Specification

Useful Downloads

Specification
(PDF), Last Updated: 23 September 2011
(Version 4) For first teaching from September 2009, for first assessment from Summer 2010, for first award in Summer 2011

Related Circulars

Specification (S/IF/104/11)
(PDF), Last Updated: 19 October 2011

Specification - (S/IF/102/09)
(PDF), Last Updated: 22 October 2009

There are two tiers of entry for this specification: Foundation and Higher. Students entered for the Foundation Tier are eligible for grades C–G. If students fail to attain a grade G, we report their results as unclassified (U). Higher Tier students are eligible for grades A*–D. We provide an allowed grade E as a ‘safety net’ for Higher Tier students just failing to secure a grade D.

This course is divided into six themes. These are outlined in more detail in the table below.

Theme	Content
Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World
A: The Dynamic Landscape	The Drainage Basin: a Component of the Water Cycle River Processes and Features Coastal Processes and Features Sustainable Management of Rivers Sustainable Management of Coasts
B: Our Changing Weather and Climate	Measuring the Elements of the Weather Weather systems Affecting the British Isles The Causes and Consequences of Climate Change
C: Restless Earth	Basic Rock Types Plate Tectonics Theory Tectonic Activity in the British Isles Earthquakes: Can They Be Managed?
Unit 2: Living In Our World
A: People and Where They Live	Population Growth, Change and Structure Settlement Site, Function and Hierarchy Urbanisation in LEDCs and MEDCs
B: Contrasts in World Development	The Development Gap Factors Contributing to Unequal Development Sustainable Solutions to Deal with the Problems of Unequal Development
C: Managing Our Resources	The Impact of Our Increasing Use of Resources on the Environment Increasing Demand for Resources in LEDCs and MEDCs Managing Waste to Protect Our Environment Sustainable Tourism to Preserve the Environment

For more information, see the specification.