Environmental systems and societies

Studying ESS will enable students to develop a coherent perspective of the interrelationships between environmental systems and societies; one that enables them to adopt an informed personal response to the wide range of pressing environmental issues that they will inevitably come to face.

The teaching approach is such that students are allowed to evaluate the scientific, ethical and socio-political aspects of issues.

ESS is unique in that it is both a Group 3 and Group 4 subject, so students can study this course and have it count as either an individuals and societies or a science course, or both. This gives students the opportunity to study (an) additional subject(s) from any group.

Students will be able to study this course successfully with no specific previous knowledge of science or geography.

However, as the course aims to foster an international perspective, awareness of local and global environmental concerns and an understanding of the scientific methods, a course that shares these aims would be good preparation.

Video ESS with Mr B 17_11_2020 15_22_35.mp4

During the course, students will study eight different topics. An important aspect of the ESS course is hands-on work in the laboratory and/or out in the field.

Key features of the curriculum and assessment models:

    • Available only at standard level (SL)

    • A hands-on approach to the course delivery is emphasised.

    • External assessment (75% of final assessment) consists of two written papers and provides opportunities for students to demonstrate an understanding through the application, use, synthesis, analysis and evaluation of environmental issues, information, concepts, methods, techniques and explanations.

    • Internal assessment accounts for 25% of the final assessment. This involves the completion of an individual investigation of an ESS research question that has been designed and implemented by the student. The investigation is submitted as a written scientific report.