IB Geography Topics: Full List

As an IB Geography student, you may find it challenging to navigate the wide range of topics covered in the course. Understanding how these themes fit together and where they appear in assessments can be complex, especially as different schools may focus on different optional topics.

This guide provides a clear breakdown of all the key themes in IB Geography, including both core and optional topics. You’ll also learn about the Higher Level (HL) extension themes and the skills required to succeed in your assessments. With this resource, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the IB Geography syllabus and excel in your exams.

IB Geography Topics

IB geography aims to give students an understanding of the interactions between people, the environment and physical processes. During the course, you will investigate how people adapt and respond to change at a variety of scales. You will also develop a wide range of skills, particularly in the interrogation of data and analysis of different approaches.

IB Geography is divided into three main components: 

• Core Themes

  • Population distribution

  • Global climate

  • Global resource consumption and security

• Optional Themes

  • Freshwater

  • Oceans and coastal margins

  • Extreme environments

  • Geophysical hazards

  • Leisure, tourism and sport

  • Food and health

  • Urban environments

• Higher Level Core (for HL students)

  • Power, places and networks

  • Human development and diversity

  • Global risks and resilience

Each component covers essential geographical concepts and issues.

• Both SL and HL students study the core themes

• SL students study two optional themes

• HL students study three optional themes

• HL students also study the HL core

• Both SL and HL students complete a fieldwork study for the internal assessment.

Core Themes

The core themes aim to give you an overview of the key global issues.

1. Population distribution

Human movement is influenced by factors such as economic development and environmental conditions. This topic explores the variations in population, changes in population over time and the challenges related to population. This is covered in three key areas:

• Population and economic development patterns

• Changing populations and places

• Challenges and opportunities

   2. Global climate - vulnerability and resilience

Climate change is reshaping our planet. It is essential to understand the causes, impacts and potential strategies to respond to climate change. Within this theme there are three areas:

• Causes of global climate change

• Consequences of global climate change

• Responding to global climate change

    3. Global resource consumption and security

With rising populations, demand for essentials like food, water, and energy is increasing. This topic addresses:

• Global trends in consumption

• Impacts of changing trends in resource consumption

• Resource stewardship

Optional Themes 

    1. Freshwater 

This optional unit covers both the physical geography of freshwater, fluvial geomorphology (river processes and landforms) and the management of water. The unit explores four key areas:

• Drainage basin hydrology and geomorphology

• Flooding and flood mitigation

• Water scarcity and water quality

• Water management futures

    2. Oceans and coastal margins

Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, they shape weather patterns and support diverse ecosystems. This theme covers:

• Ocean-atmosphere interactions

• Interactions between oceans and coastal places

• Managing coastal margins

• Ocean management futures

     3. Extreme environments

From polar regions to arid deserts, extreme environments pose unique challenges. This optional theme examines in detail both cold and hot, arid environments, including the opportunities and challenges they hold. The unit covers four key areas:

• The characteristics of extreme environments

• Physical processes and landscapes

• Managing extreme environments

• Extreme environment futures

    4. Geophysical hazards

Tectonic activity leads to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, affecting communities worldwide. Understanding the processes leading to these events as well as the human impacts and responses is key to this unit. If studying this unit, you will cover:

• Geophysical systems

• Geophysical hazard risk

• Hazard risk and vulnerability

• Future resilience and adaptation

    5. Leisure, tourism and sport

A growing section of the world’s population has increased leisure time and greater disposable incomes. This has led to increased participation in tourism. As a global industry tourism has significant economic, social, and environmental effects. This unit explores:

• Changing leisure patterns

• Tourism and sport at the local and national scale

• Tourism and sport at the international scale

• Managing tourism and sport for the future

    6. Food and health

Access to nutritious food and healthcare varies globally. Economic development, food and health are closely linked. This section examines those links together with the role of gender, Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and national governments. The main topic areas cover:

• Measuring food and health

• Food systems and spread of diseases

• Stakeholders in food and health

• Future health and food security and sustainability

    7. Urbanisation and Sustainable Cities

Over 59% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. These cities are expanding rapidly, presenting opportunities and challenges for the people who live there. This topic explores the characteristics of urban environments, the systems within them and sustainable strategies. The unit examines four key areas: 

• The variety of urban environments

• Changing urban systems

• Urban environmental and social stresses

• Building sustainable urban systems for the future

Higher Level Extension Themes

For students taking Higher Level (HL) Geography, additional themes provide deeper insights into global connectivity and development. 

     1. Power, places and networks

Economic and political power is often concentrated in certain regions. In this unit you will examine how different countries participate in global interactions, the influence of global superpowers and influences on global interactions. There are three key areas covered in this topic:

• Global interactions and global power

• Global networks and flows

• Human and physical influences on global interactions

    2. Human development and diversity

Development is about more than economic growth—it includes social equity and cultural preservation. This theme explores three key areas: 

• Development opportunities

• Changing identities and cultures

• Local responses to global interactions

   3. Global risk and resilience

From cyber threats to environmental crises, global risks require coordinated action. This section explores:

• Geopolitical and economic risks

• Environmental risks

• Local and global resilience

Geographic Skills and Fieldwork

IB Geography students develop essential analytical and research skills, including:

• Spatial Analysis – Understanding maps, GIS data, and spatial patterns.

• Data Interpretation – Examining climate trends, demographic changes, and economic data.

• Fieldwork Investigations – Researching topics such as land use, water quality, or tourism impact.

What is covered in IB Geography Paper 1?

In Paper 1 students answer questions based on their option choices. SL students will study two of the seven options and HL students will study three of the seven options. 

The SL Paper 1

• The SL exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes 

• Each option question has a choice of two question sets

• Within each question set, there is one structured question and one extended answer question 

The HL Paper 1

• The SL exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes 

• Each option question has a choice of two question sets

• Within each question set, there is one structured question and one extended answer question 

What is covered in IB Geography Paper 2?

In paper 2 students answer questions based on the core themes. 

The exam is 1 hour and 15 minutes and consists of three sections A-C.

Both the SL and HL Paper 2 follow the same format

• Section A includes three structured questions each one based on one of the core units

• Section B begins with a visual stimulus (map/infographic/graph) with structured questions

• Section C students select one extended answer question from a choice of two

What is covered in IB Geography Paper 3?

Paper 3 is only taken by students studying IB Geography HL. 

The exam is 1 hour long and students select from a choice of three extended answer questions one based on each of the HL core units.

Improve Your Grades with Save My Exams

Why not start your revision now to improve your grades? The geography experts at Save My Exams have created revision note pages which cover all parts of the IB SL and HL Geography specifications. 

IB Geography Revision Resources

References

IB Geography subject brief