Geography

Geographical concepts

Place, Process, Power and Possibility are central in the IB Geography course, at both HL and SL, and are linked to concepts of scale and special interaction 

Places are identified at a variety of scales, from local territories to the national level. They can be compared, according to their cultural diversity or disparities in wealth.

Processes are human or mechanical mechanisms of change, that operate at varying timescales. Linear and complex systems, for example, are both outcomes of the interaction between processes.

Power refers to the ability to influence and affect change at different scales. This could include citizens, governments or institutions.

Possibilities are alternative outcomes that are projected with varying degrees of certainty.

Exam Structure

Depending on whether you are HL or SL, you will have a different number of exams.

Paper 1 is based on the options you have covered in your lessons

SL

• Counts for 35% of the final grade
• 1 hour 30 minutes
• 40 marks

HL

• Counts for 35% of the final grade
• 2 hour 15 minutes
• 60 marks

Paper 2 is based on the SL core content of the course, and is the same for SL and HL

HL

Paper 1 is based on the options you have covered in your lessons (HL has an extra option)

For more information see the geography subject guide here

Revision Notes

Thank you to Ann-Sophie for sharing these wonderful handwritten notes :))

• Unit 1: Population Distribution
• Unit 1: Population Distribution (Part II)
• Option F: Food and Health

Sample essays

• The Water-Food-Energy Nexus
• Infrastructure growth in Ethiopia
• Megacity Jakarta
• Containerization

General Tips:

• Use the Oxford Study Guide for more concise notes 🙂
• IGCSE Geography revision notes found here (although not quite complete)