IB Diploma Programme Geography (SL & HL)
All the core IB Geography techniques in one place โ themes overview, SL/HL core content, quantitative formulas, map skills, the fieldwork IA, and exam technique for Papers 1, 2 and 3.
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Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam boardโs official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
IB Geography rewards conceptual understanding, named case studies with statistics, and the confident use of quantitative methods. This reference sheet pulls together themes content, SL and HL core, demographic and development formulas, map skills, the fieldwork IA framework, and the exam technique you need to score in the top bands at SL and HL.
Part 1 themes โ choose 2 of 7 (SL) or 3 of 7 (HL) with named examples and processes
SL Core (global change) and HL Core (global interactions) frameworks
Quantitative skills โ CBR, CDR, IMR, TFR, dependency ratio, HDI, Gini coefficient
Fieldwork IA โ 2,500-word report structure and exam technique for Papers 1โ3
Each theme is a unit of named places, processes and concepts. Always learn 2โ3 named case studies per theme.
The hydrological cycle, drainage basin processes and human water management.
Inputs (precipitation), stores (channels, soil, groundwater), transfers (infiltration, throughflow, runoff) and outputs (evapotranspiration, river discharge); flooding causes and management; competing demands for water. Ocean systems, coastal processes and human interactions.
Ocean currents and atmospheric circulation; coastal erosion/deposition landforms; coral reefs and managed coastlines; geopolitics of maritime resources (UNCLOS, fisheries). Cold, hot-arid, and high-altitude environments โ challenges and opportunities.
Distribution and characteristics; physical processes (glaciation, weathering); human adaptation; pressures of tourism, mining and climate change. Earthquakes, volcanoes, mass movements and tsunamis.
Plate tectonics and hazard distribution; vulnerability vs hazard magnitude (Pressure & Release model); risk = hazard ร vulnerability รท capacity; mitigation, prediction and response. Patterns and trends in global leisure, with sustainability tensions.
Butler's tourism area life cycle (exploration โ involvement โ development โ consolidation โ stagnation โ decline/rejuvenation); ecotourism; mega-events (Olympics, FIFA World Cup) and legacy. Patterns of food and health, and inequalities.
Global food systems; calorie intake and the nutrition transition; epidemiological transition (infectious โ chronic); food insecurity hotspots; named diseases โ malaria, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 โ patterns and responses. Urban growth, form and management.
Urbanisation, suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation, re-urbanisation; megacities (>10m); land-use models (Burgess, Hoyt); housing, transport and sustainable urban strategies (smart cities, BRT). Compulsory for ALL students. Examined in Paper 2 (SL & HL).
Patterns, drivers and demographic structure.
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
Stage 1: high CBR & CDR ยท Stage 2: CDR falls (sanitation, medicine) ยท Stage 3: CBR falls (urbanisation, female education) ยท Stage 4: low CBR & CDR ยท Stage 5: CDR > CBR (ageing). Age-sex pyramids
Read shape: expansive (LICs, wide base), constrictive (HICs, narrow base), stationary (steady CBR/CDR). Dependency ratio
Calculate and interpret youth and elderly dependency burdens. Causes, consequences and responses to climate change.
Enhanced greenhouse effect; vulnerability (LICs, low-lying states, SIDS); resilience (mitigation, adaptation); named examples โ Maldives, Bangladesh, Tuvalu โ and international frameworks (Paris Agreement, COP). Pressures on water, food, energy and the resource nexus.
Ecological footprint; water-food-energy nexus; circular economy; named strategies โ desalination, urban farming, transitions to renewables. Where SL Core meets HL Core in interconnected world systems.
Trade flows, capital flows, labour flows, information flows; KOF Globalisation Index; outsourcing/offshoring; named TNCs (Apple, Unilever, Toyota) as illustrative examples. Additional HL-only material examined in Paper 3 (extended-response questions, HL only).
How global power is distributed and projected.
Superpowers and emerging powers; global hubs; networks (financial, transport, information); soft and hard power; UN, World Bank, IMF, WTO. Measuring development and uneven outcomes.
