§-Geography syllabus
NSW · NESA← Geography
Geography syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the NSW Geography syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Focus Area: Ecosystems and global biodiversity (2022 syllabus)
Module overview →Why is biodiversity distributed unevenly across the globe, and what frameworks help us identify the most significant regions?
Analyse spatial patterns of biodiversity at global scale, including biodiversity hotspots, centres of endemism, the latitudinal gradient, and the principles of island biogeography
How does biodiversity loss affect ecosystem services, and what management strategies operate at different scales?
Analyse the value of ecosystem services and the drivers of global biodiversity loss; evaluate conservation strategies (protected areas, restoration, global agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES)
How do ecosystems function as systems of biotic and abiotic interactions, and how are they distributed at different scales?
Investigate ecosystems as systems of biotic and abiotic interactions; analyse energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and the spatial distribution of major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
How does the Great Barrier Reef illustrate the function, threats and management of a globally significant ecosystem?
Apply ecosystem and biodiversity concepts to the Great Barrier Reef as a case study: biophysical features, threats (bleaching, runoff, crown-of-thorns starfish), and management responses (GBRMPA, zoning, Reef 2050 Plan, Traditional Owner partnerships)
What strategies are used to manage and conserve ecosystems and biodiversity at different scales, and how effective are they?
Evaluate management and conservation strategies for ecosystems and biodiversity at different scales, including in-situ and ex-situ conservation, protected area frameworks, restoration, Indigenous land management, and global agreements
What are the major drivers of biodiversity loss, and how do they interact at different scales?
Analyse the natural and human-induced causes of change to ecosystems and biodiversity, including the HIPPO framework and the role of climate change; refer to the IUCN Red List and named threatened species
Focus Area: Global sustainability (2022 syllabus)
Module overview →How do global-scale environmental challenges shape sustainability across places, and how do different stakeholders respond?
Investigate climate change as a global sustainability challenge: causes, spatial patterns of impact, stakeholder responses, and the role of international agreements (Paris Agreement, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change)
How do patterns of economic inequality shape global sustainability, and what mechanisms exist to narrow the development gap?
Investigate global economic inequality and development: measures of development (HDI, GDP per capita), the development gap between the Global North and Global South, and the role of trade, aid, debt and the Sustainable Development Goals
How do patterns of population change vary across the world, and what are the sustainability implications of ageing and rapid-growth populations?
Investigate global population change: the demographic transition model, population pyramids, ageing populations in developed countries, rapid growth in lower-income countries, urbanisation, and policy responses
How does globalisation shape flows of goods, capital, labour and information, and what are the sustainability implications of integrated and fragile supply chains?
Investigate globalisation as a process of flows: trade, capital, labour and information; the role of trade agreements (WTO, RCEP, CPTPP); supply chain fragility; winners and losers; deglobalisation pressures and impacts on Australia
How do international agreements and multi-scale stakeholders respond to global sustainability challenges, and what are the strengths and limits of this framework?
Investigate international agreements and stakeholders responding to global sustainability challenges: the UN framework, UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, the SDGs, COP conferences, and the roles of NGOs, multinational corporations and individuals
How do current patterns of resource use threaten global sustainability, and how does a circular economy reframe the challenge?
Investigate global resource use and the circular economy: finite resources, planetary boundaries, the linear-to-circular transition, and the interconnection of food, water and energy security
Focus Area: Rural and urban places (2022 syllabus)
Module overview →How are economic activities spatially distributed between rural and urban places, and how does this distribution shape places over time?
Investigate economic activities in rural and urban places: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors; agglomeration economies; mining boom-and-bust cycles; food production and rural Australia's economic role
How is liveability measured, and how does it vary between and within cities?
Investigate liveability and urban quality of life: liveability metrics and indices, named liveable cities, intra-city inequalities, the 15-minute city concept, and the challenge of maintaining liveability as cities grow
How are rural and urban places planned and managed, and how do stakeholders at different scales shape outcomes?
Investigate planning and management of rural and urban places: planning instruments (LEPs, planning schemes), transport infrastructure, housing policy, sustainable urban planning, regional development programs, and the stakeholders involved
How do spatial characteristics, processes and challenges of rural places change with scale and over time?
Investigate the spatial patterns of rural places: settlement patterns (dispersed, nucleated, linear), the rural-urban continuum, drivers of rural change, and the decline of small Australian country towns
How are urban places spatially organised, and how do land-use patterns change with scale and over time?
Investigate urban morphology and land use: CBD, inner, middle and outer suburbs; land-use models (Burgess, Hoyt, multiple nuclei); spatial inequality, gentrification, and urban consolidation versus sprawl
How do the spatial characteristics, processes and challenges of urban places change with scale and over time?
Investigate urbanisation as a global process: spatial patterns, mega-cities (10 million+ population), drivers, and challenges including informal settlements, infrastructure, liveability and inequity