Entry Requirements
- Minimum of 5x 9-4 grades in GCSE examinations including 5 in English Language and 5 in maths. A grade 6 in Geography or History is desirable.
Qualification Aims and Objectives
The course develops students’ understanding of the interactions among people, places, spaces and the environment, across local, regional and global scales, while fostering scientific inquiry, critical thinking and practical investigation. It encourages students to be knowledgeable, inquiring, open-minded, and to appreciate how geographic processes shape and respond to social, environmental and economic change.
Objectives
- Develop a deep conceptual understanding of geographic principles, patterns and processes.
- Acquire and apply geographic knowledge, methods and investigative techniques.
- Build practical and analytical skills through fieldwork, data collection, interpretation and evaluation.
- Consider the ethical, cultural, social, economic and environmental implications of geographic change and human-environment interaction.
- Prepare for further study and careers in environmental management, urban planning, sustainability, GIS and mapping, international development, disaster risk reduction, research, meteorology and geography-related consultancy.
Course Outline
Syllabus Themes
- Geographic Themes – Options: Freshwater; Oceans & Coastal
Margins; Extreme Environments; Geophysical Hazards; Leisure,
Tourism & Sport; Food & Health; Urban Environments. - Core – Global Change: Changing population distribution; Global
climate vulnerability & resilience; Global resource consumption &
security. - HL Extension – Global Interactions: Power, places & networks; Human
development & diversity; Global risks & resilience.
Fieldwork: Students undertake primary investigation, collect and analyse
geographic data and write up a report rooted in a research question.
Assessment (HL)
- External (80%): Papers based on optional themes, core units and HL
extension, including structured and extended‐answer questions and
cartographic/data stimulus. - Internal (20%): Fieldwork report – the student’s own investigation of a
geographic question, including data‐collection, analysis and
evaluation.
Future courses and possible careers:
Environmental Management • Urban & Regional Planning • Sustainability Consultancy • GIS & Remote Sensing • International Development • Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Planning • Meteorology • Conservation Science • Research & Academia • Tourism and Leisure Management • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analysis • Nature and Wildlife Management
IBCP: Geography works well in a combination with IB Social and Cultural Anthropology and AAQ Applied Science.
IBDP: you would take this as one of your HL subjects, fulfilling the Individuals and Societies requirement.