What do the Grade 9 Geography cards cover?

23 cards across 8 chapters of the national textbook: Geological history and topography of Ethiopia, Climate of Ethiopia, Natural resource base of Ethiopia, Population and demographic characteristics of Ethiopia, Major economic and cultural activities in Ethiopia, Human - natural environment interactions in Ethiopia, Geography inquiry skills and techniques and 1 more. You can take any chapter one card at a time on the page itself.

Is there a national exam in Grade 9?

No. Ethiopia sets national exams in Grade 6, Grade 8 and Grade 12 only. These cards are for your school's own exams, and for the national exam that comes a few years later.

Where do these cards come from?

They are drafted from Grade 9 Geography, the Ministry of Education textbook for this grade. A second pass that cannot see the chapter then re-derives every formula, constant and table row, and anything it cannot confirm is held back instead of published.

Yes. Every card here is free to read and the printable sheet is free to download. Neither needs an account.

When was this last checked?

30 August 2026. Cards arrive chapter by chapter, and the line under each one says when that card was last read through.

Free short notes and revision cards

Grade 9 Geography

Grade 9 Geography on Temari has 23 revision cards, arranged by the chapters of the Ethiopian national curriculum. Every card says when the rule applies, what each symbol in it stands for, and the mistake students most often make with it. They are free to read and need no account.

23
Cards: 8
Chapters: 19
Reference tables: Grade 9 Geography
Textbook: Free
Price: 30 August 2026
Last checked

Everything23Reference table19Common mistake2Rule2

Geological history and topography of Ethiopia

Geological Eras and Major Events in EthiopiaReference tablePrecambrian · Paleozoic · Mesozoic · +1

Era	Time Span	Major Geological Events in Ethiopia
Precambrian	4.5 billion to 600 million years ago	Orogenesis, intense volcanism, folding, formation of the oldest basement complex rocks.
Paleozoic	600 to 250 million years ago	Massive denudation and peneplanation, inselberg formation, no rock formation (gap in rock records).
Mesozoic	250 to 70 million years ago	Alternate sinking and uplifting of landmass, marine transgression and regression, sedimentary rock formation.
Cenozoic	70 million years ago to present	Uplifting, Trappean basalt lava pouring, Rift Valley faulting, Quaternary volcanism.

When you use it

Use this card to identify the chronological sequence of geological eras and the distinct physical events that took place in the Horn of Africa during each era.

Watch out

The Paleozoic era is the only era that left a gap in rock formation in Ethiopia because denudation dominated and no deposition occurred.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 2-36, then checked twice before it went up

Major Physiographic Divisions of EthiopiaReference tableWestern Highlands and Lowlands · Southeastern Highlands and Lowlands · The Rift Valley

Physiographic Region	Major Highland Subdivisions	Major Lowland Subdivisions
Western Highlands and Lowlands	Tigray Plateau, North Central Massif, Shewa Plateau, Southwestern Highlands	Tekezze and Angereb, Abbay Dinder, Baro-Akobo, Omo-Gibe Lowlands
Southeastern Highlands and Lowlands	Hararghe Plateau, Arsi Plateau, Bale Massif, Sidama Highlands	Ogaden, Elkerie, Borena, Genale Plains
The Rift Valley	Afar Horst, Fentalle Volcano	Afar Depression, Kobar Sink (Dallol), Chew Bahir, Rift Valley Lakes Basin

When you use it

Use this card to classify Ethiopian relief features into the three primary physiographic regions, along with their respective highlands and lowlands.

