THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Physical geography, regional geography and investigation are core. The elective and Higher Level option are choices, not extra compulsory topics for everybody.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
For the 2027 examination, use the syllabus linked below. A new specification introduced in September 2026 applies to the 2028 examination cohort, not this one.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Geography assessed?
- Written examination: 80%.
- Geographical investigation report: 20%.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Choose economic activities OR the human environment. Higher Level then adds ONE of global interdependence, geoecology, culture and identity, or the atmosphere-ocean environment.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
Both levels study the three core units and one elective. Higher Level also studies one optional unit. The Higher Level option card is not an Ordinary Level requirement.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Physical processes
Landforms and the processes shaping the physical environment.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How did a particular landform develop?
Draw a labelled sequence and connect each feature to its process.
Regional geography
Characteristics, development and comparisons of regions.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Why do two regions develop differently?
Use located examples and explain the relationship between factors.
Maps, data & photographs
Interpreting geographical evidence.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What can a map support, and what can it not tell you?
Quote a specific feature, location or value before making an inference.
Geographical investigation
Planning, fieldwork, presentation and evaluation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Does the method provide enough evidence for your conclusion?
Connect each method to an aim and acknowledge sampling limitations.
Your elective
Economic activities OR the human environment.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a process affect people or economic activity in a named place?
Check which elective your class studies before collecting examples.
Higher Level option
One of the four optional areas specified in the syllabus.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Can you build a connected argument about an issue in your chosen option?
Plan a line of reasoning and use examples to support it; this card is HL only.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Record your elective and, at Higher Level, your option.
- Practise process diagrams and evidence-based map responses.
- Keep named examples precise and linked to the point they illustrate.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Geography (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Geography: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Syllabus structure, pages 4–6; core, elective and optional units.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.