How to study Geography in ICSE Class 10

If you have just been promoted to Class 10, what should be your study approach to Geography. SWS spoke Rameshwer Verma Sir, senior faculty and Board examiner.

SWS : The ICSE academic year has just begun and it is summer vacation time for most students. How do you suggest students should use this time to study Geography in the holidays?

Verma Sir : Start familiarizing yourself with the basic political map of India (states, capitals, major cities) and the physical map (major mountains, plateaus, rivers). Watch documentaries on natural phenomena, climate zones, and Indian regions. Explore educational YouTube channels that explain complex geographical processes through animations.
 
Try to know why and how, Read textbooks and reference materials actively. Do not just casually ask why and how. Focus on understanding core concepts rather than rote memorization. Use flowcharts, diagrams, and summary notes to internalize these concepts.

 
SWS : The nature of ICSE Class 10 Board papers has changed a lot in the last three years with more emphasis on application, understanding and analysis-based questions. Keeping this in mind, how should the study strategy change for Geography?
 
Verma Sir : Rote memorization is no longer sufficient. Students must cultivate deeper critical thinking skills. Here’s how the strategy should change - From What to Why and How. The old strategy was to memorise definitions, features, and examples. For example - What are the characteristics of Alluvial Soil? The new  strategy is to understand the underlying processes, causes, effects, and interrelationships. 
 
For example, Why is Alluvial soil fertile? How does the formation process influence its characteristics? What are the implications of its distribution on agriculture and population density?

For every topic, ask yourself - Why does this happen? How does this process work? What are its consequences? How does it connect to other topics?

 
SWS : Students in particular are paranoid about Topography and Map Marking. What should be the ideal strategy with regard to both of them since they count for 20 marks? 
 
Verma Sir : Topography and Map Marking, accounting for a significant 20 marks, are indeed areas of anxiety for many ICSE students. However, with a systematic and consistent approach, these can become scoring sections.
 
First you have to make a list of different topics regarding toposheets. Like Grid reference, finding area, calculation of distance, occupation, different colour patterns, drainage pattern, contour lines and its pattern, important definitions. Try to know them one by one and practice individually with the help of previous year questions. 

The ideal strategy for India map marking is to know the relative positions of states, coastal lines, and major geographical divisions. Practise on multiple maps.  Use different printouts of outline maps.

Divide the syllabus into categories (Mountains, Plateaus, Rivers, Cities,plains,Climate,monsoon winds, Minerals Producing Areas). Use a sharp pencil. Use different pencil colour. Mark the feature correctly (for example - a dot for a city, a line for a river, a shaded area for a region). Label clearly and neatly.

 
SWS : Can you point out the common mistakes students of the Batch of 2024-25 made?
 
Verma Sir : Many missed the opportunity to use diagrams even when not explicitly asked. They could have enhanced their answers. Poor Map Marking was another common mistake. This included marking a city or river in the wrong state or in a general area. Illegible labelling was another error. The labels were written too small or too large, or overlapping with other features, making them difficult to read.
 
There were errors in Grid References. Like swapping Eastings and Northings, or miscalculating 6-figure references. Drainage pattern mistakes were common. Students gave answers in paragraphs which means writing more than necessary. Always try to write in points. If you know too many points, just write the most important points as per the question and the number of marks it is for. 
 
SWS : Every student also needs to submit a project in Class 10. On what basis do you suggest the project topic should be chosen?
 
Verma Sir : The topic should directly relate to the ICSE Class 10 Geography syllabus. This ensures that the research reinforces classroom learning and is relevant to the curriculum. It should allow for in-depth research and analysis, not just superficial information gathering. For example, the syllabus includes Waste Management, and a project on Solid Waste Management in my locality and its challenges and solutions, will fit in perfectly.