Environmental
Studies
All about this SEC Exam !
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Six main topics – General lessons
Geography, History & Social Studies
 The world - our
home
 Management of
resources
 Human population
 Human
communities
 Work and leisure
 Managing a nation
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Go to the internet to view
the full revised syllabus
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www.home.um.edu.mt/matsec
Click on Sillabi 2012
English version – Environmental Studies
Maltese version – Studji Ambjentali
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Details
 The exam is divided into Paper I and Paper II.
 Student has to choose between Paper IIA or
IIB.
 Exam papers are issued in both Maltese and
English.
 Candidates may answer any question in
Maltese and/or English, however no change of
language is permitted within the same sub
section of the question.
 15% of the global mark that is 30 marks is
allotted to the investigation project that each
student has to prepare.
 The Investigation has to be about 1500 to 20004
words or five chapters of 300 words.
Main changes in Revised Syllabus
Paper 1
 Section A (Total marks: 40) will include from 9
to 15 short answer questions that will reflect all
of the six themes of the syllabus.
 Section B (Total marks: 50) will include two
questions based on sources. This could be an
extract from a newspaper or information about
a particular situation.
 See Specimen Paper
http://www.um.edu.mt/matsec/specimenpapers  SEC Environmental Studies P-1 Specimen
Paper 2011 [PDF]
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Procedure for Project
 Select a tutor from teachers teaching Form V
Geography, History and Social Studies depending on
the main theme.
 Tutor will go over the drafts of the various chapters
and offer his/her advice so that the project presented
will be of good standard.
 Students have to collect their own data Direct Observation
Questionnaires
Surveys
Statistics
Newspaper articles
Copies of Original photos
 Information collected has to be fully analysed
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Examples of actual work done
 Student 1 - Hardly any contact with tutor; No
photos; Some papers printed badly; Referred
to USA not to the local situation; Copy and
paste; What can I do omitted!; No real
personal comments = Marks 2
 Student 2 – Referred to Map; Old photos &
Recent ones; Relevant interviews; Own
conclusions; Written in own words; Valid
points mentioned but organisation of ideas
could have been better = Marks 13
 Student 3 – Map; Photos: Series showing
landforms, Labelled, Visual effects of sea
pollution, dated; Covered varied and
interesting points; Well analysed; A very good
study of the locality = Marks 15
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More actual examples
 Student 4 – Corrections suggested by Tutor
ignored; Spelling of title incorrect; Dates
not exact; Fragmented points; Deductions
not correct; Too many sites chosen without
any real investigation; Conclusion too short
= Marks 5
 Student 5 – Map; Photos of re- enactments;
Very detailed information; Attempted to
analyse; Conclusion good with practical
suggestions = Marks 14
 Student 6 - Time line; Maps; Photos related
to information; Depended on own
investigation and observations = Marks 14
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Choose one Investigative Project
from the following titles  Topic 1: The geographical and geological context of a
historical or archaeological site in Malta or Gozo.
 Topic 2: Man’s impact on one of the valleys of the
Maltese islands.
 Topic 3: The main characteristics of the Maltese
village core.
 Topic 4: An example of civil architecture of the British
period.
 Topic 5: Investigating one primary activity in Malta –
Does it still have a future?
 Topic 6: How green are the new cars on the market
and do young people consider environmental aspects
when buying their first car?
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Tips for a good investigation
 Books and magazines used solely for reference
material
 Based on personal observation
 Serious personal analysis
 Surveys and analysis of results
 Questions of interviews should not be obvious
 Analysis of comments made by the people
interviewed
 Photos, graphs and diagrams included and fully
evaluated
 Include personal comments and experiences
 Should refer to the natural, social or historical
environment
 Give practical original suggestions for improving the
area under focus
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Layout of Project
 Front cover
 1st Page
 Introduction
 Title of project, name
of student and class
 Home address,
school address, and
scholastic year
 Why was the theme
chosen?
 What do you plan to
investigate?
 How do you plan to
carry out this
investigation?
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More about the layout
 Contents
 List of
illustrations
 Chapters
 The page reference for each
chapter
 The page reference for
photographs, maps, graphs,
and photocopies of
newspaper articles
 The chapters, at least five,
should reflect the aims
mentioned in the introduction.
 Graphs, surveys and
questionnaires should be fully
explained and analysed
 A caption should be included
under each photograph, map
or sketch.
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The last pages of your
project
 A summary is given of all the
 Conclusion
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 Bibliography
 Acknowledgements
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aspects that the investigation
has brought to light.
Suggestions for the future
should be included
Above all mention what you as
a young person can do in
favour of the area under study
List of books, websites,
pamphlets, magazines,
newspaper that have been
used for reference
In this section all the persons
that have helped you can be
officially thanked.
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Please take note ……
 Students caught copying an Investigation
will be reported to the Sec Board
 Do not sit for exam if not ready to study
and prepare a good investigation –
Otherwise it is just a waste of money
 Students have to hand in two copies of
the Investigative Project. The original
can be collected back by June.
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Timings
 August 2011
 Full information on website
 Summer 11
 October 11
 Investigation
 Preparing of draft project
 Meeting for students sitting for
Env. Studies SEC Exam and
their parents
 Reviewing of draft by tutor
 Final adjustments
 Printing of final layout
 Binding of project
 Handing in two copies of
project to tutor
 Nov. 11
 Dec. 11
 January 12
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Projects will not be
accepted by tutors if …
If project is handed in after
the closing date given.
If projects given have an extremely poor
presentation.
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Please take note
 Investigative Projects are to be handed in directly
to Tutor not left on desk of staff room or
elsewhere.
 No responsibility will be taken by tutors of
projects not handed to them in person.
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Result 2012
Your result depends on your input!
???
No project = high probability of
getting a failure
Overall marks lost – 15%
or
30 marks out of 200
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Feedback or Help needed
 Send email to Ms DeBattista at
rita.debattista@educ.gov.mt
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Last comment
Environmental Studies is more
than an exam…..
it means a change in lifestyle in
favour of the environment !
Thank you for your attention.
Ms R. DeBattista
Head of Department Geography
St. Margaret College Boys Sec. Verdala
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