Geograhpy

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Geography subject is an elective science course covering both compulsory and elective parts. The compulsory section includes seven themes: opportunities and risks, river and coastal management, changing industrial locations, sustainable city development, combating famine, disappearing green canopies, and climate change. The elective section offers four modules, from which students choose two: Hong Kong geology and landforms, weather and climate, transport development and planning, and Pearl River Delta regional study. The exam emphasizes the application of geographical skills and fieldwork experience.

The exam consists of two papers. Paper 1 accounts for 75% of the total score, lasting about 2 hours and 45 minutes, including four parts: multiple-choice questions (20%), a compulsory fieldwork question (15%), optional data/skill-based questions (30%), and short essay questions (10%). Paper 2 accounts for 25%, lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with two parts: data/skill-based and short essay questions, where students choose one question from each part. Both papers emphasize data analysis and geographical essay writing, using real maps and geographic information.

For revision, students should consolidate basic geographic concepts, familiarize themselves with each module and related issues, and practice data response and short essay writing. Active participation in fieldwork enhances practical skills, and practicing map and chart analysis is vital. Using past papers in mock exams helps improve answering speed and accuracy. Focusing on geographic skills and argumentative expression is key to achieving good results.