Course Outline

Aim

• To cover the key ideas and concepts common to most Geography GCSE specifications.
• To revise the specialist skills outlined in the specification, e.g. the interpretation of OS Maps, diagrams, graphs, satellite images, GIS.
• To practise examination technique.
• To understand and interpret the specialist language used in GCSE questions and to practise exam skills.
• To provide case study material if required and if available.

Key Topics Covered

These are the main topics which are common to most specifications:

Skills: Interpretation and use of Ordnance Survey maps, other map types (sketch, atlas etc.), graphs of various types, photographs, satellite images, GIS etc.

Sustainable Development: Concept of sustainability within all specifications

Natural Hazards: Plate tectonics. Earthquakes. Volcanoes. Managing tectonic activities, Tropical storms, wildfires.

Coasts: Coastal processes and landforms. Management of coastal environments

Rivers: Hydrological cycle. River processes and landforms. Causes, effects and Management of Flooding, Flood hydrographs.

Extreme Climates: Deserts, Cold Environments, Challenges and opportunities of extreme climates.

Ecosystems: Characteristics and location of different biomes, Value of the biosphere, Human impacts on the biosphere, Management of the biosphere.

Resources: Climate change, Waste, Water, Use of Energy, Sustainable resource consumption.

Population: Population structure variations. Causes of population growth and decline. Government population policies. International and internal migration. Impacts of migration.

Development: Indicators of economic development, Employment structures, The Development Gap and various development approaches. Balances in quality of life. Trade and aid and debt, Superpowers, Millennium Development Goals.

Urbanisation: Rates of urbanisation, Inequalities in urban areas, Management of issues, Impact of urbanisation on rural areas.

Globalisation: How and why globalisation is taking place, Challenges and opportunities of globalisation.

Tourism: Factors affecting tourism. Advantages and disadvantages in LEDCs and MEDCs. Ecotourism.