Content

The syllabus is divided into three themes:

Theme 1: Population and settlement

• Migration
• Natural population growth
• urbanisation

Theme 2: The natural environment

• Coasts
• Rivers
• Earthquakes and volcanoes
• Weather and climate
• Vegetation and ecosystems

Theme 3: Economic development

• Development
• Food
• Industry
• Tourism
• Energy
• Water

Assessment

Three written examinations:

Paper 1: Geographical Themes (1hour 45min) 45% of grade

Paper 2: Geographical Skills ( 1 hour 30min) 27.5% of grade

Paper 3: Coursework (up to 2000 words) 27.5%

Students must complete one coursework assignment, set by teachers, of up to 2000 words. Coursework assignments may be based on physical geography or human geography or on an interaction between physical and human geography. Coursework must be clearly related to one or more of the subject themes.

Supporting Textbook:

Textbook recommendation: Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Geography Study and Revision Guide revised edition: Hodder Education Group (2019)

ISBN: 1510421394

Geography: Independent Study

Try these 4 websites to start you off on your extended studying around Geography.

Cool Geography

https://www.coolgeography.co.uk/gcsen/revision_zone.php

This website covers key topics from a range of GCSE Geography qualifications (AQA, OCR, Edexcel).

Uses a range of techniques: Quizlet, Youtube videos, summary pages of visual aids and diagrams and past paper examples

Has examples of up-to-date case studies

BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zyp7jty

Provides summary pages of information

Uses videos for some explanations

Features ‘test me’ at the end of each topic

Geography Pods

https://www.geographypods.com/

Specific to the Cambridge iGCSE qualification which we are studying

Up to date case studies

Internet Geography

https://www.internetgeography.net/cambridge-igcse-geography/

Specific to our exam board: Cambridge iGCSE Geography

Try these books and magazines to widen your studying around Geography.

Wider Reading (Books)

1. Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall Explores how geography shapes politics and global conflicts. Great for understanding geopolitics and physical constraints on countries.
2. Factfulness by Hans Rosling Challenges misconceptions about global development with data and optimism. Ideal for understanding global inequality, health, and population change.
3. How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee A fun and insightful look at the carbon footprint of everyday items. Great for sustainability and climate change topics.
4. There’s No Planet B by Mike Berners-Lee Practical insights into global challenges like climate, energy, and population. Encourages systems thinking and solutions-based geography.

1. Adventures in the Anthropocene by Gaia Vince A travelogue of human impact on Earth’s systems. Makes human-environment interaction very real and personal.

Wider Reading (magazines)

Geographical Magazine (by the Royal Geographical Society) Full of topical case studies, maps, and global issues.

National Geographic (Kids or Teen editions) Visually engaging and rich with human and physical geography themes.

Wider Listening (podcasts)

The EcoTalks Podcast – Climate, energy, and geography topics

Geographical Thinking – Real-world geography with experts

BBC Earth or Costing the Earth (Radio 4) – Environmental and global issues

Try these Youtube Videos to revise Geography topics.

Youtube – Revision lessons

• Geographer Online → https://www.youtube.com/@GeographerOnline
• Tutor2U → https://www.youtube.com/@tutor2u-official/videos
• Time for Geography → https://timeforgeography.co.uk/video-collections/
• The Geography Academy → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw52it0IgSemnydut6-bgBQuhOuVJ8Ech