Revision guide
IB Geography
Case studies, fieldwork, and the real-world reasoning skills that define IB Geography performance.
IB Geography bridges the physical and human sciences, and its assessment rewards students who can connect local case studies to broader geographical processes and evaluate the evidence for competing explanations. The course has more content than most students expect: core topics, options, HL extensions, and fieldwork combine into a significant knowledge base. However, the grade is ultimately decided by how well you can apply that knowledge to unseen scenarios and questions in the exam.
The most effective Geography students learn their case studies in two directions: they know the specific details (named places, statistics, dates, policy names), and they know how each case illustrates broader geographical concepts (spatial variation, sustainability, interdependence). Without the specifics, answers are vague; without the conceptual framing, detailed case studies don't transfer to unseen questions.
How you're assessed
Paper 1 (Core Themes — SL and HL)
Three compulsory core topics: Freshwater — local and global challenges; Oceans and coastal margins; Extreme environments. Short-answer and extended-response questions. Statistics, graphs, maps and photographs appear throughout — practise interpreting data and integrating it into your answers rather than ignoring it.
Paper 2 (Optional Themes)
Two optional themes from a choice of seven (Urban environments, Food and health, Tourism, etc.). Extended-response questions require a structured argument with case-study evidence. Most teachers cover two options thoroughly — know both at the same level of detail.
Paper 3 (HL only — Global Interactions)
Two extended essays on the HL core topic (Global interactions). Questions are broad and require you to draw on material from across the course, not just the HL extension. The best answers synthesise human and physical geography concepts.
Internal Assessment (Fieldwork)
A fieldwork investigation of 2,500 words (SL) or 2,500 words with additional fieldwork (HL). The IA must follow a clear methodology, present data using appropriate geographical techniques, and evaluate results against theoretical frameworks. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping earns credit when it illuminates spatial patterns the written analysis discusses.
How to revise
Build case study cards with statistics
Each case study needs: name, location, key statistics, what it illustrates, and how it connects to the theoretical concept. 'The Maldives faces sea level rise' is too vague; '1.2m projected sea level rise by 2100 threatens 80% of the Maldives' land area, illustrating the vulnerability of low-lying SIDS to climate-driven geophysical hazards' is exam-ready.
Practise data-response questions under time pressure
Paper 1 data-response questions trip up students who haven't practised reading graphs, tables, and maps quickly. Set a 10-minute timer and practise describing what the data shows, identifying anomalies, and explaining the pattern — the exam rarely asks you just to describe, but description is the necessary first step.
Learn evaluation vocabulary for extended responses
Examiners reward analysis and evaluation. Move from description ('unemployment is high in this area') to explanation ('high unemployment reflects the decline of primary industry following trade liberalisation') to evaluation ('however, the relationship is spatially variable: coastal areas retained manufacturing while inland areas deindustrialised faster').
Connect case studies across topics
The best extended responses draw on case studies from multiple parts of the course to support a general geographical argument. A question about sustainability can draw on freshwater management, urban planning, and tourism case studies together. Practise writing multi-case-study paragraphs.
Mistakes examiners see every year
Describing rather than explaining: 'Population is dense in this area' earns nothing without the geographical reason.
Ignoring data provided in the question — examiners expect you to reference it, even in extended responses.
Using the same two or three case studies for every question — examiners penalise narrow case-study dependency at the higher mark bands.
Not naming places specifically: 'a city in China' is weaker than 'Shanghai' in every context.
For the IA: collecting data without a clear hypothesis or research question defined in advance.
What's in the syllabus
Changing population
Population distribution · Demographic transition · Migration · Ageing societies · Population policies
Global climate
Climate vulnerability · Extreme weather · Climate change causes · Adaptation · Mitigation
Global resource consumption
Water scarcity · Food security · Energy security · Resource stewardship · Sustainable development
Geographic perspectives
Power and place · Human development · Global interactions · Urban systems · Geopolitical risks
Geographic skills
Maps · Graphs · Data response · Fieldwork methods · Evaluation of sources
Frequently asked questions
How many case studies do I need?
For SL, a solid working set of eight to ten case studies across the core and options is enough. For HL, add three to four for the global interactions component. Depth beats breadth — two cases you know in detail beat six you know vaguely.
Is Geography more physical or human?
The IB course is roughly balanced, and many questions reward students who can link the two. The best extended responses connect physical processes (river dynamics, climate patterns) to their human consequences (migration, policy responses, equity implications).
Is the IA fieldwork done at school?
Yes — teachers supervise the fieldwork component, though students write up independently. Choose a research question that's genuinely answerable with the data you can collect in your local area, not one that requires data you'll have to look up later.
Put this guide into practice
Everything above — topic-filtered practice questions, spaced-repetition flashcards, and a syllabus checklist for Geography — is free on Baccly.
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