This document summarizes the GCSE Geography exam board and themes covered for WJEC B. It outlines the 3 themes: 1) Challenges of Living in a Built Environment, 2) Physical Processes & Relationships between people and the environment, and 3) People, Work & Development. Key topics are listed under each theme such as urbanization, climate change, employment, and trade. The assessment structure is described including exam format, duration, and weighting. Support resources provided by Abbeyfield School to help students succeed are also summarized.

1. GCSE Geography
Exam board -WJEC B
Updated from 2012
Theme titles:
1. Challenges of Living in a Built Environment
2. Physical Processes & Relationships between
people and the environment
3. People, Work & Development
Abbeyfield School – Chippenham
http://abbeyfieldhumanities.blogspot.com

2. Theme 1 - Challenges of Living in a Built Env
Inequalities
• Exploring those that exist in urban areas in the UK and
further afield, including the reasons for differences in
quality of life in one town or city
Changing urban environment
• Self help schemes - worldwide
• Re-development of urban areas
• Improving access to water supply
• Improving squatter settlements
Rural-urban interaction
• Effect of changing village life due to counter-
urbanisation
• Commuter villages
• Effect of holiday homes on village life
• Impact of refugees on host country
• Access to national parks

3. Theme 2 - Physical Processes
Weather
• UK weather patterns
• Reasons for the weather we get, impact of weather
events on our lives
• Storms, hurricanes and droughts
Climate patterns
• Exploring how and why climate varies around the world
Climatic change
• Global warming and rising sea levels
• Desertification
• Acid rain
• Human impact upon the environment
Ecosystems
• Tropical rainforest ecosystems, boreal forest ecosystems,
and the impact human activity is having on the natural
systems
• Role of sustainable development)

4. Rivers
• Formation of natural landforms, such as waterfalls,
meanders and deltas
• Flooding problems in the UK in last few years and reasons
for this
Coasts
• Coastal processes and landforms, such as formation of
cliffs, caves, stacks and beaches
• How human activity is affecting the natural processes
that occur along the coast
• Cliff erosion and coastal management schemes
• Impact of tourism at the coast
Water Management schemes
• How do we provide enough water for the needs of an
ever-growing global population?

5. Theme 3 - People, Work & Development
Employment structures
• How industry effects the wealth of countries around the
world
• Impact of technology on jobs
Trade and aid
• How trade effects a country’s wealth together with the
notion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ aid,
• Effect of globalisation on local cultures e.g. fashion, food,
music etc
Economic activity
• Types of work,
• Changes in industry over time and the effect these changes
have on communities e.g. New investment in Swindon;
changing patterns in South Wales
Economic activity and the environment
• Effect of various industries on the environment e.g. Over-
fishing in the North Sea, deforestation in Amazonia and
tourism in our National Parks

6. How will you be assessed in Geography?
Theme Title Duration Weighting
1&2 Paper 1&2 - Exam 1 hour 30%
(foundation or higher tier)
3 Paper 3 Exam + problem 2 hours 45%
solving (foundation or higher
tier)
Controlled Assessment 18 hours – 25%
One task controlled
and
completed in
school
Students will sit two exam papers in Year 11 –
Either higher or foundation tier
(Foundation Tier = C – G grade) (Higher Tier = A* - D grade)

7. Student support for success
At Abbeyfield we provide comprehensive support for
students studying GCSE geography to ensure that
they have the best chance to succeed
We believe that is why the 3 year average GCSE
Geography pass rate at Abbeyfield is
90% A*-C (2010-2012)
National average 69%

8. Student support
On the website – http://abbeyfieldhumanities.blogspot.com

9. Student support
On Youtube – http://youtube.com/djdhums

10. Student support
On Twitter: @AbbGeography

11. Student support
On Facebook – Abbeyfield Geography

12. Why Geography?
Watch this:
http://youtu.be/Yu2e4AUPoRk
If you have any questions, see
Mr Drake or Mrs Wetton
Created by D Drake 2012
Advanced Skills Teacher – Abbeyfield School