Clarification details
Updated June 2025. This document has been updated to reflect the changes in Version 4 of the standard.
Specific reference to a geographic concept has been removed and the requirement to include geographic terminology added.
Insight is no longer required for Excellence.
How to define the extent of the city needed as the case study
One city must be selected as a case study, and whether the focus is just on the Central Business District (CBD) or the larger urban area will be determined by the context selected. For example, with an urban pattern of graffiti, the CBD alone could be a sufficient area. However, with an urban pattern of transport networks, the greater urban area would be needed.
Students could be encouraged to show the pattern and a variation with appropriate maps of the city, graphs, timelines, etc.
Key aspects of the standard
There are two key aspects with this standard:
- the pattern and circumstances/factors that contribute to it
- a variation in the pattern and circumstances/factors that contribute to it.
It is important that the assessment task clearly identifies both aspects.
Both spatial and temporal patterns can be used at this level. When describing a pattern, students should include geographic terminology. For example, spatial patterns could be identified as concentrated or dispersed, and temporal patterns identified as constant or cyclic.
Case study evidence and geographic terminology
Case study evidence and geographic terminology need to be used throughout the response.