Sub-topic

Population Change
Responses to high and low fertility
Movement responses - migration
Gender and change
Measurements of regional and global disparities
Origins of disparities
Disparities and change
Reducing disparities
Atmosphere and change
Soil and change
Water and change
Biodiversity and change
Sustainability and the environment
Patterns of resource consumption
Changing patterns of energy consumption
Conservation strategies

The hydrological cycle and water balance

Drainage basins
Discharge
Hydrographs
Floods
Dams and reservoirs
Floodplain management
Groundwater management
Freshwater wetland management
Irrigation and agriculture
Conflicts at the international and national scale

Distribution, morphology of ocean and oceanic water

Energy transfers, ENSO, Carbon Dioxide
Resource base, fishing, case study
Waste
Sovereignty rights and conflict
Physical characteristics
Management strategies and case study
Development of coral reefs/mangroves and causes and consequences

Global distribution of extreme environments

Populations in challenging enviroments
Physical characteristics of glacial environments
Physical characteristics of periglacial environments
Physical characteristics of hot, arid environments

Opportunities, challenges and management of agriculture in extreme environments

 Opportunities, challenges and management of mineral extraction in extreme environments

Opportunities, challenges and management of tourism in extreme environments

Human activity and sustainability in extreme environments

Characteristics of hazards
Vulnerable populations in the face of hazards
Definition of and extent of vulnerability
Analysis of risk in the face of hazards
Hazard event prediction
Definition of and measuring disasters
Proactive/Before event planning
Short-term, mid-term and long-term responses after the event

Definitions of leisure
Tourism changes in supply and demand
International participation and success in sport and case study of a contemporary international
sports event
Tourism as a development strategy including 2 case studies (1 national tourism industry and one
ecotourism case study)
Case study of a national sports league
Tourism management in urban and rural areas
The leisure hierarchy, intra-urban spatial patterns, urban regeneration
Sustainable tourism

Measuring and explaining variations in health. Prevention relative to treatment

Global food availability

Areas of food sufficiency and deficiency

Famine case study
Production and markets
Addressing imbalances
Sustainable agriculture
Global patterns of disease
The spread of disease
Geographic factors and impacts of disease

Urbanization, inward and outward movement, natural change, and the global megacity
Urban land use - residential areas
Urban land use - areas of economic activity
Urban microclimate
Other types of environmental and social stress in urban areas
Sustainable cities - the city as a system
Sustainable cities - case studies of sustainable management and urban ecological footprint
 Sustainable strategies - housing, pollution management, controlling rapid growth

Globalization indices and the core-periphery concept

Time-space convergence and the reduction in the friction of distance, extension and density of
networks
Financial, labour, and information flows
Environmental change - degradation through raw material production, manufacturing, transboundary
pollution, and the homogenization of landscapes
Cultural diffusion, consumerism, and sociocultural integration
Political geography - loss of sovereignty and responses (anti-globalization)
Glocalization, adopting to globalization, and local responses to , alternatives
Topic Focus Teaching Hours
Core 1 Human 5
Core 1 Human 4
Core 1 Mostly Human 4
Core 1 Human 6
Core 2 Human 3
Core 2 Physical and Human 3
Core 2 Physical and Human 5
Core 2 Human 5
Core 3 Mostly physical 4
Core 3 Physical and Human 4
Core 3 Mostly Human 5
Core 3 Physical and Human 3
Core 3 Physical and Human 3
Core 4 Human 4
Core 4 Mostly human 8
Core 4 Human 4
70
A1 Physical 3
A2 Physical 2
A2 Physical 1
A2 Physical and Human 3
A2 Physical and Human 3
A3 Physical and Human 2
A3 Physical and Human 3
A3 Physical and Human 2
A3 Physical and Human 2
A3 Physical and Human 3
A4 Physical and Human 6
30
B1 Physical 2
B2 Physical 4
B3 Physical and Human 4
B3 Physical and Human 3
B4 Mostly Human 3
B5 Physical 4
B5 Physical and Human 6
B6 Physical and Human 4
30
C1 Physical and Human 4
C1 Human 2
C2 Physical 3
C2 Physical 3
C2 Physical 4

