IGCSE History (0470

IGCSE Geography (0460)

The future is unpredictable; students need to be equipped to deal with changes that are taking place to our planet. Geography stimulates interest in the world and develops an informed concern for the world. Geography creates an understanding and knowledge of where you live, of other people and places.

Geography is a popular subject in schools at all levels, and appears regularly among the four or five most popular choices at GCSE and A level. Graduates in the subject have a high success rate in finding employment, a fact which is attributed to the ‘relevance’ of the subject in an ever-changing, environmentally conscious world and to the broad range of skills and knowledge it covers. These skills and awareness of different cultures are highly regarded by international employers.

The IGCSE Geography course is designed to encourage a sense of place and an understanding of relative location on a local, regional and global scale. Through a study of the characteristics and distribution of a selection of contrasting physical and human environments, students will come to understand some of the processes which affect the development of these environments. They will gain an insight into the spatial effects of the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environments.

Together with a wider understanding of different communities and cultures throughout the world, students will come to appreciate the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments.

Through the Cambridge IGCSE Geography syllabus, learners will develop a ‘sense of place’ by looking at the world around them on a local, regional and global scale. Learners will examine a range of natural and man-made environments, and study some of the processes which 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.

The following three themes will be studied at IGCSE:

• Population and Settlement • The Natural Environment • Economic Development and the use of resources.

Assessment

Paper 1 Geographical Themes (1hr 45 minutes; 75 marks) Paper 2 Geographical Skills (1hr 30 minutes; 60 marks) Paper 4 Alternative to coursework (1hr 30 minutes; 60 marks)

IGCSE History (0470)

The study of history encourages students to develop a range and variety of skills. Students will be expected to read, research and review source material from different periods of the 20th century. In their written responses and essays they will be expected to write fluently and communicate clearly.

The IGCSE History syllabus offers students the opportunity to study some of the major international issues of the 20th Century as well as looking in greater depth at the history of a particular region. The emphasis within the syllabus is shared between the development of historical skills as well as the acquisition of contextual knowledge. It also encourages a lifelong interest in the subject.

The aims of the IGCSE History course are as follows:

• Promote the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of human activity in

the past

• Ensure that the candidates use of historical evidence to draw conclusions • Promote an understanding of the nature of cause and consequence, continuity

and change, similarity and difference

• Encourage international understanding • Develop a writing style that communicates thoughts and ideas coherently

Assessment:

Paper 1 – Core Content and Depth Studies: 2 hours - 60 marks (40% of grade)

In Section A students will choose and answer 2 out of 4 questions on the 20th century, selected from the seven topics in Core Content: Option B. In Section B students will choose and answer 1 question (from 2 choices) from the Depth Study.

Core content:

The Core Content in Option B focuses on seven Key Questions:

1 Were the peace treaties of 1919 - 1923 fair? 2 To what extent was the League of Nations a success? 3 Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? 4 Who was to blame for the Cold War? 5 How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism? 6 How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948 - 1989? 7 Why did events in the Gulf matter, 1970 - 2000?

Paper 2 – 20th Century topics Option B: 2 hours - 50 marks (33% of grade)

This exam contains a collection of source material relating to the Core Content, with a series of analysis questions from Topic 3 - Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? (June

examination, 2023)

Paper 3: Student’s will produce one piece of extended writing, up to 2000 words in length, based on content taken from the Depth Study. (Starts in Year 10 with a deadline in March of Year 11).

OR:

Paper 4: Alternative to Coursework: 1 hour - 40 Marks (27% of grade)

Each of the Depth Studies requires candidates to answer one, non-structured question from a choice of two on their chosen Depth Study. The question is worth 40 marks.