Landscapes of the UK
You must make sure you are confident about the distribution of areas of upland, lowland and glaciated landscapes. This should include an overview of the distinctive characteristics of these landscapes including their geology, climate and human activity (pp.4-11).You must be able to define the main geomorphic processes including types of weathering (mechanical, chemical and biological), mass movement (sliding and slumping), erosion (abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution), transportation (traction, saltation, suspension and solution) and deposition (pp.12-15).
You should be clear about the formation of the range of landforms created by rivers and how they change with distance from their source within a river basin. The key landforms are waterfalls, gorges, V-shaped valleys, floodplains, levees, meanders and oxbow lakes (pp.16-19).
You must make sure you are confident about the range of landforms found within the coastal landscape. So you need to be able to both describe (say what it looks like) and explain their formation (write about the processes needed, and stages that are involved, to create the feature). You must know about all of the following features: headlands and bays, (pp.20-21) caves, arches, stacks, (p.21) beaches and spits (pp.22-23.)
You must also be clear about your two case studies - one of a river valley 24-26) and another of a coastline (pp.27-29). In these case studies, you need to be clear about their locations as well as geomorphic processes operating at different scales. You should be able to describe and explain, whether erosion or deposition is more significant in certain places.
You should know how these processes are influenced by geology and climate. You should be clear about the landforms and features associated with your case studies and how human activity, including management, works in combination with geomorphic processes to impact the landscape.
People of the UK
You need to be confident about describing, and offering explanations for, Britain's role in the world and its connections with other countries. This should include an overview of the UK's current major trading partners and include our principal exports and imports (pp.31-33). You should also be clear about the different aspects of the UK's geographical diversity. This should cover patterns of employment, average income, life expectancy, educational attainment, ethnicity and access to broadband (pp.34-37).You need to recognise the causes of uneven development within the UK. This understanding should include important factors such as geographical location, economic change, infrastructure and government policies (pp.38-40). You should learn examples from around the UK to show your depth of understanding of these issues.
You must also learn about one case study covering the consequences of economic growth and/or decline for one place or region in the UK. The case study in this book is Salford Quays (p.41-43) which has seen economic growth, decline and subsequent regeneration over the last 120 years.
You need to be aware of the changes in the UK's population structure from 1900 to the present day. This includes the UK's changing position on the Demographic Transition Model. You should learn about the causes, effects and responses to an ageing population in the UK (pp44-48). You should be able to outline the main flows of migration in the 21st Century and recognise some of the social and economic impacts of migration on the UK (pp.49-52).
You should be able to describe the causes of urban trends such as suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation and re-urbanisation. When discussing these issues you should be able to identify the social, economic and environmental consequences of contrasting urban trends (pp53-56).
Finally, you must have a case study of one major city. The book focuses on Manchester (pp.57-62). You need to recognise the influence of the city on the region, the country and the wider world. You should be aware of patterns of migration from both Britain and abroad and how this has shaped the city's growth and character. You should identify different ways of life within the city, including in culture, ethnicity, housing, leisure and consumption. Finally, you need to be able to describe any contemporary urban challenges. This will include housing availability, transport provision and waste management. You should be aware of sustainable strategies to overcome one of the city's challenges.
UK Environmental Challenges
For the last unit in the UK, you need to know how air masses, the North Atlantic Drift and continentality influence the weather in the UK. This must include how air masses cause extreme weather conditions in the UK, including extremes of wind, temperature and precipitation (pages 63-65).You need to study a case study of one UK flood event caused by extreme weather conditions. This book covers the Cumbrian floods of 2015. You must remember the causes of the flood event, including the extreme weather conditions which led to the event. You should remember some of the effects of the flood event on people and the environment plus the management of the flood event at a variety of scales (pages 66-67).
Following from floods, you must have an overview of how environments and ecosystems in the UK are used and modified by humans (pages 69-73). This understanding must include the mechanisation of farming and commercial fishing to provide food. You should also be aware of how wind farms and fracking provide energy and impact on the environment. You should also be aware of a reservoir and a water transfer scheme.
When studying energy you should identify both renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how they contribute to energy supply in the UK (pages 74-77).
You must study the changing patterns of energy supply and demand in the UK (pages 78-86). An awareness of how changes have been influenced by government decision making and international organisations is also important. You should be aware of strategies for sustainable use and management of energy at a local and UK level and whether these have been successful.
Finally, you should be confident to discuss the development of renewable energy in the UK and the impacts on people and the environment.
