IB Geography SL Explained: Syllabus, IA Guide, and Key Benefits for Students

IB Geography SL: Complete Guide

1. Core Topics (Compulsory)
First, all SL students must study the following three essential units:

🌍 Core Unit 1: Population and Development
This unit covers population change, population pyramids, and population policies. Moreover, it explores development gaps, the impact of globalization, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

🌳 Core Unit 2: Global Climate Change and Environmental Management
Students examine the climate system, global warming, and extreme weather events. Additionally, environmental policies such as the Paris Agreement, carbon footprints, and renewable energy are discussed.

🏙️ Core Unit 3: Global Resource Consumption and Sustainability
This section focuses on water resources, food security, and the energy crisis. Consequently, students learn about resource management strategies like the circular economy.

2. Elective Topics (Choose Two)
Besides the core units, students select two electives. Common choices include:

• Urban Environments (urbanization, slums, smart cities)
• Oceans and Coastal Management (coral reef degradation, coastal erosion)
• Risks and Disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, disaster management)
• Leisure and Tourism (eco-tourism, overtourism)

3. Internal Assessment (IA)
Internal Assessment accounts for 25% of the total score. Here, students must conduct fieldwork and write a 2500-word report. For example, research topics may include urban heat island effects, river erosion and deposition, or pedestrian flow patterns in commercial areas.

4. External Exams (75%)
Paper 1 (35%): Covers multiple-choice and short-answer questions on core topics (1 hour 30 minutes).
Paper 2 (40%): Focuses on essay questions about elective topics (1 hour 30 minutes).

IB Geography SL vs. HL Differences

Aspect	SL (Standard Level)	HL (Higher Level)
Teaching hours	150 hours	240 hours
Core topics	3 units	3 units (deeper content)
Electives	Choose 2	Choose 3
Exam difficulty	Basic level	More advanced, includes HL extension

Who is it for?
If you are interested in environmental and social issues, and enjoy a cross-disciplinary approach combining science and humanities, this course suits you well. Furthermore, it’s ideal if you plan to study environmental science, urban planning, international relations, or economics in university.

Advantages of IB Geography SL

• Practical learning: Understand how to analyze global issues like climate change and resource shortages.
• Develop research skills: Enhance data collection and analysis through fieldwork (IA).
• Gain international perspective: Study cases from different countries to grasp global inequalities and sustainable development challenges.

Summary
In conclusion, IB Geography SL is an interdisciplinary subject combining natural and social sciences. It emphasizes critical thinking, data analysis, and sustainability. Moreover, it lays a strong foundation for university courses in environmental science, sociology, economics, and related fields. Therefore, if you care about global issues, IB Geography SL is a valuable choice! 🌎📊

Note: Information is for reference only. For official details, please visit the IB website: www.ibo.org
Draft written and organized by AI; edited by Professor Chen Guowei, Chief Editor Jiang Yiliang.

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