National 4/5 Geography

In  Geography we learn about three key units:

Physical

  • Glaciated Landscapes– Key processes, formation of features, identification of features using OS map skills/ pictures, land users in the areas and conflicts amongst them.
  • Coastal Landscapes– Key processes, formation of features, identification of features using OS map skills/ pictures.
  • Weather- Factors affecting the weather, characteristics of air masses, elements of high and low pressure weather, reading synoptic charts.

Human

  • Population- physical and human factors influencing where people live in the world, factors affecting birth and death rates, reading population pyramids, the use of social and economic indicators.
  • Rural- changes in the rural landscape in developed and developing countries related to modern developments in farming.
  • Urban- characteristics of land-use zones in cities, recent developments in the CBD, inner city, rural/urban fringe in Glasgow. Recent developments which deal with issues in the favelas of  Rio.

Global Issues

  • Climate Change– features of climate change, physical and human causes, local and global effects, and management strategies to minimise impact/effects.
  • Natural Regions– climate and ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest, causes; impacts and management strategies of deforestation. Climate and ecosystems in the Alaskan Tundra, causes; impacts and management strategies of land degradation in the Tundra.

Lastly pupils will complete at Added Value Unit (National 4) or an Assignment (National 5). The learner will choose a geographical issue, collect information from either primary or secondary sources, process the information gathered, explain, and analyse their findings and reach a well-supported conclusion.

The Exam:

Component Marks Time Frame
Question paper 80 2 hours and 20 minutes
Assignment 20 Completed within 1 hour and in one sitting in class.