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Through the Cambridge O Level Geography syllabus, learners will develop a ‘sense of place’ by looking at the world around them on a local, regional and global scale. Learners examine a range of natural and man-made environments, and learn about some of the processes that affected their development. They will also look at the ways in which people interact with their environment, and the opportunities and challenges an environment can present, thereby gaining a deeper insight into the different communities and cultures that exist around the world.

Content overview
The syllabus is divided into three themes:
Theme 1: Population and settlement
Theme 2: The natural environment
Theme 3: Economic development.

Theme 1: Population and settlement
Please see the guidance on case studies for the options when planning case studies and note whether the word
‘including’ is used in the further guidance column.

1.1 Population dynamics

1.2 Migration

1.3 Population structure

1.4 Population density and distribution

1.5 Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision

1.6 Urban settlements

1.7 Urbanisation

Theme 2: The natural environment

2.1 Earthquakes and volcanoes

2.2 Rivers

2.3 Coasts

2.4 Weather

2.5Climate and natural vegetation

Theme 3: Economic development

3.1 Development

3.2 Food production

3.3 Industry

3.4 Tourism

3.5 Energy

3.6 Water

3.7 Environmental risks of economic development

4 Details of the assessment

Paper 1 – Geographical Themes
Written paper, 1 hour 45 minutes, 75 marks
All candidates take Paper 1. They choose three questions.
Please note:
Candidates must comply with the instructions for Paper 1. They must choose only three questions, one from each of the three sections. Sometimes there is a choice within a question. Candidates must not answer more than is required.
Questions are structured with different levels of difficulty. They consist of a combination of resource-based tasks and free-response writing requiring place-specific information.

For resource-based tasks, candidates should interpret and analyse the resource and use the data provided to illustrate their understanding of the concept being assessed.
Candidates are expected to know the location of the continents.
All the other information they need to answer a resource-based question is in the resource. No other previous knowledge is needed of the content of the resource.
Resources may be:
• photographs • map extracts
• sketch maps • drawings
• diagrams • graphs
• text extracts • statistics and tables of data-satellite images
• GIS data. • maps showing latitude and longitude

Paper 2 – Geographical Skills
Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks
All candidates take Paper 2. They must answer all the questions.
The paper tests:
• skills of application, interpretation and analysis of geographical information, for example:
– topographical maps – tables of data
– other maps – written material
– diagrams – photographs and pictorial material
– graphs
• application of graphical and other techniques.

Candidates do not need any place-specific knowledge to answer questions in Paper 2. Questions that require
knowledge and understanding (AO1) will be based on topics from the three themes

Paper 3 – Geographical Investigations
Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks
Candidates must answer all the questions.
Candidates are set a series of tasks on issues relating to one or more of the subject themes (see section 3).
Questions test the methodology of questionnaires, observation, counts and measurement techniques, and involve testing hypotheses appropriate to specific topics. Questions also test processing, presentation and analysis of data.

Candidates should study the principles of geographical investigations and show understanding of the route
to geographical enquiry. They should have some practical experience, however limited, of fieldwork  methodology. One approach is to introduce the appropriate enquiry skills and techniques relevant to Paper 3
during the teaching of specific topics for Paper 1. For example, while you are teaching Topic 2.2 Rivers, you could
discuss how key aspects of the form of rivers can be measured, how depth data can be plotted and how crosssectional area and discharge can be calculated. You could introduce the skills required for questionnaires, counts
and observations in a variety of topics, wherever this is practical for the centre.