About National 5 Geography
Split into three sections: Physical, Human and Global Issues.
Exam is worth 80% of final grade. The other 20% is for your SQA assignment which you will complete during the year.
What do I need to know?
| Physical Environments |
| Weather |
| · Factors affecting rainfall and temperature in the UK |
| · Air masses and associated weather – effects on UK |
| · High pressure systems (anticyclones) – weather in summer and winter, ability to read a synoptic chart. |
| · Low pressure systems (depressions) – passage of a depression, ability to read a synoptic chart. |
| Upland Limestone |
| · Formation of limestone features – limestone pavement, cave, stalagmites, stalactites |
| · Land use and conflicts – farming, industry (quarrying), recreation and tourism, conservation, renewable energy |
| Rivers and their valleys |
| · Formation of river features – v-shaped valley, waterfall, meander, ox-bow lake, levee |
| · Land use along a river – forestry, water storage, renewable energy, farming |
| Human Environments |
| Population |
| · Social and economic indicators of development |
| · Physical and human factors which influence the global distribution of population |
| · Population change – factors influencing birth and death rates |
| Urban |
| · The characteristics of land use zones in a city in the developed world e.g. Edinburgh (CBD, inner city, suburbs) – be able to do this alongside side a OS Map. |
| · Developments/changes in a city in the developed world e.g. Edinburgh (changes in CBD, inner city (Leith), rural/urban fringe, traffic) |
| · Dealing with shanty towns in a city in a developing country e.g. Rio de Janeiro |
| Rural |
| · Modern developments in farming in a developed country e.g. UK (diversification, new technology, organic farming, GM, current government policy) – explain change + explain impacts. |
| · Modern developments in farming in a developing country e.g. India (GM, new technology, biofuels) – explain change + explain impacts. |
| Global Issues |
| Health |
| · Describe graphs/maps related to health issues throughout the world. |
| · Causes, impacts and controlling for three different diseases: developed world (heart disease), developing world (malaria), developed+developing (HIV/Aids) |
| Climate Change |
| · Describe graphs/maps showing evidence of climate change |
| · Causes of climate change – physical and human |
| · Effects of climate change – local and global |
| · Strategies to minimise impacts/effects |
| OS Mapwork (present in physical and human sections) |
| · Identify river and limestone features. |
| · Cross Section on a map. |
| · Ability to use and understand scale. |
| · Describe rivers and their valleys. |
| · Identify different urban land use zones + justify your choice. |
GeoMrSmith 