You probably have already figured out that cramming the night before the test puts information in your head but not context. Knowing definitions for highlighted terms in the textbook alone will earn a C. Knowing how the things described by these terms fit together gets you the A. Being conversant with these connections is very challenging. Especially, I think, for brand new students of Geography. We think it is better to study intensely, a few hours or sessions over a few days than to do it all at once. Try recopying your notes or making a few flash cards.
Study guides come in many forms.
Some instructors provide detailed, specific lists of concepts for students to study. Others provide no input beyond listing the chapters to be covered on an exam. In either case, the goal of the instructor is to develop your independent skills at collating, prioritizing, and assimilating content. I believe that learning how to learn is as important as the information provided in this course. Learning how to learn is why you are in college.