Environmental Systems
and Societies 

In its alignment with our Mission and Vision, this exciting course provides students a balanced perspective on the wide range of interrelationships between the natural environment and a variety of human societies; one that enables students to adopt an informed personal response to the wide range of pressing environmental issues that students will come to face and need to resolve. The course encourages students to evaluate the scientific, ethical, socio-political and economic perspectives of environmental issues. Environmental Systems and Societies explores at the environmental issues and solutions through a systems approach in an attempt to understand its complex yet self-regulating nature. This leads to an understanding that humans are an integral part of the environment.

The course is well suited to students with an environmental interest. As trans-disciplinary subject, it challenges students to draw from both the Sciences and the Humanities: including but not restricted to Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as Economics, Global Politics, and Geography. It is complementary to these subjects. The course engages students to analyse local environmental issues and solutions at the ‘big picture’ level from a variety of perspectives, at a variety of scales.

Group 3/4 fieldwork and internal assessment – 

Fieldwork is an integral part of the course, and is also included in the total 30 hours of practical work required, inclusive of the 10 hours reserved for the Internal Assessment. 

Environmental Systems and Societies students might have the opportunity to participate in a trans-disciplinary local trip to carry out practical fieldwork investigations. Students also have the opportunity to investigate a laboratory experiment or questionnaire. Other options for the Internal Assessment include database investigations.

The Group 4 collaborative project – 

Environmental Systems & Societies students participate in a science collaborative learning opportunity together with Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science, and Design Technology teams. Students collaboratively plan, carry out and evaluate a science project as part of the course.

• analyse environmental systems and issues at a variety of scales

• facilitate responsible actions on environmental issues

• engage with the controversies that surround a variety of environmental issues

• evaluate solutions to environmental issues in local and global contexts

• apply methods of fieldwork and experimental investigations

• select and apply appropriate research and practical skills to carry out investigations

• develop scientific reasoning

• analyse case studies at a variety of contexts

External Assessment: 75%

Paper 1 - 25% (1 hour) 35 marks

Unseen case study with short answer questions based on analysis and evaluation of data from a booklet provided

Paper 2 - 50% (2 hours) 60 marks

Section A: 40 marks 

short-answer and data-based question

Section B: 20 marks 

one "a) b) c) " structured longer answer - choose 1 of 2 questions

Internal Assessment 25%

Individual investigation (10 hrs) Marks: 30

3000 word written report