GCSE GEOGRAPHY - Years 10 & 11

Three human topics are studied:

• Settlement - click here for comparative data.
• Industry
• Development & Interdependence

Three physical topics are studied:

• Rivers
• Coasts
• Tectonic Activity

Coursework
There is also a coursework unit worth 25%.

Click here for support sheets and advice on the coursework module.

Rivers:
Covers the water cycle; the processes of erosion; factors influencing surface run-off; major features of the upper courses of river basins such as waterfalls and gorges; major features of the lower courses of river basins such as meanders, ox-bow lakes and deltas; how can river basins best be managed.

Coasts:
Covers the processes of erosion; waves; the impact of rock type on coastal features; the formation of bays and headlands; features of coastal erosion such as cliffs, arches and stacks; features of coastal deposition such as beaches, bars and spits; how can coasts best be managed; different methods of coastal protection.

Tectonic Activity:
Covers the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes; the causes of each hazard; the impacts of each hazard; how they can be predicted; and how they can best be managed. Examples used include the 1980 eruption of Mt.St Helens, the eruption of Montserrat in the Caribbean, the 1989 San Francisco quake and the 2000 Indian quake.

Settlement:
Covers the advantages/disadvantages of settlement sites; differing settlement characteristics related to varying settlement sizes; the function and sphere of influence of settlements; the characteristics of land use zones in LEDC and MEDC cities; MEDC inner city and LEDC shanty town problems and solutions; counter- urbanisation- Urban sprawl, the Green Belt, Suburbanisation, etc. Several examples are referred to from LEDCs and MEDCs.

Industry:
Covers industry as a system; the classification of industries; factors influencing industrial location; case studies of secondary industries; Brownfield v Greenfield development; industrial change over time; the growth of Science Parks; the recent growth of multi-national companies and newly industrialised countries (NIC’s). Examples are used from different industries around the world.

Development and Interdependence:
Covers differences in levels of development between LEDCs and MEDCs; the factors that can be used to measure development; Environmental issues resulting from development; patterns of world trade, including the balance of trade, commodity dependency and economic groupings; foreign debt and aid issues. Research is undertaken using databases and the internet for a variety of country examples. Pupils are expected to follow current news stories relating to the unit.

Development and Interdependence:
Covers differences in levels of development between LEDCs and MEDCs; the factors that can be used to measure development; Environmental issues resulting from development; patterns of world trade, including the balance of trade, commodity dependency and economic groupings; foreign debt and aid issues. Research is undertaken using databases and the internet for a variety of country examples. Pupils are expected to follow current news stories relating to the unit.