Chemistry and General Science: Matter, Reactions and Everyday Science
Matter and the atom
Understand states of matter, changes of state, elements, compounds, and mixtures, and the basic structure of the atom: protons, neutrons, electrons, atomic number, and mass number. Know the difference between physical and chemical changes, and between a compound (fixed ratio, chemically combined) and a mixture (variable ratio, separable by physical means).
Reactions and acids
Revise the signs of a chemical reaction, balancing simple equations, and the properties of acids, bases, and salts. Know that acids turn blue litmus red, bases turn red litmus blue, and that acid plus base gives salt and water (neutralisation). Learn common formulas such as H₂O, CO₂, NaCl, and H₂SO₄.
Biology and everyday science
Cover cells, photosynthesis, respiration, food groups, vitamins, and common diseases, plus everyday applications such as water purification, soap action, and fuels.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Traps: calling dissolving a chemical change (it is usually physical); confusing atomic number with mass number; and assuming all gases are elements. Rule of thumb: if the substance's identity changes and a new substance forms, it is a chemical change; if only state or form changes, it is physical. Worked example: ice melting to water is a physical change because the substance remains H₂O.
Geography: Physical, Human and Regional Geography
Physical geography
Understand Earth's structure, latitude and longitude, rotation and revolution, seasons, and time zones. Know the major landforms, the water cycle, climate zones, and the difference between weather and climate. Learn how latitude, altitude, and distance from the sea shape climate.
Bangladesh and regional geography
Be familiar with Bangladesh's rivers, delta formation, cyclones, and the influence of the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. Know the divisions, major rivers, and key landforms of South Asia, plus world continents, oceans, and major mountain ranges.
Human geography
Revise population distribution, urbanisation, agriculture, and resource use. Understand how physical geography influences settlement and economy.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Traps: confusing latitude with longitude; mixing weather with climate; and assuming the Equator is the hottest place in every season. Rule of thumb: latitude controls general temperature bands, while altitude and sea distance modify local climate. Worked example: two cities at the same latitude differ in temperature because one is at high altitude; the cooler one is the higher city, showing altitude's effect.
Environment and Disaster Management: Hazards, Causes and Responses
Environment basics
Understand ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution types (air, water, soil, noise), and the causes and effects of climate change. Know the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources and the meaning of sustainable development. Learn major environmental conventions and the general role of agencies in protection.
Disasters in Bangladesh
Bangladesh faces cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion, droughts, and landslides. Know the disaster-management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Learn the roles of early warning, shelters, embankments, and community awareness. Distinguish hazard (the event) from vulnerability (conditions that increase damage) and risk (the combination).
Traps and a rule of thumb
Traps: treating a hazard as a disaster regardless of impact; mixing mitigation with response; and assuming disasters are purely natural when vulnerability is human-made. Rule of thumb: mitigation happens before, response during, recovery after. Worked example: building a cyclone shelter is mitigation/preparedness, while distributing relief after landfall is response.