Geography Waec Syllabus

Below is this years Waec Syllabus for Geography. Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates.

Aims and Objectives

  • explain the concepts of differential character and the spatial relationships of the surface features of the earth;
  • explain the concepts of man- environment relations (i.e. to analyse the life of man within his physical and cultural environments and to explain their interactions);
  • demonstrate a basic knowledge of the nature and functioning of physical and human environments, particularly an understanding of their inter-relationships and the resulting issues;
  • organize and formulate principles according to acquired geographical concepts and then apply these principles to interpret and analyze spatial problems in the immediate and wider environments;
  • demonstrate skills and techniques for accurate, orderly and objective geographical investigations to be carried out both in the classrooms and in the immediate environment;
  • communicate geographical ideas effectively through reports, graphs, charts, sketches, diagrams and maps;
  • explain the cultural, social and economic circumstances of people in their immediate environments and those of other countries within the sub-region.

Scheme of Examination

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3 all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1:

will consist of fifty objective questions to be taken in 1 hour for 50 marks. The questions will be drawn from topics in the syllabus that are common to all the member countries. Candidates will be required to attempt all the questions.

PAPER 2:

will contain nine essay-type questions out of which candidates will be required to
answer four in 2 hours for 80 marks.

It will be made up of two sections; Sections A and B for candidates in Nigeria and three sections; Sections A, B and C for candidates in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

Candidates in Nigeria will be required to attempt four questions in all, choosing two
questions from each of Sections A and B. Candidates in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia will be required to attempt four questions in all, choosing at least one question from each of Sections A, B and C.

The questions will be distributed in the sections as follows:

Section A: Economic and Human Geography

This will consist of three essay-type questions on Economic and Human Geography.
Candidates in Nigeria will be required to attempt any two of them while candidates in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia are to attempt at least one of the questions.

Section B: Regional Geography of Candidate’s Home Country

There will be a set of three essay-type questions on Regional Geography on each of Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Candidates in Nigeria will be required to answer two of the questions on their country while those in the other countries will answer at least one out of the sets for their countries.

Section C: Regional Geography of Africa

There will be three essay-type questions drawn from Africa for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia out of which candidates are expected to answer at least one.

PAPER 3:  Element of Practical and Physical Geography

Will consist of eight essay-type questions out of which candidates are to answer four in 1 hour 50 minutes for 70 marks. Question 1, on map reading and interpretation, will be compulsory for all candidates and will carry 25 marks while the other questions will carry 15 marks each. Candidates are advised not to spend more than 35 minutes on Question 1.

Candidates will be expected to bring graduated rulers (both metric and imperial), a complete mathematical set, a piece of string and a simple non-programmable calculator for use during the writing of the paper.

Note:

Any topic in the syllabus that is marked with one asterisk (*) will be for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. Topics that are marked with two asterisks (**) will be for candidates in Nigeria only. The topics without asterisk are for all member countries.

Detailed Geography Syllabus

ELEMENTS OF PRACTICAL AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

  1. Map work
    • Map reading and interpretation based on contoured survey
      maps of parts of West Africa: scale
    • measurement of
      distances, direction and bearing, map reduction and enlargement
    • identification of physical features such as spurs,
      valleys, etc. and
    • cultural features such as city walls,
      settlements, communication routes, etc.;
    • measurement of
      gradients
    • drawing of cross profiles, inter-visibility
    • description and explanation of drainage characteristics and
      pattern
    • patterns of communication, settlement and land use.
  2. *Principles of elementary surveying compass, plotting of traverse, avoiding obstacles in the field.
  3. **Geographic Information System (GIS)
    • GIS: Basic concepts, components (hardware, software, data,
      procedures and experts)
    • sources of data (land surveying,
      remote sensing, map digitizing, map scanning, field
      investigation and tabular data etc)
    • uses (defence, agriculture,
      urban development, mapping, surveying, transportation,
      census etc), problems (power, personnel, capital etc)
  4. Statistical maps and diagrams
    • Graphical representation of statistical data: Bar graphs, Line
      graphs, flow charts, dot maps, proportional circles, density
      maps, isopleth maps.
  5. Elements of Physical Geography

    The earth as a planet in relation to the sun, latitude and distance, longitude and time, earth’s rotation and revolution and their effects, structure of the earth (internal and external).

  6. *Hydrosphere

    Ocean basins, salinity, ocean current ( causes, types and their effects on the temperature of adjacent coastlands), lakes,
    rivers, lagoons, water as an environmental resource.

  7. Rocks

    Types, characteristics, formation and uses.