Watch out

The Western Highlands account for 44 percent of the country's total land area and are divided into four distinct plateau groups separated by the Rift Valley from the Southeastern Highlands.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 2-36, then checked twice before it went up

Climate of Ethiopia

Agro-climatic Zones of EthiopiaReference table3300 · 2300 - 3300 · 1500 - 2300 · +2

Altitude (m)	Traditional Name	Global Equivalence	Mean Annual Temp
$\ge 3300$	Wurch / Kur	Alpine / Afro-Alpine	$< 10^\circ\text{C}$
$2300 - 3300$	Dega	Temperate	$10^\circ\text{C} - 15^\circ\text{C}$
$1500 - 2300$	Woina Dega	Subtropical	$15^\circ\text{C} - 20^\circ\text{C}$
$500 - 1500$	Kolla	Tropical	$20^\circ\text{C} - 30^\circ\text{C}$
$< 500$	Bereha	Desert	$> 30^\circ\text{C}$

When you use it

Use when identifying traditional Ethiopian climatic zones based on altitude and mean annual temperature.

Watch out

Kolla spans 500 to 1500 m and Bereha lies below 500 m. Do not reverse their boundaries.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 37-59, then checked twice before it went up

Reporting Wind DirectionCommon mistake

When you use it

Use when determining the name of a prevailing wind from its direction of motion.

Watch out

Wind is always named after the direction it blows FROM, not the direction it blows toward. A wind blowing from west to east is a westerly wind, not an easterly wind.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 37-59, then checked twice before it went up

Weather Elements and Measuring InstrumentsReference tableTemperature · Rainfall · Air pressure · +2

Climatic Element	Measuring Instrument	Standard Unit / Scale
Temperature	Thermometer	$^\circ\text{C} \text{ or } ^\circ\text{F}$
Rainfall	Rain gauge	$\text{mm}$
Air pressure	Barometer	$\text{millibar (mb) or mm}$
Wind speed	Anemometer	$\text{km/h or m/s}$
Wind direction	Wind vane	Compass points

When you use it

Use when identifying the proper instrument and units used to measure specific weather and climate elements.

Watch out

Anemometer measures wind speed while wind vane detects wind direction. Do not confuse their functions.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 37-59, then checked twice before it went up

Natural resource base of Ethiopia

Endemic Mammals of Ethiopia and Their HabitatsReference tableWalia Ibex · Mountain Nyala · Gelada Baboon · +4

Endemic Wild Animal	Common / Local Name	Primary Geographic Habitat
Walia Ibex	Walia (Wild Goat)	Semein Highlands
Mountain Nyala	Dega Agazon	Bale Mountains
Gelada Baboon	Chilada	Semein Highlands
Menilik's Bushbuck	Dikula	Shewan and Bale Highlands
Swayne's Hartebeest	Korkay	Nechsar Park and Sankalle Sanctuary
Semein Fox	Key Kebero	Bale and Semein Highlands
Wild Ass	Yedur Ahiya	Afar and Southeast Lowlands

When you use it

Use when identifying wild animal species unique to Ethiopia and their specific conservation or geographic ranges.

Watch out

The Semein Fox (Key Kebero) is not restricted solely to the Semein mountains; significant populations also inhabit the Bale Highlands.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 60-88, then checked twice before it went up

Major Drainage Systems of EthiopiaReference tableWestern (Mediterranean) · Southeastern (Indian Ocean) · Inland (Rift Valley)

Drainage System	Major Rivers	Destination	Discharge Share
Western (Mediterranean)	Abbay, Tekezze, Baro-Akobo	Mediterranean Sea (via Nile)	60%
Southeastern (Indian Ocean)	Genale, Wabe Shebelle	Indian Ocean and Benadir coast	32%
Inland (Rift Valley)	Awash, Omo-Gibe	Lake Abbe and Lake Turkana	Smallest

When you use it

Use when identifying river flow directions, river basins, catchment sizes, or destinations of Ethiopian rivers.

