Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography specification (2217)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography (2217) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official Cambridge (CIE) specification PDF.
Specification overview
Cambridge O Level Geography develops learners’ understanding of physical and human environments and the processes that shape them. The course aims to foster an appreciation of the world’s diversity of landscapes, people, cultures, and economies, encouraging concern for the environment and sustainable development. Learners develop skills in analysing information, problem-solving, and decision-making, applying geographical knowledge at local, regional, and global scales. The syllabus promotes critical thinking and informed judgement, providing a solid foundation for further studies and lifelong engagement with geographical issues.
Subject content breakdown
Theme 1: Population and settlement
- Population dynamics: causes of population change, over-/under-population, natural increase, population policies.
- Migration: reasons, impacts, internal and international migration.
- Population structure: age/sex pyramids, implications of dependent populations.
- Population density and distribution: factors influencing density at various scales.
- Settlements and service provision: patterns, site factors, hierarchy of settlements and services.
- Urban settlements: land use zones, urban growth, problems and management.
- Urbanisation: causes, impacts on rural/urban areas, squatter settlements, mitigation strategies.
Theme 2: The natural environment
- Earthquakes and volcanoes: features, distribution, causes, impacts, hazard management.
- Rivers: hydrological processes, erosion, transportation, landforms, flooding, opportunities, and management.
- Coasts: coastal processes, landforms, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, hazards, and management.
- Weather: instruments, data collection, interpretation.
- Climate and natural vegetation: characteristics of equatorial and desert climates, ecosystems, deforestation impacts.
Theme 3: Economic development
- Development: indicators, inequalities, employment sectors, globalisation, impacts.
- Food production: farming systems, causes and effects of food shortages, solutions.
- Industry: industrial systems, location factors.
- Tourism: growth, benefits, disadvantages, sustainability.
- Energy: non-renewable, renewable, nuclear power, fuelwood, evaluation of sources.
- Water: supply methods, usage, shortages, management.
- Environmental risks: threats from economic activities, need for sustainable development, resource conservation.
Mathematical skills in geography
- Use of numerical data, scales, averages, ratios, graphs, and statistical analysis for geographical applications.
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Geographical Themes
- 1 hour 45 minutes, 75 marks, 45% of total.
- Three questions: one from each theme.
- Combination of resource-based tasks and free-response.
- Case studies required.
Paper 2: Geographical Skills
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks, 27.5% of total.
- All questions compulsory.
- Mapwork question (1/3 of marks) using large-scale maps.
- Questions test data analysis, map reading, graphical interpretation, and geographical applications.
Paper 3: Geographical Investigations
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks, 27.5% of total.
- Two compulsory questions on investigation techniques, data collection, analysis, and conclusions.
- Topics linked to syllabus themes.
Assesses enquiry skills: hypothesis formation, data collection methods (questionnaires, observations, counts, measurements), data presentation, analysis, and evaluation.
- All papers externally assessed.
- Assessment objectives weighting:
- AO1 Knowledge with understanding: 30%
- AO2 Skills and analysis: 52%
- AO3 Judgement and decision-making: 18%
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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