  8. Tectonic processes

    Vulcanicity, earthquake, landforms: Mountains, plains, karsts and coastal landforms (formation, characteristics and
    importance).

  9. Denudational processes

    Agencies modifying landforms such as weathering, mass
    movement, running water, underground water, wind and
    waves.

  10. Weather and climate

    Simple weather study based on local observation, description
    of the Stevenson’s screen and uses of basic weather
    instruments e.g. rain gauge, thermometer, barometer, wind vane etc.

  11. Climate Elements

    Rainfall, sunshine, air pressure, wind, humidity, temperature
    and cloud. Factors affecting climatic elements e.g. altitude,
    latitude, ocean currents, land and sea breezes, continentality,
    aspect. Interpretation of climatic charts and data.

  12. Climate Classification
    • Major types of climate (Hot climate – Equatorial, Tropical
      Continental, Desert
    • Temperate climate – warm and cool).
    • Classification of climate based on Greek and Koppen.
  13. Climate change

    Meaning, causes, effects and remedies.

  14. Vegetation
    • Major types (Tropical Rainforest, cool/warm temperate
      woodland, Tropical Grassland)
    • characteristics, distribution,
      factors affecting their distribution, plant communities.
    • Vegetation as an environmental resource.
    • Conservation of
      vegetation resources.
  15. Soil

    Definition, local types and characteristics. Factors and
    processes of soil formation, soil profile, importance to man
    and the effects of human activities on soil. Soil erosion and
    conservation.

  16. Environmental resources

    Meaning, classification ( renewable and non renewable) types ( vegetation, water, mineral, atmospheric, etc ) and the importance of each.

  17. Environmental problems/ hazards

    Types (soil erosion, drought, desert encroachment, flooding
    and pollution), causes, effects and prevention of each.

  18. Environmental conservation

    Meaning, importance, methods, problems and solutions.

ECONOMIC AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

  1. World Population

    Factors and patterns of growth, distribution and movement, growth rate problems.

  2. Settlement
    • Types (rural and urban)
    • patterns and factors affecting location
    • growth and size; functions of rural and urban settlements
    • interaction patterns( urban-rural, rural-urban,
      urban-urban, rural rural)
    • migration.
  3. Transportation
    • Modes (roads, railways, water, air, pipeline, cables, ropeways
      etc.)
    • Transportation and economic development (movement
      of people and commodities, national and international trade,
      diffusion of ideas and technology, national integration)
    • problems of transportation and their solutions.
  4. Industry
    • Classification (primary, secondary and tertiary)
    • types (heavy and light industry); factors of industrial location
    • contributions to development
    • problems/solutions.
  5. Trade

    Meaning, types (national and international), reasons for trade,
    importance.

  6. Tourism
    • Meaning, centres, reasons (leisure, recreation, education etc )
    • importance, problems and solutions.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF NIGERIA

  1. Nigeria on broad outline

    Location, position, size, distance and political divisions.

  2. Physical setting

    Relief, drainage, climate, vegetation

  3. Population

    Size, distribution, structure, population quality, population
    movement, population data ( sources and problems/solutions)

  4. Resources
    • Mineral (petroleum, gas, coal, tin/columbite, iron ore, limestone)
    • distribution, methods of extraction, problems and
      solutions)
    • Power (Petroleum, gas, coal HEP, solar energy)
    • Water (rivers, lakes, dams, sea, underground water)
    • Vegetation (trees, food and cash crops; timber,etc)- forest, savanna, biosphere.
  5. Agriculture

    Types of agricultural practices, food and cash crops, importance, problems and solutions.

  6. Transportation

    Mode, advantages and disadvantages, problems and solutions, influence of transportation on human activities.

  7. Communication

    Communication networks, advantages and disadvantages,
    importance, problems and solutions.

  8. Industry

    Definition, types, major industrial zones, factors of location, importance, problems and solutions.

  9. Trade

    Meaning, types (national and international), stock exchange, capital market, forex, major commercial areas, importance of
    commercial activities.

  10. Tourism

    Meaning, centres, reasons for tourism, importance, problems
    and solutions.

  11. Issues on development and environmental concerns

    Issues of Development and Environmental Conservation:
    Rural and regional development, resource management and
    conservation, environmental pollution e.g. air, water, soil,
    noise; waste disposal, etc.

  12. ECOWAS

    Meaning, member countries, purposes/mandate,
    advantages/benefits, disadvantages, problems and solutions.

  13. Geo-political issues

    Geo-political issues-Land reclamation.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF GHANA

  1. Ghana on broad outline

    Location, position, size, distance and political divisions.

