Skip to content

A NSW Government website

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

NSW Government
NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Geography 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2024
Expand for detailed implementation advice
OverviewRationaleAimOutcomesContentAssessmentGlossaryTeaching and learning support

Content

Year 11

Geographical tools

The geographical tools content is to be integrated throughout the course.

Maps

Maps are to be integrated in Year 11 as appropriate: relief maps, political maps, topographic maps, choropleth maps, flowline maps, cadastral maps, thematic maps, isoline maps, land use maps, précis maps, dot maps, cultural mapping, special-purpose maps and cartograms.

  • Determine area and grid references, and degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude

  • Interpret contour lines

  • Calculate the local relief of an area

  • Calculate the gradient of a slope as a ratio

  • Construct and annotate a cross-section from a topographic map

  • Calculate and interpret the vertical exaggeration of a cross-section

  • Calculate distance, time and speed of travel between 2 points

  • Determine aspect, altitude, river flow, features within quadrants, directions, bearings and sight lines between 2 points

  • Use scale to calculate distance and area

  • Determine the density of a specific feature on a map

  • Construct and interpret choropleth maps

  • Recognise the key features of changing pressure patterns on weather maps

  • Identify and describe spatial patterns and associations, relationships, networks, linkages and evidence of change, within and between regions or areas, using a range of maps

Fieldwork

Fieldwork instruments are to be integrated in Year 11 as appropriate: surveys, interviews, weather instruments, vegetation identification charts, compasses, clinometers, photographic devices, global positioning systems (GPS), GIS, remote sensing, water and soil testing equipment, drones, quadrats.

  • Formulate geographical questions for investigation

  • Identify, collect and record geographical data and information

  • Construct a log of events and activities that records the development of a fieldwork activity

  • Synthesise and interpret fieldwork data

  • Evaluate a fieldwork activity

Graphs and statistics

Graphs and statistics are to be integrated in Year 11 as appropriate: data tables, pie/sector graphs, column and bar graphs, compound and composite column and bar graphs, line graphs, radar charts, scatter graphs, climate graphs, ternary graphs and population profiles.

  • Calculate the rate of increase or decrease between 2 points

  • Estimate the value of proportional circles of different size

  • Construct and interpret proportional divided circles

  • Calculate the value of particular segments of pie/sector graphs of different size

  • Interpret frequency distributions and diagrams

  • Interpret and analyse population profiles

  • Use scatter graphs and ternary graphs to identify correlations within data

  • Calculate absolute and proportional change

  • Construct, interpret and analyse tables and graphs

  • Interpret and analyse statistics to identify patterns, trends and relationships

Spatial technologies

Spatial technologies are to be integrated in Year 11 as appropriate: virtual maps, satellite images, GPS, GIS, remote sensing data, and augmented and virtual reality.

  • Use GPS to collect location data

  • Represent spatial information in a variety of forms

  • Use data to create maps and map layers

  • Use spatial technologies to calculate, analyse and compare patterns, distributions and densities

  • Use spatial information to determine connections, impacts and change over time

Visual representations

Visual representations are to be integrated in Year 11 as appropriate: photographs, vertical and oblique aerial photographs, satellite images, illustrations, transects, flow charts, annotated diagrams, multimedia, field and photo sketches, cartoons, mind maps and web tools.

  • Estimate the scale of aerial photographs and satellite images

  • Estimate the time of day a photograph was taken

  • Calculate areas of land use as a ratio

  • Construct a précis map from an aerial photograph or satellite image

  • Use aerial photographs and satellite images to describe the rate and extent of change

  • Orient a photograph to a map

  • Construct a transect between 2 points on a map or photograph and describe the changes along it

  • Identify and describe spatial patterns and associations, interactions and change using a range of visual representations

Related files