IGCSE Environmental Management Handbook 

Aims 

Content overview 

Assessment overview 

Assessment objectives

Appendices

The aims are to enable students to acquire:

•knowledge of natural systems which make life possible on Earth

• an understanding that humans are part of these systems and depend on them

• an appreciation of the diverse influences of human activity on natural systems

• an awareness of the need to manage natural systems

• an understanding of sustainable development to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs

• a sense of responsibility and concern for the welfare of the environment and all organisms

• an awareness of their own values concerning environmental issues

• an awareness of the values of others

• a willingness to review their own attitudes in the light of new knowledge and experiences

• a sound basis for further study, personal development and participation in local and global environmental

concerns.

The syllabus is divided into nine topics which have been designed to develop an understanding of both the natural

and the human environment:

1 Rocks and minerals and their exploitation

2 Energy and the environment

3 Agriculture and the environment

4 Water and its management

5 Oceans and fisheries

6 Managing natural hazards

7 The atmosphere and human activities

8 Human population

9 Natural ecosystems and human activities.

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, of:

•• phenomena, facts, definitions, concepts and theories

•• vocabulary, terminology and conventions

•• technological applications with their social, economic and environmental implications.

AO2 Information handling and analysis

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

and unfamiliar contexts, to:

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

•• translate information and evidence from one form to another

•• manipulate numerical data

•• interpret and evaluate data, report trends and draw inferences.

AO3 Investigation skills and making judgements

Candidates should be able, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, to:

•• plan investigations

•• identify limitations of methods and suggest possible improvements

•• present reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships

•• make reasoned judgements and reach conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative information.

Specimen Paper 2023