Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management

The syllabus is designed to teach learners about sustainable development in a world where the security of resources and life-sustaining systems is endangered by human impact. It draws upon disciplines such as biology, Earth science, geography and economics. Learners gain an understanding of the Earth’s natural systems and how people use natural resources; they then investigate the impact of human development on the environment and learn how the environment can be managed sustainably in the future, from a local as well as a global perspective.

Aims of the Syllabus

The aims are to enable candidates to acquire:
• Knowledge of natural systems which make life possible on Earth
• An understanding that humans are part of these systems and depend on them
• An appreciation of the diverse infl uences of human activity on natural systems
• An awareness of the need to manage natural systems
• An understanding of sustainable development to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• A sense of responsibility and concern for the welfare of the environment and all organisms
• An awareness of their own values concerning environmental issues
• An awareness of the values of others
• A willingness to review their own attitudes in the light of new knowledge and experiences
• A sound basis for further study, personal development and participation in local and global environmental concerns.

Syllabus

1. Rocks and minerals and their exploitation
2. Energy and the environment
3. Agriculture and the environment
4. Water and its management
5. Oceans and fi sheries
6. Managing natural hazards
7. The atmosphere and human activities
8. Human population
9. Natural ecosystems and human activities

Objectives of the Assessment

1. Knowledge and understanding
Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, of:

1. Phenomena, facts, defi nitions, concepts and theories
2. Vocabulary, terminology and conventions
3. Technological applications with their social, economic and environmental implications.

2. Information handling and analysis
Candidates should be able, in words or using other forms of presentation (e.g. graphical or numerical), in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, to:

1. Locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources
2. Translate information and evidence from one form to another
3. Manipulate numerical data
4. Interpret and evaluate data, report trends and draw inferences.

3. Investigation skills and making judgements
Candidates should be able, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, to:

1. Plan investigations
2. Identify limitations of methods and suggest possible improvements
3. Present reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships
4. Make reasoned judgements and reach conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative information.

Assessment

Paper 1
Theory
Externally assessed. The paper will consist of two sections:
Section A
Short-answer and structured questions.
(20 marks)
Section B
Short-answer and extended response questions based on related source material.
(60 marks)
80 marks
Weighting- 50%
1 hour 45 minutes

Paper 2
Management in context
Externally assessed. A written paper consisting of short-answer, data processing and analysis, and extended response questions based on source material. Candidates will be expected to make use of information from the source material to help illustrate
issues of environmental management.
80 marks
1 hour 45 minutes

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