  2. Physical setting

    Physical environment (geology, relief, drainage, climate, vegetation and soils).

  3. Population

    Size, growth, distribution and density, age/sex structure: fertility, morbidity and mortality, migration.

  4. Settlement

    Origin, types (rural and urban), characteristics, hierarchy,

  5. Primary economic activities
  6. Agriculture

    Subsistence (intensive and extensive) commercial (vegetable,
    livestock, dairying, commercial grain), plantation, problems
    and solutions.

  7. Fishing

    Inland and ocean (in-shore/off shore), methods, types of fish,
    storage and marketing, importance, problems and solutions.
    Sources of timber, methods of exploitation, types of species

  8. Lumbering

    (for internal use and for export), problems and solutions,
    conservation.

  9. Mining

    Types, distribution of minerals, methods of extraction,
    importance, problems and solutions.

  10. Manufacturing

    Types of manufacturing industries, distribution, factors influencing location of industries, problems of
    industrialization.

  11. Trade and commerce

    Services, transport and communication, recreation and
    tourism, administration.

  12. Tourism

    Meaning, centres, reasons for tourism, importance, problems
    and solutions.

  13. Energy and power

    Water (Akosombo and Kpong Hydro-electric Power projects
    – benefits and side effects), fuel wood and charcoal,
    petroleum and natural gas (Saltpond), solar, wave and wind
    energies (Donkokrom and Kokrobite), Biogas e.g. cow dung.

  14. Issues on development and environmental concerns

    Issues of Development and Environmental Conservation:
    Rural and regional development, resource management and
    conservation, environmental pollution e.g. air, water, soil,
    noise; waste disposal etc.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF SIERRA LEONE

  1. Sierra Leone on broad outline

    Size and location, physical environment, people and
    settlements.

  2. Agriculture

    Meaning of agriculture, Subsistence (intensive and extensive)
    commercial (vegetable, livestock, dairying, commercial grain
    production), plantation, problems and solutions.

  3. Fishing

    Meaning of fishing, Inland and ocean (in-shore/off shore),
    methods, types of fish, storage and marketing, importance,
    problems and solutions.

  4. Lumbering

    Meaning of lumbering, Sources of timber, methods of
    exploitation, types of species (for internal use and for export),
    problems and solutions, conservation.

  5. Mining

    Types, distribution of minerals, methods of extraction, problems and solutions.

  6. Manufacturing

    Location of industry, types of industries, problems of
    manufacturing industry, Energy and Power, water, fuelwood
    and charcoal, biogas (e.g. cow-dung), hydroelectric power
    projects e.g. Dodo, Guma, Bumbuna.

  7. Transport and Communication

    Road, rail, water, air, the roles of transport and
    communication to economic development,( internal and
    external trade, diffusion of ideas and technology), problems
    of transport and communication, solutions.

  8. Trade

    Major commodities of trade (agricultural, manufactured
    goods, minerals, etc.), patterns of trade (internal and
    external), problems of trade.

  9. Population

    Size, growth, distribution and migration.

  10. Tourism

    Meaning, development of tourism, problems of tourism &
    solutions, socio-economic effects of tourism. Main tourism
    areas, factors responsible for its development, economic
    importance.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF LIBERIA

  1. Liberia on broad outline

    Location, position, size, distance and political divisions.

  2. Physical setting

    Relief, drainage, climate, vegetation and soil.

  3. Population

    Size, distribution, structure, population quality, population
    movement, population data ( sources, problems & solutions)

  4. Resources

    Mineral, power, water and vegetation resources, importance of resources to development.

  5. Agriculture

    Types of agricultural practices, food and cash crops, importance, problems and solutions.

  6. Transportation

    Mode, advantages and disadvantages, problems and solutions, influence of transportation on human activities.

  7. Communication

    Communication networks, advantages and disadvantages,
    importance, problems & solutions.

  8. Industry

    Definition, types, major industrial zones, factors of location,
    importance, problems and solutions, importance.

  9. Trade

    Meaning, types ( national and international), forex, major commercial areas, importance of commercial activities.

  10. Tourism

    Meaning, centres, reasons for tourism, importance, problems
    and solutions.

  11. Fishing

    Meaning of fishing, Inland and ocean (in-shore/off shore),
    methods, types of fish, storage and marketing, importance,
    problems and solutions.

  12. Mining

    Types, distribution of minerals, methods of extraction, problems and solutions.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF SENEGAMBIA

  1. Senegambia on broad outline

    Location, position, size, distance and political divisions.

