while dealing with these type of questions as mentioned above, they will find that it is the part of Geography papers where they easily lose  marks considerably.  It is also one of the key factors determining whether HKDSE candidates could get success in their public examination with top grade.  Concerning some difficult short-essay questions in the subject of Geography, I am delighted to take this opportunity to share with you my experience and some small tips for Geography papers of the HKDSE.

This time, I am going to talk about such a question as "evaulate the effectiveness", which is one of the short-essay questions commonly found in Geography papers where candidates always hardly get good marks.  Take an example from a sample question set by the HKEAA in Geography paper II, the question is: "Explain how the geomorphological and geological conditions of an area have led to the occurrence of landslides.  Evaluate the effectiveness of the measures adopted by HKSAR Government in preventing this hazard."

Difficulty is found in the second part of this question.  How to deal with this part of the question?  My suggestion is:  To work out a set of objective criteria for measuring "effectiveness" first.  That is to say, whether the measures could achieve goals or not.  Then, what are the goals?  As long as the goals are achieved, the measures can be said to have higher effectiveness.  In addition, whether the measures will do more good than harm, or just the opposite?  If the former is the case, then the measures will come with higher effectiveness; otherwise, lower. 

Moreover, whether the measures will face opposition or certain difficulties, such as opposition from environmental organizations, or lack of adequate capitals and technology.  The more serious is the opposition or difficulties, the lower is the effectiveness of the measures.  Otherwise, the effectiveness will get higher.  At the same time, a point to be noted is that the effectiveness depends on the cost.  If the cost of implementing the measures is too high, then the effectiveness will get lower accordingly.  Last but not least, time is also a factor affecting the effectiveness of the measures.  If the effectiveness of the measures can only last for a short term, then the effectiveness will be lower; otherwise, higher. 

All in all, when candidates face such a question as "evaulate the effectiveness" in the future, regardless the subject is Geography, History or Liberal Studies, they can handle the question with in-depth evaluation from multi-dimension and critical thinking and they can write a high-grade short-essay answer.  This can be achieved by the above-mentioned criteria for measuring effectiveness as well as flexible application of these criteria when facing with similar questions. 

(If you have any inquiries about this article, please contact ANDREW SIR via email: info@education-ladder.com) 

ANDREW SO,

Master of the CUHK & Teacher of History, Geography and Liberal Studies