Watch out

Wabe Shebelle is Ethiopia's longest river but does not reach the Indian Ocean. It dries up at the Benadir coast of Somalia, whereas River Genale successfully reaches the ocean as the Juba.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 60-88, then checked twice before it went up

Natural Vegetation Zones of EthiopiaReference tableAfroalpine and Sub-Afroalpine · Highland Forests · Lowland (Gallery) Forests · +2

Vegetation Zone	Altitude Range	Dominant Plant Species
Afroalpine and Sub-Afroalpine	> 3000 m	Gibra (Lobelia), Asta (Erica), tussock grasses
Highland Forests	1500 to 3300 m	Kerkha, Tid (Juniperus), Zigba, Woira, Kosso
Lowland (Gallery) Forests	< 1500 m	Sholla, Warka, Baphia along riverbanks
Woodland Savanna	250 to 2300 m	Acacia (Ghirar), Tid, mixed grasses
Semi-desert and Desert	Lowlands (< 600 mm rain)	Xerophytes, short thorny acacias, succulents

When you use it

Use when classifying natural vegetation types according to altitudinal limits and rainfall characteristics.

Watch out

Gallery or riverine forests exist in lowland zones below 1500 m despite surrounding dry conditions because they rely on riverbank soil moisture rather than local rainfall.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 60-88, then checked twice before it went up

Population and demographic characteristics of Ethiopia

Altitude and Population Distribution in EthiopiaReference tableAbove 1800 m (Highlands) · Below 1800 m (Lowlands)

Elevation Zone	Land Area (%)	Population (%)	Settlement and Economic Characteristics
Above 1800 m (Highlands)	37.6%	77.5%	High density, crop farming, moderate climate, free from tropical vector diseases
Below 1800 m (Lowlands)	62.4%	22.5%	Sparse density, pastoralism, high temperatures, low rainfall, tropical diseases

When you use it

Use when comparing demographic density, land coverage, and settlement factors between highlands and lowlands in Ethiopia.

Watch out

Unlike other global regions where river valleys are densely settled, Ethiopian major river valleys are sparsely populated due to tropical diseases.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 89-123, then checked twice before it went up

Classification of Ethiopian LanguagesReference tableAfro-Asiatic · Nilo-Saharan

Super Family	Family	Spatial Coverage in Ethiopia	Example Languages
Afro-Asiatic	Cushitic	Central, southern, eastern, northeastern	Afaan Oromoo, Af-Somali, Sidaamu Afo, Qafaraf
Afro-Asiatic	Semitic	Northern, central, eastern	Amarigna, Tigrigna, Guragigna, Aderigna
Afro-Asiatic	Omotic	South-central, south-western	Wolaitatto, Dawurootsuwa, Kafi noono, Kontaatsuwa
Nilo-Saharan	Nilo-Saharan	Western lowlands (Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz)	Nuer, Annuak, Gumuz, Kunama

When you use it

Use when identifying the super families, families, and geographic distribution of languages spoken in Ethiopia.

Watch out

Cushitic has the largest number of speakers and widest spatial coverage in Ethiopia, not Semitic.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 89-123, then checked twice before it went up

Criteria for Urban Settlement in EthiopiaRule

When you use it

Use when evaluating whether a settlement qualifies as an urban center in Ethiopia.

Watch out

Not all grouped settlements are urban centers. A settlement must meet specific population, economic, municipal, and service thresholds.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 89-123, then checked twice before it went up

Major economic and cultural activities in Ethiopia

Five Sectors of Economic ActivitiesReference tablePrimary · Secondary · Tertiary · +2

Sector	Primary Focus	Examples
Primary	Extraction of raw materials and natural resources	Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Mining
Secondary	Processing and manufacturing raw materials into finished goods	Manufacturing, Construction, Power production
Tertiary	Provision of services to consumers and businesses	Trade, Transport, Tourism
Quaternary	Specialized knowledge, information, and administrative services	Research, Education, Financial services
Quinary	High-level executive decision-making and scientific leadership	Top executives, Government officials, Research leaders

When you use it

Use when classifying economic activities into their five sectors based on production stages and services.

Watch out

Do not confuse quaternary (general research and education) with quinary (highest-level policy and executive decision-making).

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 124-160, then checked twice before it went up

Road Accident Severity LevelsReference tableFatal Accident · Serious Injury · Slight Injury · +1

Severity Class	Official Criterion
Fatal Accident	One or more victims die within 30 days of the crash
Serious Injury	Severe injury requiring hospital admission as an inpatient
Slight Injury	Minor cuts or scratches treated as an outpatient without admission
Property Damage Only	No human injury, damage is restricted to vehicles

When you use it

Use when categorizing road traffic accident outcomes according to official Ethiopian severity standards.