HDI components
Life expectancy + education (mean & expected years of schooling) + GNI per capita PPP. Other indices
Gender Inequality Index (GII), Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Gini coefficient. Cultural diversity, indigenous peoples and the impacts of globalisation on identity. Risks of an interconnected world and how systems adapt.
Geopolitical risks (conflict, terrorism); environmental risks (climate change, biodiversity loss); economic risks (financial contagion, debt); pandemics; resilience strategies โ diversification, redundancy, governance. Memorise and apply these on Paper 2 data-response and Paper 3 (HL) extended-response questions.
Population density
Population รท Area (people per kmยฒ) Arithmetic vs physiological density
Arithmetic: total pop รท total land ยท Physiological: total pop รท arable land โ physiological exposes pressure on cultivable land. CBR โ Crude Birth Rate
(Births รท Total population) ร 1000 โ births per 1,000 people per year. CDR โ Crude Death Rate
(Deaths รท Total population) ร 1000 โ deaths per 1,000 people per year. Natural Increase Rate (NIR)
CBR โ CDR (often expressed as % per year by dividing by 10). TFR โ Total Fertility Rate
Average number of children per woman in her reproductive years (replacement level โ 2.1). IMR โ Infant Mortality Rate
(Deaths under 1 year รท Live births) ร 1000 โ strongest single indicator of healthcare quality. Life expectancy
Average number of years a newborn is expected to live given current mortality patterns. Dependency ratio
[(Population under 15) + (Population 65+)] รท (Population 15โ64) ร 100 GDP per capita (PPP)
GDP รท Total population, adjusted for purchasing power parity. HDI
Composite index of life expectancy, education (mean + expected years schooling) and GNI per capita โ values 0 to 1. Gini coefficient
Measures income inequality from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality); often expressed 0โ100. Theil index
Decomposable measure of inequality between and within groups โ useful for regional analyses. Used in Paper 2 data-response and the IA โ recognise when each is appropriate.
Spearman's rank
Tests correlation between two ranked variables (e.g. distance from CBD vs land value). Chi-square (ฯยฒ)
Tests whether observed frequencies differ significantly from expected (e.g. pebble shape vs distance downstream). You don't need to derive โ you DO need to choose the right test, interpret the result, and explain significance.
Tested in every paper โ and essential to the fieldwork IA.
4-figure grid reference
Eastings (across) then Northings (up) โ locates a 1 km square (e.g. 4329). 6-figure grid reference
Sub-divides each 1 km square into tenths โ locates a 100 m square (e.g. 432293). Bearings
Measured clockwise from north in degrees (000ยฐโ360ยฐ); always specify FROM and TO. Representative fraction
1:50,000 means 1 cm on map = 50,000 cm = 500 m on ground. Linear (line) scale
Bar with marked distances โ measure with a strip of paper or string for curved features. Contour patterns
Close lines = steep slope; widely spaced = gentle; V-shape pointing upstream = river valley; concentric closed loops = hill summit. Choropleth
Shaded areas by data value โ best for percentages or rates, not raw totals. Dot map
One dot = a defined number of units; shows distribution and density. Proportional symbol
Symbol size scales to data value โ best for comparing point totals. Isopleth (isoline)
Lines join points of equal value (e.g. contours, isobars) โ shows continuous data. Layer-based digital mapping increasingly central to IA fieldwork.
Layers (vector points/lines/polygons; raster) โ spatial analysis (buffer, overlay, hotspot) โ cartographic output. Reference any GIS use in your IA explicitly. 25% of SL ยท 20% of HL. Compulsory primary-data fieldwork investigation.
Markschemes weight each section โ keep to the structure exactly.