C3 Physical and Human 4

C3 Physical and Human 4

C3 Physical and Human 3

C4 Mostly human 3
30
D1 Physical 7
D2 Human 1
D2 Human 3
D3 Human 3
D3 Human 3
D4 Physical and Human 4
D5 Physical and Human 4
D5 Physical and Human 5
30
E1 Human 2
E2 Human 4
E3 Mostly Human 4

E4 Mostly Human 6
E5 Human 3
E6 Physical and Human 4
E7 Human 4
E8 Physical and Human 3
30
F1 Mostly Human 4

F2 Human 1

F2 Physical and Human 3

F2 Physical and Human 4
F2 Human 3
F2 Human 3
F2 Physical and Human 2
F3 Physical and Human 2
F3 Physical and Human 4
F3 Physical and Human 4
30
G1 Human 2
G2 Human 4
G2 Human 4
G3 Mostly physical 4
G3 Mostly Human 4
G4 Physical and Human 2
G4 Physical and Human 4
G4 Physical and Human 6
30
Ex1 Human 4
Ex2 Human 12
Ex3 Human 8
Ex4 Physical and Human 8
Ex5 Mostly Human 8
Ex6 Mostly Human 10
Ex7 Human 10
60
 Key words
Explain, Analyze
Explain, Examine, Evaluate
Discuss, Evaluate
Examine
Define, Explain
Explain
Identify, Explain, Examine
Discuss, Evaluate
Describe, Explain, Discuss
Explain, Discuss
Identify, Examine
Explain, Examine
Define, Evaluate
Evaluate, Identify, Discuss
Examine
Discuss, Evaluate

Examine, Discuss, Explain

Examine
Define, Examine
Describe, Examine
Discuss
Examine
Explain, Examine. Evaluate
Explain, Distinguish, Examine
Describe, Evaluate
Examine
Examine, Evaluate, Discuss

Describe, Explain
Explain, Examine
Identify, Examine, Evaluate,
Describe
Discuss
Discuss, Examine
Examine, Identify
Discuss, Describe
Examine

Explain, Describe
Explain, Identify
Explain
Explain
Explain

Examine
 Examine

Examine

Discuss

Explain, Distinguish, Examine

Explain
Discuss, Explain
Examine, Explain, Discuss
Examine, Discuss
Distinguish, Explain
Discuss, Describe
Describe, Distinguish, Explain,
Examine, Discuss

Discuss
Explain, Examine
Examine, Analyse, Evaluate

Examine, Evaluate
Explain, Examine
Describe, Discuss, Examine
Explain, Examine, Discuss
Define, Examine

Describe, Explain, Evaluate,

Discuss

Identify, Distinguish, Discuss

Explain, Examine
Examine
Examine
Evaluate
Examine
Explain
Explain, Examine, Describe
Examine, Evaluate

Define, Explain
Explain, Examine
Explain, Describe, Examine
Examine
Examine
Describe, Distinguish
Discuss
 Evaluate

Describe, Evaluate, Discuss

Explain, Examine, Describe
Examine, Explain
Identify, Discuss, Examine,
Describe, Explain
Describe, Examine, Define
Discuss, Compare, Examine
Distinguish, Examine, Discuss,
Evaluate, Describe
 Specific Skills/Vocabulary/Concept
crude birth rate, crude death rate, natural increase, mortality, fertility, life expectancy, population
population projections
dependency ratio, ageing ratio, pro-natalist, anti-natalist
forced migration, voluntary migration, internal migration, international m
gender inequalities
indices, HDI, Gini
formal employment, informal employment, land reform
regional disparities, global disparities, MDGs
trade, market access, debt relief, remittances
energy balance, short wave radiation, long wave radiation, albedo, solar output, insolation, clim
soil degredation
water scarcity, economic water scarcity, access to safe drinking wa
biomes, tropical rainforest, biodiversity
sustainable development, environmental sustainability, management s
ecological footprint, resource, neo-Malthusian, anti-Malthusian
oil production, oil, geopolitics, alternative energy sources
conservation, waste reduction, recycling, substitution

