Seminar on the design of
assessment for the revised
S4-5 geography curriculum
Chan Chin Lee
HKSYC & IA Chan Nam
Chong Memorial College
29/5/2004
Assessing geographical skills in
written examinations

How to assess geographical skills
through examinations? (using the
revised S4-5 geography curriculum
as an example)

How can written examination
questions be designed to inform the
progress of students’ learning?
How to assess geographical skills
through written examinations?
Using the revised S4-5 geography
curriculum as an example
What geographical skills to be
assessed?
 How to assess?

What geographical skills?
(HKEAA)

Read and interpret a variety of maps at
different scales

Interpret ground and aerial
photographs
-to extract and analyze geographical
information from them

Observe, measure and record data
(including interview) systematically and
accurately

Construct and test hypotheses in order to
solve geographical problems

Use appropriate geographical terminology
to present materials and arguments
Basic inquiry skills

Ask and identify questions from a
geographical perspective

Locate and collect appropriate information
and data from a variety of sources

Select and use appropriate format such
as text and illustrations to organize and
present information and data

Use appropriate methods to
interpret information and data for
making inferences and drawing
conclusions

Evaluate the answers, solutions or
conclusions drawn from inquiry
(HKEAA)
Geographical skills
Asking Geographic Questions
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Assessment of the following
skills

Map reading and interpretation

Photograph interpretation

Aerial photograph interpretation
Assessment of map skills

1:20,000 map

1:5000 map

Others
Map reading – language




Scale
– linear, statement, R.F.
Direction
– compass points, whole-circle bearing,
reduced bearing
Grid reference and grid square
- 6 figure, 4 figure
Signs and symbols
– contour lines etc.
Map measurement and
drawing

Calculation of gradient

Cross section drawing and
calculation of vertical exaggeration

Sketch map drawing/ copying

Measurement of distance and area
Map interpretation

Interpret human, economic activities:
e.g. settlement, communications,
land use etc.

Interpret physical landform:
e.g. relief, drainage pattern etc.

Problem solving and decision making
Refer to the
map extract
of Sham
Chung
(HM20C sheet 8
Sai Kung)
Describe the relief of Sham Chung
(grid square 2084) and the
surrounding.
Skills assessed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Symbols: contour lines, drainage, coast
line etc.
grid references: location of the hills etc.
accurate height measurements: the
height of Sham Chung village,
trigonometrical station etc.
compass directions: north of Sham
Chung….etc.
landscape features: river valley etc.
Describing and explaining
location

There is a plan to develop Sham
Chung into a resort comprising villa
guesthouses and a golf course.

Describe and explain the
favourable and unfavourable
locational factors.
Skills assessed:
Describing location:
1. Compass directions: higher ground to the
east, bay to the west etc.
2. Distances: of the footpath from Yung
Shue O etc.
3. Symbols: ferry pier, footpath, secondary
roads, country park’s boundary etc.
4. Grid references: location of ferry pier etc.
5. Landscape features: river valley etc.

Skills assessed (cont’)

1.
2.
Explanation of the locational factors:
Map interpretation:
-influence of the settlement,
communication, landform features,
country parks etc.
Decision making:
-favourable or unfavourable factors.

There is a plan to develop Sham Chung
into a resort comprising villa guesthouses
and a golf course.

As the Secretary for the Environment,
Transport and Works, will you agree such
development. Explain your stand point.
Skills: map interpretation, present
arguments
How can written examination
questions be designed to inform
the progress of student’s
learning?
Skills summary sheet
Skills assessed
Identification of symbols
Identification of features
Use of grid reference
Use of compass direction
Description skill
scores
Structured questions

Identify; name; match:
Skills: map reading

Draw: (sketch map, cross-section etc.)
Skills: drawing

Measure; calculate:
Skills: measurement, scale, calculation

Describe; compare; contrast
Skills: map reading, direction, grid
reference

Explain
Skills: interpretation of relationships,
organization, making inferences, drawing
conclusions

Suggest solutions
Skills: problem solving, decision making

Evaluate
Skills: present arguments, decision
making, drawing conclusions
Structured questions to inform the
progress of students’ learning
Identify the landform feature at grid
reference 208845.
Skills: landform identification
 Find the highest point in the grid
square 2084. Give its 6 figure grid
reference.
Skills: grid reference, contour lines
trigonometrical station

Describe the landform north of
Sham Chung (208845).
Skills: compass points, contours,
landform identification
 Explain how the landform is
favourable for the development of
Sham Chung into a resort.
Skills: map interpretation

Map measurement and
drawing skills
Refer to the map extract of Sham Chung
again
(HM20C sheet 8 Sai Kung)
Assessment of map drawing

Draw a cross-section from the
trigonometrical station 180 (grid
reference 204848) to 210836) with
a vertical scale of 1 cm to 50 m.
Skills: drawing, scale

Calculate the vertical exaggeration
of the cross-section.
Skills: calculation

Refer to the cross-section and the
map extract, explain why Sham
Chung is suitable to develop into a
resort with golf course and villa
guesthouse.
Skills: map interpretation, decision
making, symbols, grid reference,
landscape features
Assessment of map
measurement

Measure the distance of the footpath from
Sham Chung (209842) to Yung Shue O
(214826).
-Skills: measuring distance, grid
reference, symbols.

Calculate the time required for the
villagers to walk from Sham Chung to
Yung Shue O. (The speed of walking = 4
km/ hr)
-Skills: Simple calculation

Explain how does it hinder the
development of Sham Chung.
Skills: map interpretation, decision
making

Suggest solutions to solve this
problem.
Skills: symbols, grid reference, map
interpretation, decision making
Photograph interpretation
skills

Photograph reading
– identify features, pattern

Photograph interpretation
– interpreting patterns and
relationships

Sketching, scale, direction
Integration of map and
photograph interpretation
A Photograph of Sham Chung
Please refer to Photo 9 on the
website below:
http://www.cexplorer.com/tshamchung2.htm
Refer to the photograph of Sham
Chung and the map extract.

Draw a sketch of the photograph to show
the land uses.
Skills: photograph interpretation, sketch
drawing

Account for the land uses as shown in the
sketch.
Skills: map interpretation, photograph
interpretation,
Refer to the photograph of Sham
Chung and the map extract.

Identify the land use A in the photograph
Skills: photograph reading

Account for the occurrence of land use A
in Sham Chung
Skills: photograph interpretation, map
interpretation
Another example of map and
photograph interpretation
A Photograph of Sham
Chung
Please refer to Photo 10 on the
website below:
http://www.cexplorer.com/tshamchung2.htm
Refer to the photograph of Sham
Chung and the map extract.

From which direction was the photograph
taken?
Skills: map reading, direction

With the support of photographic
evidence, argue against the development
of Sham Chung into a resort with golf
course and villa guesthouse.
Skills: photograph interpretation,
present arguments
Aerial photo interpretation
skills

Recognition of features

Sketch drawing

Scale, direction

Interpretation:
patterns, relationships
Aerial photograph interpretation
A
Refer to the aerial photo of
Kowloon 5.11.84 56988
(Survey and Mapping Office
Building and Lands Department
Hong Kong Government)
Assessment of aerial photo
interpretation skills

Compare and contrast the characteristics
of land use in A and B.
Skills: recognition of features, patterns

Describe the urban problems in A
Skills: interpretation, inference

Explain why urban renewal is needed in A.
Skills: interpretation, presenting
arguments