One of the most common dilemmas for students preparing for the geography optional is whether they need to include a specific geographer or thinker in every single answer.
In a recent video, Utkarsh (AIR 32) clears up this misconception with a practical approach to answer writing.
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You Can’t Memorize 300–400 Geographers
According to Utkarsh, it is simply not possible to find a relevant thinker for every single topic. Trying to find specific add-on points for every sub-topic would mean memorizing around 300 to 400 geographers—which is simply not possible.
Take a topic like the Himalayan uprising. It is highly unlikely that anyone has memorized all the specific thinkers who have discussed the uprising of the Himalayas in their works.
How to Mention Thinkers Smarter
Instead of stressing over niche names, Utkarsh suggests mentioning the major foundational concepts you have already studied:
- When discussing a topic like the Himalayan uprising, you will naturally mention continental drift theory or plates colliding.
- When you bring up these core concepts, you can then mention the plate tectonics theory and who postulated it.
This allows you to naturally integrate thinkers into your geography optional answers based on what you have already studied, rather than forcing yourself to memorize hundreds of extra names.
Learn the Right Approach
Mastering this kind of smart exam strategy requires the right guidance. If you want to build strong conceptual clarity without getting overwhelmed, check out the Geography Optional Foundation Course by Shabbir Sir at Edukemy, which helps you understand exactly how to apply theories and concepts effectively to maximize your score.