Watch out

A death is recorded as a fatal accident if the victim passes away within 30 days of the crash, not only at the crash scene.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 124-160, then checked twice before it went up

Types of Arable Farming in EthiopiaReference tableSeed (Grain) Production · Permanent (Perennial) Cultivation · Shifting Cultivation · +1

Farming Type	Key Characteristics	Major Crops or Locations
Seed (Grain) Production	Dominant in Dega and Woina Dega highlands	Cereals (teff, wheat, barley), pulses, oilseeds
Permanent (Perennial) Cultivation	Multi-year crop farming in south and southwest Woina Dega	Enset, coffee, cotton
Shifting Cultivation	Cut-and-burn farming in low-density lowland fringes	Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Southern lowlands
Plantation Agriculture	Commercial production of cash and industrial crops	Sugarcane, cotton, coffee, tea, rubber

When you use it

Use when distinguishing among the four major arable farming systems practiced across different agro-ecological zones in Ethiopia.

Watch out

Shifting cultivation is restricted to lowland fringes with low population density, whereas seed farming dominates high-density highlands.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 124-160, then checked twice before it went up

Human - natural environment interactions in Ethiopia

Modes of Human Environment InteractionReference tableDependence · Modification · Adaptation

Interaction Mode	Definition	Example
Dependence	Relying on environmental resources for basic survival	Air, water, food, and shelter
Modification	Changing physical surroundings to meet human needs	Clearing forests for farming, building settlements
Adaptation	Adjusting human lifestyles to fit environmental conditions	Changing clothing for weather, dwelling in harsh climates

When you use it

Use to classify how humans relate to and interact with their physical environment.

Watch out

Do not confuse adaptation (adjusting behavior to nature) with modification (physically altering nature).

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 161-185, then checked twice before it went up

Population and Resource BalanceReference tableOptimum Population · Overpopulation · Underpopulation

Population State	Resource Relationship	Main Characteristic
Optimum Population	Resources balance population needs with available technology	Highest per capita income and living standards
Overpopulation	Population exceeds utilized or potential resources	Resource depletion, poverty, and environmental degradation
Underpopulation	Population is too small to fully exploit available resources	Resource surplus, labor shortages, and underutilized potential

When you use it

Use to distinguish between optimum population, overpopulation, and underpopulation based on resource availability.

Watch out

Overpopulation is not defined purely by high density. It occurs when numbers exceed the carrying capacity of available resources and technology.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 161-185, then checked twice before it went up

Water Stress and Water Scarcity ThresholdsReference tableWater stress · Water scarcity

Category	Annual Freshwater Availability per Capita
Water stress	$< 1700\text{ m}^3$ per person per year
Water scarcity	$< 1000\text{ m}^3$ per person per year

When you use it

Use to identify international classification thresholds for per capita water availability.

Watch out

Water stress applies below 1700 m^3 per person per year, while water scarcity is the more severe threshold below 1000 m^3.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 161-185, then checked twice before it went up

Unit 7

Afforestation versus ReforestationCommon mistake

When you use it

Use when defining or selecting tree planting strategies to mitigate deforestation and soil degradation.

Watch out

Do not treat the two terms as interchangeable. Reforestation is planting trees on areas that were previously forested, whereas afforestation is establishing new forest on bare land not formerly covered by trees.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 186-201, then checked twice before it went up

Soil Conservation PracticesReference tableTerracing · Strip cultivation · Intercropping · +2

Conservation Practice	Mechanism and Definition
Terracing	Building level surfaces at right angles to the slope to retain water and reduce erosion
Strip cultivation	Planting different crops in alternating strips to retain water and soil
Intercropping	Growing two or more crops on the same field simultaneously to prevent bare soil exposure
Contour ploughing	Ploughing across slopes rather than up and down to create barriers against runoff
Check dams	Constructing small barriers across drainage channels to reduce runoff velocity

When you use it

Use when identifying or comparing mechanical and agronomic measures used to control soil erosion in Ethiopia.

