EnglandGeography

Human geography

23 dot points across 23 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How is Antarctica governed as a global common, what threats does it face, and how effective is its protection?

Antarctica as a global common; the threats from climate change, fishing, tourism, mineral exploitation and scientific research; the Antarctic Treaty System and its protocols; and the role of governance and NGOs in protecting Antarctica.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.1 case study of Antarctica as a global common, covering the threats from climate change, fishing, tourism, mineral interest and research, the Antarctic Treaty System and its protocols, and the role of governance and NGOs in protecting Antarctica.
12 min answer →

What gives a place its character and meaning, and how do internal and external forces change it over time?

The concepts of place, space and meaning; insider and outsider perspectives; endogenous and exogenous factors; how relationships and connections shape places; and the representation and rebranding of places.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.2, covering the concepts of place, space and meaning, insider and outsider perspectives, endogenous and exogenous factors, how connections shape places over time, and the representation and rebranding of places.
11 min answer →

How is the world becoming more urban, and how can cities be made socially and environmentally sustainable?

Urbanisation and its processes; urban forms and social and economic issues; the urban climate and ecological footprint; urban drainage and waste; and strategies for managing sustainable urban environments.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3, covering urbanisation and its processes, urban forms and social and economic issues, the urban climate and ecological footprint, urban drainage and waste, and strategies for sustainable urban living.
13 min answer →

What determines energy security, and how can countries secure a sustainable energy supply?

The components of energy security; global patterns of energy supply, demand and trade; the geopolitics of energy; and strategies to manage and improve energy security including renewables and efficiency.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.5 content on energy security, covering the components of energy security, global patterns of supply, demand and trade, the geopolitics of energy, and strategies to improve energy security including renewables and efficiency.
12 min answer →

What shapes global food production, what causes food insecurity, and how can food security be improved?

The environmental and human controls on food production; agricultural systems; the concept and components of food security; the causes and consequences of food insecurity and famine; and strategies to increase food security.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.4 content on food production and security, covering the environmental and human controls on food production, agricultural systems, the concept and components of food security, the causes and consequences of food insecurity and famine, and strategies to increase food security.
12 min answer →

How is the global system governed, and how are the global commons managed and protected?

The concept and forms of global governance; international institutions, laws, norms and agreements; the global commons; the tragedy of the commons; and the challenges of governing shared global spaces.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.1 content on global governance and the global commons, covering the concept and forms of global governance, international institutions, laws and agreements, the global commons, the tragedy of the commons, and the challenges of governing shared global spaces.
12 min answer →

How does globalisation connect the world, and how is the global commons governed in an unequal system?

Globalisation and global systems; international trade, capital flows and migration; the role of transnational corporations; unequal power relations; and the global governance of the oceans and Antarctica as global commons.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.1, covering globalisation and global systems, international trade, capital flows and migration, transnational corporations, unequal power relations, and the global governance of the oceans and Antarctica.
12 min answer →

What is globalisation, what drives it, and how has it deepened the interconnection of people and places?

The dimensions of globalisation; the factors driving it including technology, transport, finance and transnational corporations; the global shift; and the lengthening and deepening of global connections.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.1 content on globalisation, covering its economic, social, cultural and political dimensions, the drivers including technology, transport, finance and transnational corporations, the global shift, and the deepening of global connections.
12 min answer →

How does health vary globally, and how do environment and society shape disease and health risk?

Global patterns of health, morbidity and mortality; DALYs and the epidemiological transition; the global distribution of infectious and non-communicable disease; and the environmental and social factors influencing health and disease.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.4 content on health and health risk, covering global patterns of health, morbidity and mortality, DALYs and the epidemiological transition, the distribution of infectious and non-communicable disease, and the environmental and social factors influencing health.
12 min answer →

How does international trade work, who controls access to markets, and why are the benefits unevenly shared?

Patterns and trends in international trade and investment; trading blocs, trade agreements and access to markets; differential access and its consequences; and the role of trade in development and inequality.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.1 content on international trade and access to markets, covering patterns and trends in trade and investment, trading blocs and agreements, differential access to markets, and the role of trade in development and global inequality.
12 min answer →

How is the meaning of a place created and represented, and how do different representations shape our perception?

How places are perceived and given meaning; insider and outsider perspectives; the representation of place through media, art, statistics and lived experience; and how representations shape attachment and identity.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.2 content on the meaning and representation of place, covering how places are perceived and given meaning, insider and outsider perspectives, representation through media, art, statistics and lived experience, and how representations shape attachment and identity.
12 min answer →

Why are mineral ores and phosphorus security concerns, and how can these finite resources be managed?