hydrological cycle, inputs, outputs, stores, transfers

drainage basin
discharge, channel shape, stream velocity
hydrograph, forecasting, flash flood
flood
dams, reservoirs, multi-purpose schemes, cost-benefit analysis
stream channel processes (erosion, transportation, deposition), floo
groundwater, aquifer, artesian basin, artesian well, natural recharge, artificial rec
wetlands
agricultre, irrigation, salinization, agro-chemical runoff, eutrophicat
conflict

ocean currents, oceanic crust, ocean floor morphology, oceanic volcanos, trenches, transform faults,
oceanic energy transfer, oceanic conveyor belts, ENSO, La Nina, ocean
biotic resources, abiotic resources, continental shelves, ocean floor deposits, fish
radioactive material, chemical waste, oil
sovereignty, EEZ, geopolitics
tides, wave action, littoral drift, wind action, lithology, subaerial processes, coastal landfo
tsunamis, storm surges, erosion, cliff failure, habitat restoration, aqua

extreme environments
discomfort, inaccessibility, remoteness
glaciers, glacial erosion, glacial deposition
permafrost, patterned ground, solifluction, thermokarts, pingos
weathering, wind formed features, water formed features

aridity, infertility, desertification

 minerals, mineral extraction, resource development

tourism, mass movement, land degredation, aesthetic change

sustainability, indegenous populations

hazard, earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes, droughts, magnitude

vunerability, demographics, socio-economic factors, community, hazardo
vunerability, demographics, socio-economic factors, community, hazardo
preparedness, risk perception, degree of risk posed
prediction, estimation
disaster, human-induced hazard
assessing risk, adjustment, land use planning, spreading risk
response, rescue, rehabilitation, reconstruction, resilience, re-assessing risk, re-exa

lesiure, recreation, tourism, sport, accessibility, affluence

tourist activities, long-term trends, short-term trends, remotenes
sphere of influence, venue, local level, national level

tourism impact, eco-tourism, tourism as development strategy

league hierarchy
secondary tourist resources, tourist demands, carrying capacity
recreational and sports facilities, catchment area, land value, CBD, rural-urban fringe,
sustainable tourism

health, infant mortality rate, child mortality, health adjusted life expectancy (HALE), calorie intake
treatment of disease

malnutrition, temporary hunger, chronic hunger, famine, food secu

agribusiness, Green Revolution

famine
trade barriers, agricultural subsidies, bilateral agreements, multi-lateral agreements, tra
food aid, free trade, fair trade
sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency ratios, sustainable yield
diseases of affluence, diseases of poverty
diffusion by relocation, diffusion by expansion

urbanization, centripetal movements, rural-urban migration, gentrification, re-urbanization, urban

suburbanization, counter-urbanization, urban sprawl, natural change, m
residential areas, family status, life cycle, urban poverty, slums, squatters, low-cos
urban zoning, suburban zoning, CBD, informal sector, retailing, service industries, manuf
microclimate, urban heat island, air pollution
congestion, overcrowding, noise pollution, green space, crime, inequ
city as a system, circular systems, open/linear systems
sustainable city, ecological footprint
 sustainable housing, sustainable pollution, in-migration

globalization indices, AT Kearney index, KOF index, core areas, network hubs/n
friction, time-space, flow of goods, telecommunications, ICT, civil so
loans, debt repayment, development aid, remittances, FDI, repatriation of profits, transfer of capital
agro-industrialization, food miles, environmental controls, safety regulations, environmental awar
common commercial activity
cultural traits, media, consumer culture, branded commodities, diasporas, minority traits, cultural d
imperialism
multi-governmental organization, EU, ASEAN, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, AU, nation state, nationalism, an
globalization, glocalization, non-globalized societies
Question 46 (medium)
Question 47 (hard)
Question 37 (medium)
Question 48 (medium)
Question 49 (medium)
Question 50 (easy)
Question 51 (medium)
Question 52 (hard)
Question 16 (hard)
Question 17 (medium)
Question 34 (easy)
Question 18 (easy)
Question 53 (easy)
Question 36 (easy)
Question 35 (hard)
Question 74 (hard)