Watch out

Do not confuse contour ploughing with terracing. Contour ploughing is tilling across the slope, while terracing physically cuts steps or level benches into the slope.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 186-201, then checked twice before it went up

The Ethiopian Green Legacy InitiativeReference tableInitiative launch · Seedling target · Post planting care · +2

Feature	Key Facts and Strategic Targets
Initiative launch	Launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
Seedling target	Plant 20 billion seedlings over four years (2020 to 2023)
Post planting care	Watering, weeding, and replacement planting to ensure seedling survival
Guiding frameworks	CRGE Strategy, Ten-Year National Forest Sector Development Program, Bamboo Development Strategy
Core goals	Combat climate change, prevent desertification, enhance food security, build climate resilient green economy

When you use it

Use when summarizing the timeline, scale, components, and policy frameworks of Ethiopia's national tree planting movement.

Watch out

The initiative includes post-planting care such as weeding, watering, and replacement planting, rather than just planting seedlings.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, pages 186-201, then checked twice before it went up

Geography inquiry skills and techniques

Map Scale ClassificationReference tableLarge Scale · Medium Scale · Small Scale

Scale Category	Representative Fraction	Area Covered	Level of Detail
Large Scale	$\ge 1:50{,}000$	Small	High detail
Medium Scale	$1:50{,}000 \text{ to } 1:250{,}000$	Medium	Moderate detail
Small Scale	$\le 1:250{,}000$	Large	Low detail

When you use it

Use this to classify map scales and relate the scale ratio to ground area coverage and detail level.

Watch out

A larger denominator number like 1:1,000,000 indicates a smaller scale map, not a large scale map.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, page 202 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

National Grid Reference ReadingRule

When you use it

Use this rule to determine the four digit or six digit numeric coordinates of a specific point on a gridded map.

Watch out

Always read Eastings (vertical lines, from left to right) before Northings (horizontal lines, from bottom to top).

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, page 202 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

Three North ReferencesReference tableTrue North · Magnetic North · Grid North

North Type	Definition	Reference on Map
True North	Direction along a meridian to the Geographic North Pole	Longitude lines (meridians)
Magnetic North	Direction indicated by the needle of a magnetic compass	Magnetic compass needle
Grid North	Direction of the vertical grid lines pointing upward	Eastings (vertical grid lines)

When you use it

Use this to distinguish between the three distinct north reference points used in cartography and bearing measurements.

Watch out

Grid lines do not run true north except along the single standard central meridian.

Drafted from Grade 9 Geography, page 202 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

The same subject in other years

An exam paper keeps asking for what the year below taught. Those cards are here too.

Your other Grade 9 subjects

Everything else in this year that has cards so far.

Questions students ask

What do the Grade 9 Geography cards cover?: 23 cards across 8 chapters of the national textbook: Geological history and topography of Ethiopia, Climate of Ethiopia, Natural resource base of Ethiopia, Population and demographic characteristics of Ethiopia, Major economic and cultural activities in Ethiopia, Human - natural environment interactions in Ethiopia, Geography inquiry skills and techniques and 1 more. You can take any chapter one card at a time on the page itself.
Is there a national exam in Grade 9?: No. Ethiopia sets national exams in Grade 6, Grade 8 and Grade 12 only. These cards are for your school's own exams, and for the national exam that comes a few years later.
Where do these cards come from?: They are drafted from Grade 9 Geography, the Ministry of Education textbook for this grade. A second pass that cannot see the chapter then re-derives every formula, constant and table row, and anything it cannot confirm is held back instead of published.
Is this free?: Yes. Every card here is free to read and the printable sheet is free to download. Neither needs an account.
When was this last checked?: 30 August 2026. Cards arrive chapter by chapter, and the line under each one says when that card was last read through.

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