GEOGRAPHY GCSE & IGCSE
Length of course: 1, 2 or 3
days
Boards: All Boards
The core topics common to the GCSE Geography specifications including compulsory and optional topics will be revised. Each course will be tailored according to the needs of the students in the group. Students should specify which exam board and specification they are taking.
The following core topics are covered:
Basic skills – understand the use of diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches, photographs including satellite photographs for different landscapes.
Cartographic skills – atlas maps, sketch maps, ordnance survey maps.
Graphical skills – graphs, charts, maps.
Geographical enquiry skills – analysis, interpretation
and evaluation of geographical concepts, hypothesis and data using a range of sources including field observations, maps, drawings, photographs, diagrams, tables and secondary sources.
ICT skills – annotation of photographs and satellite images, use of databases such as census and population data, use of the internet for example case studies of volcanic eruptions, floods. Use of spreadsheets and data handling software.
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) skills – geographical systems such as Aegis, web mapping sites such as Google Earth and Multimap.
Climate Change – the causes, effects and responses to climate change.
Sustainable development for the planet – definitions, interpretations and concepts, policies, transport in urban areas, resource extraction from tropical rainforests.
Coastal Landscapes – waves, weathering, erosion, cliffs, wave-cut headlands and bays, caves, arches, stacks, stumps, longshore drift, formation of beaches, spits and bars, flooding.
River Landscapes – river processes, flooding and flood prevention, river management.
Glaciated Landscapes – the impact of glaciation on river valleys, use of glaciated landscapes, avalanches.
Tectonic Landscapes – location and characteristics of tectonic activity, management of tectonic activity.
Waste – types of waste and its production, recycling and disposal of waste.
Water – water consumption and sources, water supply problems, management of water usage and resources.
Economic Change – changes to different economic sectors, economic locations.
Farming and the Countryside – changes to the UK countryside, management of the UK countryside.
Settlement Change – Factors affecting settlements, changing land use in urban areas, rapid growth in LICs.
Population Change – population growth and distribution, characteristics of population, population movement, flows of population, retirement migration.
Tourism – growth of the tourist industry, resort development, effects of tourist industry growth, Eco-tourism.