Question 19 (easy)
Question 20 (hard)

Question 23 (medium)

Question 43 (medium)
Question 21 (hard)
Question 22 (medium)

Question 25 (medium)
Question 24 (hard)

Question 66 (medium)
Question 41 (hard)
Question 26 (easy)

Question 28 (hard)

Question 27 (easy)

Question 29 (medium)
 Question 44 (hard)

Question 30 (easy)

Question 32 (medium)

Question 70 (easy)

Question 67 (easy)

Question 33 (medium)

Question 57 (hard)

Question 63 (hard)

Question 54 (hard)

Question 73 (hard)
Question 56 (easy)
Question 42 (medium)
Question 55 (easy)
Question 40 (easy)

Question 58 (hard) Question 72 (medium)

Question 59 (easy)
Question 64 (hard)
Question 31 (hard)
Question 69 (easy)

Question 45 (easy)
 Question 39 (hard)

Question 71 (medium)
Question 65 (easy)
Question 62 (hard)
Question 61 (medium)
Question 38 (easy) Question 60 (medium)
Question 68 (medium)
These skills are essential to the study of geography and reflect the subject’s distinctive
methodology and approach. Teaching these skills enriches the students’ understanding of
geography and enables them to apply the techniques of geography and use appropriate
terminology. It is essential that the skills are covered throughout the whole syllabus and t
are introduced and integrated where appropriate, depending on the context, in the differe
and the HL extension. It is essential that the skills are all taught at some stage of the cour
are not treated in isolation.
Students are expected to demonstrate competence in the use of geographic skills in exam
papers and internal assessment as appropriate. Those skills indicated below in italics are n
assessed in the externally assessed examination papers.
It is recognized that the ability to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a valuable
geographic tool that goes beyond many of the skills listed below. Where GIS is accessible
practical, its use is encouraged. However, the syllabus does not require GIS and it will not
in the assessment.

Skill

Locate and differentiate elements of the Earth's surface

Interpret, analyse and, when appropriate, construct tables, graphs, diagrams cartographic mat

Undertake statistical calculations to show patterns and summarize information

Undertake statistical calculations to show patterns and summarize information

Research, process and interpret data and information

Collect and select relevant geographic information

Evaluate sources of geographic information

Produce written material (including essays, reports, and investigations)

 Examples
Direction x
Latitude x
Longitude x
Grid/area references x
Scale x
Political units x

Isoline an isopleth maps

x
Choropleth maps x
Topological maps x
Dot maps x
Flow maps
Thematic maps (including mental maps)
Topographic maps
Proportional symbols
Aerial photographs x
Ground-level photographs
Satellite images x
Graphs, including scatter, line, bar,
compound, triangular, logarithmic, bipolar
graphs
Pie charts
Flow diagrams/charts
Population pyramids x
Lorenz curves
Cross-profiles (cross sections)
Rose diagrams
Development diamonds
Totals x
Averages (means, medians, modes)
Frequencies
 Ranges of data (differences between
maximum and minimum)
Densities
Percentages
Ratios
Measures of correlation (including Chi-
square and Spearman rank)
Measures of concentration and dispersion
(including nearest neighbor and lcoation
quotients)
Measures of spatial interactions
Measures of diversity
Indices and ratios (including Gini coefficient,
ecological footprint, human development
index (HDI), dependency ratio) x
Textual information
Observations
Opinions, values and perceptions
Classify data and information
Analyse data and information
Describe patterns, trends, and relationships
Make generalizations and identify anomalies
Make inferences and predictions
Make and justify decisions
Draw conclusions
Evaluate methodology
Make observations
Make images
Conduct interviews
Take measurements
Accuracy
Relevance
Bias
Presenting material in a clear and well-
structured way
Responding appropriately to command
terms