IGCSE Environmental Management Handbook 

Aims 

Content overview 

Assessment overview 

Assessment objectives

Appendices

The aims are to enable students to:

 • acquire scientific knowledge and understanding of scientific theories and practice

 • develop knowledge of a variety of environmental contexts and apply appropriate scientific knowledge and theories to those contexts

 • communicate effectively and clearly, using appropriate terminology and scientific conventions 

• understand the significance of climate change, including the knowledge and skills required to address climate-related challenges at local, national and    global levels

 • evaluate strategies to manage the impacts of environmental issues in the context of sustainability needs and climate change action 

• develop a range of fieldwork skills, including working safely with consideration for habitats and organisms being studied 

• use scientific data and evidence to solve problems and discuss the limitations of scientific methods and the impact this could have on decisions

 • develop a sense of awareness and consideration for the welfare of the environment and all organisms and how they might be protected

• develop an interest in environmental management through the discovery of strategies, their impacts and ability to manage climate change that could      inspire further study. 

The syllabus is divided into seven topics that have been designed to develop an understanding of both the natural and human environment.

1. Natural resources

2. Land 

3. Water 

4. The atmosphere and human activities 

5. Ecosystems, biodiversity and fieldwork

6. Natural hazards 

7. Human population 

AO1 Knowledge with understanding 

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

 • phenomena, facts, definitions, concepts and theories 

• vocabulary, terminology and conventions 

• strategies for managing the environment locally, regionally and globally. 

Subject content defines the factual material that candidates may be required to recall and explain. Candidates will also be asked questions that require them to apply this material to familiar and unfamiliar contexts and to apply knowledge from one area of the syllabus to another.

 AO2 Handling information and problem-solving

 Candidates should be able, in words or using other forms of presentation (e.g. graphical or numerical), to:

 • locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources

 • translate information and evidence from one form to another

 • manipulate numerical and other data 

• interpret data, identify patterns and describe relationships

 • solve problems, including some of a quantitative nature. 

Questions testing these skills may be based on information and contexts that are unfamiliar to candidates, requiring them to apply the principles and concepts from the syllabus to a new situation, in a logical, deductive way.

 AO3 Investigation skills and making judgements 

Candidates should be able to: 

• plan fieldwork investigations and how to do them safely 

• evaluate methods, identify limitations and suggest improvements to fieldwork investigations 

• suggest reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships

 • make reasoned judgements and form conclusions based on evidence.

 Questions testing these skills may be based on information and contexts that are familiar or unfamiliar to candidates, requiring them to apply the principles and concepts from the syllabus to a new situation, in a logical, deductive way 

Specimen Paper For Examination from 2027