1. Fieldwork question
A focused, geographic, testable question grounded in syllabus content (e.g. 'How does the Bradshaw model apply to River X?'). 2. Methodology
Hypothesis(es), sampling strategy (random/systematic/stratified), data collection methods (primary + secondary), justification, ethical considerations. 3. Data presentation
Use the right map/graph/table for each data type โ choropleth/dot/proportional/isopleth maps, scatter, bar, line, located proportional symbols. 4. Analysis
Describe pattern โ explain pattern with theory โ use a statistical test (Spearman's rank, chi-square) where appropriate and interpret it. 5. Conclusion
Answer the fieldwork question directly with reference to the data โ accept/reject hypotheses with evidence. 6. Evaluation
Critique sampling, sample size, instruments, weather, time-of-day; suggest specific improvements; comment on validity and reliability. Geographic question with clear theoretical link Justified sampling and clear primary-data methodology Varied, appropriate, well-labelled presentation (maps + graphs) Statistical test correctly applied AND interpreted Specific evaluation with realistic improvements (not 'I would have more time') Time allocations, question types and how to score top-band marks.
Short-answer, structured and extended-response questions on the chosen themes.
SL โ 1.5 hours
Answer 2 themes ร structured + extended-response questions. HL โ 2.25 hours
Answer 3 themes ร structured + extended-response questions. Extended response (10 marks)
Mini-essay: thesis โ 2โ3 case studies with stats โ evaluation/synthesis โ judgement. Infographic/data-response questions plus an extended response.
Duration
1 hr 15 min (SL & HL). Sections
Section A: structured short-answer on stimulus material ยท Section B: 10-mark extended response. Top-band tip
Quote stimulus data exactly (with units) โ examiners reward direct engagement with the resource. Two extended-response questions on the HL Core.
Duration
1 hour, HL only. Structure
12-mark extended response + 16-mark synoptic essay drawing on the whole HL Core. Synoptic essay
Plan ~5 min: thesis โ 4 PEEL paragraphs combining HL Core + relevant SL Core + named examples โ judgement. Same shape across Papers 1, 2 and 3.
Thesis (define key terms + state argument) โ Evidence (named places, dates, statistics) โ Concept link (which IB concept does this illustrate?) โ Real-world examples (2+ contrasting case studies) โ Evaluation/synthesis โ Reasoned judgement. Markschemes consistently reward named places, dates and statistics. Generic answers cap at mid-band.
Aim for 2โ3 contrasting case studies per syllabus area โ typically one HIC and one LIC/MIC.
Required detail
Name of place + scale (city/country/region) + dates + at least one statistic + the geographic process or concept it illustrates. Example sketch
Bangladesh โ climate vulnerability โ 2022 floods affected ~7.2m people, ~80% of land is floodplain โ illustrates LIC vulnerability and adaptation through cyclone shelters and early-warning systems. One HIC + one LIC/MIC contrast in every extended response โ examiners reward comparative range. Use the SAME case study across multiple themes where appropriate (e.g. Bangladesh: freshwater, climate, food, urban). Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
Compile a one-page summary per case study โ name, location, dates, statistics, processes illustrated, and which themes/cores it can support. Top-band answers always include named examples with figures.
Practise calculating CBR, CDR, NIR, IMR, TFR and dependency ratios from raw population data. Then practise interpreting HDI, Gini and Theil values โ not just calculating them.
Spend 15 minutes a week on 4-fig and 6-fig grid references, contour interpretation and thematic-map reading. These skills appear across all papers and are easy marks if drilled.
Write your IA section by section against the markscheme criteria, especially for Methodology, Analysis (statistical test interpretation) and Evaluation (specific, realistic improvements).
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
This page groups key Geography formulas in one place for revision. Master IB Diploma Programme Geography (SL & HL) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers Part 1 themes, SL/HL core, quantitative formulas (CBR, CDR, IMR, dependency ratio, HDI), map skills, fieldwork IA, and exam techniโฆ Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hallโusually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Post-Secondary in Geography, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Explore Tutopiyaโs study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Work through Paper 1 themes, Paper 2 data-response, Paper 3 (HL) global interactions, and the fieldwork IA with an experienced IB Geography tutor. We focus on case-study selection, quantitative skills and top-band exam technique at SL and HL.
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This reference sheet aligns with the IB Diploma Programme Geography syllabus content for SL and HL students sitting 2026 examinations.
Paper 3 is taken by HL candidates only. Always anchor extended responses in named places, dates and statistics โ generic answers cap at mid-band.