Human Geography – Year 12 Revision Notes

Student: Maxi Course: A-level Geography, Year 12 (Human units) Likely exam board: Pearson Edexcel A-level Geography. The outline's Enquiry Questions (EQ1–EQ4), the Globalisation and Regenerating Places topics, the 70-mark NEA and the 12/20-mark essays all match the Edexcel specification.

How these units are examined:

• Globalisation and Regenerating Places are examined in Paper 2: 2 h 15 min, 105 marks, 30% of the A-level.
  • Section A: Globalisation and Superpowers.
  • Section B: Regenerating Places.
• Globalisation can also feature in Paper 3, the synoptic paper.

How to use these notes. They follow your outline's order: Autumn – Globalisation EQ1–EQ3; Spring – Regeneration EQ1–EQ3; Summer – Regeneration EQ4 and the introduction to the NEA. Each topic has Key ideas → Glossary → Key facts/case studies → Exam technique → Self-test with answers.

⚠️ Your local place: Regenerating Places requires an in-depth study of the place where you live or study and one contrasting place. Your school's own local case study is not in the outline, so these notes give you a template to fill in (Topic 10). Do fill it in with your class data.

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0. Exam technique for Paper 2

Marks	Command	AO split (Edexcel)	Approach
1–4	Calculate / Identify / Suggest / Explain one reason	AO1/AO3	Use the resource; show working; one developed point per mark band.
6	Explain (resource-linked)	AO1 3 + AO2 3	2–3 developed points that explicitly use the figure.
8	Explain	AO1 8	3–4 detailed, accurate, developed points with examples.
12	Assess	AO1 3 + AO2 9	Weigh factors and reach a judgement in each paragraph and in the conclusion.
20	Evaluate	AO1 5 + AO2 15	A full essay with a clear line of argument, evidence from named case studies, counter-arguments and a substantiated conclusion.

Structuring a 12-mark "Assess" answer (about 15–18 minutes):

• Intro (2 lines): define the key term and state your judgement.
• 3 paragraphs: each contains a point, then evidence (a named example with data), then analysis (why/how), then a mini-judgement (the importance of this factor compared with the others).
• Conclusion: the overall judgement, explaining why one factor matters more. Use "it depends on…" (scale, time, player) to show sophistication.

Structuring a 20-mark "Evaluate" answer (about 25–30 minutes):

• Intro: define the terms, set your criteria (e.g. economic, social, environmental; short- and long-term) and give your argument.
• 4 themed paragraphs: each should cover both sides (strengths and limitations) with named case studies and players.
• Conclusion: an overall judgement that follows from your paragraphs. Add a futures point if relevant.

Players, attitudes and futures (P, A, F) are explicitly flagged in the specification. Always name the players (e.g. TNCs, the WTO, national governments, NGOs, local councils, residents) and show that their attitudes differ.

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CASE-STUDY BANK (quick revision)

Case study	Topic	Key facts
Shenzhen SEZ	Globalisation (players)	SEZ in 1980; Open Door Policy 1978; population about 17.6m (2020).
China (WTO)	Global shift	Joined the WTO in 2001; nearly 800m people out of extreme poverty (World Bank).
North Korea	Switched off	Juche; UN sanctions; minimal internet access.
Niger	Switched off	Landlocked Sahel; near the bottom of the HDI rankings.
Rana Plaza, Dhaka	Global shift costs	24 April 2013; 1,134 deaths; led to the Accord.
Detroit	Deindustrialisation	Population about 1.85m (1950) → about 639k (2020); bankruptcy in July 2013.
Redcar steelworks	UK deindustrialisation	Closed in 2015; about 2,000 jobs lost.
Mumbai / Dharavi	Urbanisation	About 20m metro population; large informal economy.
London	Migration hub	About 40% foreign-born (2021 Census).
UAE	Low-wage migration	About 88% foreign-born; kafala system.
Papua New Guinea	Cultural erosion	800+ languages; Ok Tedi mine pollution.
Totnes	Localism	Transition Town 2006; Totnes Pound 2007–2019.
First Nations, Canada	Retaining identity	Nisga'a 2000; Nunavut 1999.
London Docklands / LDDC	Regeneration (property-led)	1981–1998; Canary Wharf.
London 2012, Stratford	Sports-led	£8.77bn; East Village about 2,800 homes; Westfield about 10,000 jobs.
Salford Quays	Culture-led	Docks closed 1982; Lowry 2000; IWM North 2002; BBC 2011.
Glasgow	Rebranding	1983 / 1990 / 2004 / 2013 / 2014.
Giant's Causeway / NI	Rural rebranding	£18.5m centre 2012; GoT 350k visitors, £50m (2018).
Eden Project	Rural regeneration	2001; former china clay pit.
Heygate Estate	Contested regeneration	Demolished 2011–2014; criticised for loss of social housing.