Mineral ore security; the global distribution, supply and demand of mineral ores; phosphorus security and its importance for food production; the consequences of insecurity; and strategies to manage these finite resources.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.5 content on mineral ore and phosphorus security, covering the global distribution, supply and demand of mineral ores, the importance of phosphorus for food production, the consequences of insecurity, and strategies to manage these finite resources.
12 min answer →

How do the place studies work, and how do we investigate a local and a distant place?

The requirement for a local place study and a contrasting/distant place study; using qualitative and quantitative sources; investigating the development of a place's character, meaning and change; and comparing lived experience across places.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.2 place studies requirement, covering the local and distant place studies, using qualitative and quantitative sources, investigating a place's changing character and meaning, and comparing lived experience across contrasting places.
12 min answer →

How do environment, population and health interact, and can the planet support a growing global population?

Environment and population relationships; food, health and disease; the demographic transition and population change; the natural-resource and carrying-capacity debate; and the principles of population ecology applied to people.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.4, covering environment and population relationships, food and health, the demographic transition, population change, and the debate over carrying capacity and natural resources.
13 min answer →

How and why do populations change, and what does the demographic transition model reveal?

Natural population change; the demographic transition model and its stages; population structure and population pyramids; and migration and its causes and consequences for source and destination areas.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.4 content on population change, covering natural change, the demographic transition model and its stages, population structure and pyramids, and migration and its causes and consequences for source and destination areas.
12 min answer →

Can the Earth support its growing population, and how do Malthusian and Boserupian views differ?

The concepts of overpopulation, underpopulation and optimum population; carrying capacity and ecological footprint; and the Malthusian, neo-Malthusian and Boserupian perspectives on population and resources.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.4 content on the principles of population ecology, covering overpopulation, underpopulation and optimum population, carrying capacity and ecological footprint, and the Malthusian, neo-Malthusian and Boserupian perspectives on population and resources.
12 min answer →

How secure is the global supply of water, energy and minerals, and how can these resources be managed sustainably?

Resource development and the concept of resource security; the global supply, demand and management of water, energy and a mineral resource; resource futures; and the role of players and sustainability.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.5, covering resource development and security, the global supply, demand and management of water, energy and ore minerals, resource futures, and the players involved in sustainable management.
12 min answer →

What makes a city sustainable, and how can urban living be made more sustainable?

The concept of sustainable urban development and liveability; the characteristics of a sustainable city; strategies for sustainable transport, waste, energy, water and green space; and the ecological and carbon footprint of cities.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3 content on sustainable urban development, covering the concept of sustainability and liveability, the characteristics of a sustainable city, strategies for transport, waste, energy, water and green space, and the ecological and carbon footprint of cities.
12 min answer →

How do cities alter the local climate, and how can urban air quality be managed?

The urban heat island effect; the impact of urban areas on precipitation, fog and wind; urban air quality and pollution; and policies to reduce urban air pollution.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3 content on urban climate, covering the urban heat island effect, the impact of cities on precipitation, fog and wind, urban air quality and pollution, and policies to reduce urban air pollution.
12 min answer →

How does urbanisation change drainage and generate waste, and how are these managed?

The impact of urbanisation on catchment hydrology and flood risk; sustainable urban drainage systems and river restoration; the generation of urban waste; and the options and issues of urban waste disposal.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3 content on urban drainage and waste, covering the impact of urbanisation on catchment hydrology and flood risk, sustainable urban drainage systems and river restoration, urban waste generation, and waste disposal options and issues.
12 min answer →

What shapes the form of cities, and what social and economic issues arise from urban living?

Urban form and land-use models; new urban landscapes and the postmodern western city; social and economic inequality in urban areas; and cultural diversity and the issues of multicultural urban societies.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3 content on urban forms, covering urban form and land-use models, new urban landscapes and the postmodern western city, social and economic inequality, and cultural diversity and multiculturalism in urban areas.
12 min answer →

How and why are cities growing and changing, and what are megacities and world cities?

The process and causes of urbanisation; megacities and world cities; suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation and re-urbanisation; and urban policy and regeneration in Britain since 1979.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.3 content on urbanisation, covering the process and causes of urbanisation, megacities and world cities, suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation and re-urbanisation, and urban policy and regeneration in Britain since 1979.
12 min answer →

What causes water insecurity, what conflicts does it create, and how can water security be managed?

The components of water security; global patterns of water supply and demand; physical and economic water scarcity; the causes and consequences of water insecurity and conflict; and strategies to manage water security.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Geography 3.2.5 content on water security, covering the components of water security, global patterns of supply and demand, physical and economic water scarcity, the causes and consequences of water insecurity and conflict, and strategies to manage water security.
12 min answer →