Geography 0460 — specification explorer

1. Population dynamics

• 1.1.1Describe and give reasons for the rapid increase in the world’s population
• 1.1.2Show an understanding of over-population and under-population
• 1.1.3Understand the main causes of a change in population size
• 1.1.4Give reasons for contrasting rates of natural population change
• 1.1.5Describe and evaluate population policies
• 1.1.6Case Studies required for 1.1
• 1.1.7A country which is over-populated
• 1.1.8A country which is under-populated
• 1.1.9A country with a high rate of natural population growth
• 1.1.10A country with a low rate of population growth (or population decline)

2. Migration

• 1.2.1Explain and give reasons for population migration
• 1.2.2Demonstrate an understanding of the impacts of migration
• 1.2.3Case Study required for 1.2
• 1.2.4An international migration

3. Population structure

• 1.3.1Identify and give reasons for and implications of different types of population structure.
• 1.3.2Case Study required for 1.3
• 1.3.3A country with a high dependent population.

4. Population density and distribution

• 1.4.1Describe the factors influencing the density and distribution of population
• 1.4.2Case Studies required for 1.4
• 1.4.3A densely populated country or area (at any scale from local to regional)
• 1.4.4A sparsely populated country or area (at any scale from local to regional)

5. Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision

• 1.5.1Explain the patterns of settlement
• 1.5.2Describe and explain the factors which may influence the sites, growth and functions of settlements
• 1.5.3Give reasons for the hierarchy of settlements and services
• 1.5.4Case Study required for 1.5
• 1.5.5Settlement and service provision in an area

6. Urban settlements

• 1.6.1Describe and give reasons for the characteristics of, and changes in, land use in urban areas
• 1.6.2Explain the problems of urban areas, their causes and possible solutions
• 1.6.3Case Study required for 1.6
• 1.6.4An urban area or urban areas

7. Urbanisation

• 1.7.1Identify and suggest reasons for rapid urban growth
• 1.7.2Describe the impacts of urban growth on both rural and urban areas, along with possible solutions to reduce the negative impacts
• 1.7.3Case Study required for 1.7
• 1.7.4A rapidly growing urban area in a developing country and migration to it

1. Earthquakes and volcanoes

• 2.1.1Describe the main types and features of volcanoes and earthquakes
• 2.1.2Describe and explain the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes
• 2.1.3Describe the causes of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and their effects on people and the environment
• 2.1.4Demonstrate an understanding that volcanoes present hazards and offer opportunities for people
• 2.1.5Explain what can be done to reduce the impacts of earthquakes and volcanoes
• 2.1.6Case Studies required for 2.1
• 2.1.7An earthquake
• 2.1.8A volcano

2. Rivers

• 2.2.1Explain the main hydrological characteristics and processes which operate in rivers and drainage basins
• 2.2.2Demonstrate an understanding of the work of a river in eroding, transporting and depositing
• 2.2.3Describe and explain the formation of the landforms associated with these processes
• 2.2.4Demonstrate an understanding that rivers present hazards and offer opportunities for people
• 2.2.5Explain what can be done to manage the impacts of river flooding
• 2.2.6Case Study required for 2.2
• 2.2.7The opportunities presented by a river or rivers, the associated hazards and their management

3. Coasts

• 2.3.1Demonstrate an understanding of the work of the sea and wind in eroding, transporting and depositing
• 2.3.2Describe and explain the formation of the landforms associated with these processes
• 2.3.3Describe coral reefs and mangrove swamps and the conditions required for their development
• 2.3.4Demonstrate an understanding that coasts present hazards and offer opportunities for people
• 2.3.5Explain what can be done to manage the impacts of coastal erosion
• 2.3.6Case Study required for 2.3
• 2.3.7The opportunities presented by an area or areas of coastline, the associated hazards and their management

4. Weather

• 2.4.1Describe how weather data are collected
• 2.4.2Make calculations using information from weather instruments
• 2.4.3Use and interpret graphs and other diagrams showing weather and climate data

5. Climate and natural vegetation

• 2.5.1Describe and explain the characteristics of two climates:
• 2.5.2equatorial
• 2.5.3hot desert
• 2.5.4Describe and explain the characteristics of tropical rainforest and hot desert ecosystems
• 2.5.5Describe the causes and effects of deforestation of tropical rainforest
• 2.5.6Case Study required for 2.5
• 2.5.7An area of tropical rainforest
• 2.5.8An area of hot desert

1. Development

• 3.1.1Use a variety of indicators to assess the level of development of a country
• 3.1.2Identify and explain inequalities between and within countries
• 3.1.3Classify production into different sectors and give illustrations of each
• 3.1.4Describe and explain how the proportions employed in each sector vary according to the level of development
• 3.1.5Describe and explain the process of globalisation, and consider its impacts
• 3.1.6Case Study required for 3.1
• 3.1.7A transnational corporation and its global links

2. Food production

• 3.2.1Describe and explain the main features of an agricultural system: inputs, processes and outputs
• 3.2.2Recognise the causes and effects of food shortages and describe possible solutions to this problem
• 3.2.3Case Studies required for 3.2
• 3.2.4A farm or agricultural system
• 3.2.5A country or region suffering from food shortages

3. Industry

• 3.3.1Demonstrate an understanding of an industrial system: inputs, processes and outputs (products and waste)
• 3.3.2Describe and explain the factors influencing the distribution and location of factories and industrial zones
• 3.3.3Case Study required for 3.3
• 3.3.4An industrial zone or factory

4. Tourism

• 3.4.1Describe and explain the growth of tourism in relation to the main attractions of the physical and human landscape
• 3.4.2Evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of tourism to receiving areas
• 3.4.3Demonstrate an understanding that careful management of tourism is required in order for it to be sustainable
• 3.4.4Case Study required for 3.4
• 3.4.5An area where tourism is important

5. Energy

• 3.5.1Describe the importance of non-renewable fossil fuels, renewable energy supplies, nuclear power and fuelwood; globally and in different countries at different levels of development
• 3.5.2Evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of nuclear power and renewable energy sources
• 3.5.3Case Study required for 3.5
• 3.5.4Energy supply in a country or area

6. Water

• 3.6.1Describe methods of water supply and the proportions of water used for agriculture, domestic and industrial purposes in countries at different levels of economic development
• 3.6.2Explain why there are water shortages in some areas and demonstrate that careful management is required to ensure future supplies
• 3.6.3Case Study required for 3.6
• 3.6.4Water supply in a country or area

7. Environmental risks of economic development

• 3.7.1Describe how economic activities may pose threats to the natural environment and people, locally and globally
• 3.7.2Demonstrate the need for sustainable development and management
• 3.7.3Understand the importance of resource conservation
• 3.7.4Case Study required for 3.7
• 3.7.5An area where economic development is taking place and causing the environment to be at risk
• 3.7.6Using mathematical skills in geography
• 3.7.7add, subtract, multiply and divide
• 3.7.8understand map scale and the use of the scale line and representative fractions
• 3.7.9understand the terms mean and range
• 3.7.10use averages, decimals, fractions, percentages and ratios
• 3.7.11use standard notation, including both positive and negative indices
• 3.7.12understand significant figures and use them appropriately
• 3.7.13recognise positive and negative relationships shown by scatter graphs
• 3.7.14draw and interpret graphs from given data for the types of graph listed in the syllabus
• 3.7.15select suitable scales and axes for graphs
• 3.7.16use a ruler and protractor.
• 3.7.17Calculators may be used in all examinations.