Humanities
ZIMSEC O-Level Geography
Syllabus topics
90 topics and subtopics in the 2015-2022 syllabus, examined from 1 Jan 2018.
- 7.1
Weather and climate
Topic 1 of the scope and sequence: weather elements, data and forecasting (Form 1), hazards and the climate of Zimbabwe (Form 2), air masses and world…
- 7.1.1 Weather elements, instruments and the weather station
- 7.1.2 Weather and climatic data
- 7.1.3 Precipitation and types of rainfall
- 7.1.4 Synoptic charts and weather forecasting
- 7.1.5 Weather hazards and the influence of people on weather
- 7.1.6 The climate of Zimbabwe and climate variability
- 7.1.7 Air masses and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone
- 7.1.8 Climatic types on a global scale
- 7.1.9 Temperate depressions and frontal systems
- 7.1.10 Tropical cyclones
- 7.1.11 People's influence on climate and climate change
- 7.2
Landforms and landscape processes
Topic 2 of the scope and sequence: landforms (Form 1), rocks, weathering and the Earth's structure (Form 2), tectonic processes (Form 3), river and wind…
- 7.2.1 Landforms and their benefits
- 7.2.2 Rocks
- 7.2.3 Weathering of rocks and resulting landforms
- 7.2.4 The internal structure of the Earth, continental drift and plate tectonics
- 7.2.5 Folding and faulting
- 7.2.6 Volcanoes, earthquakes and the effects of tectonic processes
- 7.2.7 Landforms resulting from water action and river processes
- 7.2.8 Arid and semi-arid regions and landforms resulting from wind action
- 7.2.9 Hazards associated with landform development and disaster risk management
- 7.3
Ecosystems
Topic 3 of the scope and sequence: components and interdependence (Form 1), biodiversity, biomes and sustainable management (Form 2), cycles, wetlands…
- 7.3.1 Components of ecosystems, micro-ecosystems and interdependence
- 7.3.2 Biodiversity, benefits of ecosystems and ecosystems in entrepreneurship
- 7.3.3 Tropical ecosystems (biomes)
- 7.3.4 Sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems
- 7.3.5 Biogeochemical cycles
- 7.3.6 Wetlands
- 7.3.7 Soils
- 7.4
Natural resources
Topic 4 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 3).
- 7.5
Energy and power development
Topic 5 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 3).
- 7.6
Map work and geographical information systems
Topic 6 of the scope and sequence: map skills (Form 1), contours, gradient and land use (Form 2), GPS, time zones and remote sensing (Form 3), Boolean logic…
- 7.6.1 Characteristics and types of maps and universal symbols
- 7.6.2 Location: coordinates, grid references and world time zones
- 7.6.3 Scale, distance and area
- 7.6.4 Direction and bearing
- 7.6.5 Contour lines and their interpretation
- 7.6.6 Gradient
- 7.6.7 Land use, patterns and networks on maps
- 7.6.8 The electromagnetic spectrum and remote sensing
- 7.6.9 GPS and GIS: Boolean logic and overlay analysis
- 7.7
Minerals and mining
Topic 7 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 4).
- 7.8
Environmental management
Topic 8 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 4). The Form 4 competency matrix numbers it 'Topic 7'.
- 7.9
Agriculture and land reform
Topic 9 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 4). The Form 4 competency matrix numbers it 'Topic 8'.
- 7.9.1 Factors influencing agriculture, farming as a system and land-use zoning
- 7.9.2 Farming types in Zimbabwe
- 7.9.3 Agro-ecological regions of Zimbabwe
- 7.9.4 Land tenure and land reform in Zimbabwe
- 7.9.5 Small-scale farmers and food security
- 7.9.6 Climate change and agriculture; agricultural diseases and pests
- 7.9.7 Urban agriculture and agribusiness
- 7.10
Industry
Topic 10 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 4). The Form 4 competency matrix numbers it 'Topic 9'.
- 7.10.1 Types of industry and their importance to Zimbabwe
- 7.10.2 Factors influencing the location of industry
- 7.10.3 Manufacturing and processing industries in Zimbabwe
- 7.10.4 Transnational corporations
- 7.10.5 Small to medium enterprises, informal industries and occupational safety and health
- 7.10.6 Service industries, tourism and quaternary industries
- 7.11
Settlement and population
Topic 11 of the scope and sequence: rural settlement (Form 1), urbanisation (Form 2), population data and distribution (Form 3), population change, migration…
- 7.11.1 Types, site and situation of settlements and rural settlement patterns
- 7.11.2 Urbanisation
- 7.11.3 Urban land-use zones and models
- 7.11.4 Unplanned urban settlements
- 7.11.5 Population terms
- 7.11.6 Population data collection, presentation and interpretation
- 7.11.7 Population distribution and density
- 7.11.8 Population growth and the demographic transition model
- 7.11.9 Causes and effects of migration
- 7.11.10 Population policy
- 7.11.11 Population and diseases
- 7.12
Transport and trade
Topic 12 of the scope and sequence (Forms 1 to 3).
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