  2. Physical setting

    Relief, drainage, climate, vegetation and soil.

  3. Population

    Size, distribution, structure, population quality, population
    movement, population data ( sources, problems &solutions)

  4. Resources

    Mineral, power, water and vegetation resources, importance of resources to development.

  5. Agriculture

    Types of agricultural practices, food and cash crops, importance, problems and solutions.

  6. Transportation

    Mode, advantages and disadvantages, influence of transportation on human activities, problems and solutions.

  7. Communication

    Communication networks, advantages and disadvantages,
    importance, problems and solutions.

  8. Industry

    Definition, types, major industrial zones, factors of location, importance, problems and solutions.

  9. Mining

    Types, distribution, methods of extraction, problems and
    solutions

  10. Fishing

    Meaning of fishing, Inland and ocean (in-shore/off shore),
    methods, types of fish, storage and marketing, problems and
    solutions.

  11. Issues on development and environmental concerns

    Issues of Development and Environmental Conservation:
    Rural and regional development, resource management and
    conservation, environmental pollution e.g. air, water, soil,
    noise, waste disposal etc.

  12. Trade

    Meaning, types (national and international), forex, major commercial areas, importance of commercial activities,
    problems and solutions.

  13. Tourism

    Meaning, centres, reasons for tourism, importance, problems and solutions.

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA

  1. Africa on broad outline

    Location, size, position, political divisions and associated islands, physical features and their economic importance (relief, drainage, climate and vegetation), distribution of minerals.

  2. Irrigation agriculture

    Irrigation agriculture in the Nile Basin and the Niger Basin.

  3. Plantation agriculture

    Plantation agriculture in West and East Africa.

  4. Oil production

    Oil production in Nigeria, Ghana and Libya.

  5. Lumbering

    Lumbering in Equatorial Africa (with particular reference to
    Cote d’Ivoire and Zaire).

  6. Gold Mining

    Gold mining in South Africa.

  7. Copper mining

    Copper mining in Zambia and Zaire

  8. Population

    Population distribution in West Africa.

  9. ECOWAS

    Meaning, member countries, purposes/mandate, advantages/benefits, disadvantages, problems and solutions.

  10. FIELD WORK

    Fieldwork on any one of the following topics should be based
    on local geography of candidate’s home country. (This
    aspect of the syllabus should be examined by schools as part
    of the continuous assessment and should account for 25% of
    the total mark allotted to continuous assessment).

    • Land use (rural or urban):
      rural – crop farming (e.g. rice, cocoa, etc. )
      urban crop farming
      mining (e.g. coal, tin, petroleum etc.), fishing.
      urban – commercial activities, ports, factories,
      recreational etc.
    • Market survey – rural or urban.
    • Traffic flow – rural or urban.
    • Patterns of journey to work – rural or urban.
    • Rate of erosion in the locality, etc.

SUGGESTED READING LIST

  1. R. B. BUNNETT & P.O. OKUNROTIFA General Geography in Diagram for West Africa.
  2. B. O. AKINDELE & G. C. LEONG Certificate Physical and Human Geography (West African Edition).
  3. STRAHLER, A. N. Introduction to Physical Geography.
  4. MONKHOUSE, F. J. Principles of Physical Geography.
  5. UDO, REUBEN K. Comprehensive Geography of Tropical Africa.
  6. UDO, REUBEN K. Geographical Regions of Nigeria.
  7. N. P. ILOEJE A new Geography of Nigeria (New Edition).
  8. M. A. ABEGUNDE et al Senior Secondary Geography Series
  9. DICKSON K. B. & BENNEH G. New Geography of Ghana.
  10. DICKSON & ACHEAMPONG Geography for Senior Secondary Schools in Ghana.
  11. OBOLI, H.O.N. An outline Geography of West Africa.
  12. J. I. CLARKE Sierra Leone in Maps.
  13. GWYN-JONES A New Geography of Sierra Leone.
  14. PRITCHARD, J. M. Africa
  15. DUZE & AFOLABI OJO Macmillan Senior School Atlas.
  16. COLLINS New Secondary School Atlas.
  17. PHILIPS World Atlas.
  18. CLARY AUDREY N. Longman Dictionary of Geography(Human and Physical).
  19. MOORE, W. E. A Penguin Dictionary of geography
  20. N. P. ILOEJE, P.C. ONOKALA & F.O. ODEMERHO Basic Geography Course for Senior Secondary Schools Books 1-3.
  21. MACMILLAN Macmillan Senior School Atlas for Liberia Schools.
  22. Guiness, P. & Nagle, G. IGCSE Geography

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