Sixth Form Subject Guide 2019-2021 REDRAFTED Sixth Form Choices Guide | Page 60
Higher Level: Three written exams sat at the end of the second year, and Internal Assessment.
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (Standard Level)
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Miss F Gathercole ([email protected])
Entry Requirements No specific subject requirements, just an interest in the world.
Where next? As an interdisciplinary subject it allows flexibility within the IB programme and prepares students
for any degree with ecological content and supports a degree leading to a Biological Science or
for those who study Geography.
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
Foundations of environmental systems and societies
- Environmental value systems, sustainability and pollution
Ecosystems and ecology
- Species, populations, biomes, zonation and ecosystems
Biodiversity and conservation
- Origins, threats and conservation of biodiversity
Water and aquatic food production systems and societies
- Access to fresh water, aquatic food production systems and water pollution
Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies
- Soil, terrestrial food production systems, soil degradation and conservation
Atmospheric systems and societies
- The atmosphere, stratospheric ozone, photochemical smog, and acid deposition
Climate change and energy production
- Energy choice, energy security and climate change
Human systems and resource use
- Population dynamics, resource use, solid domestic waste and human carrying capacity
HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?
The course culminates in two linear examinations, sat at the end of two years.
Paper 1 – a case study – worth 25%;
Paper 2 – short answers and structured essays – worth 50%
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