11–12Earth and Environmental Science 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Describe the major water reservoirs located within the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere

Construct representations to demonstrate how water moves between the major water reservoirs within the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere due to water cycle processes

Analyse water distribution data to determine the relative amount of fresh water available to terrestrial organisms in the global water cycle

Explain the role of Cultural water flows for Aboriginal Peoples and their relationships with water Country

Describe the major water reservoirs and the flows between them in the global water cycle

Explain how water’s density, thermal capacity and ability to act as a solvent affect biological and physical processes on Earth

Conduct a laboratory experiment to examine the relationship between the salt concentration in water and the water’s density, using quantitative data

Conduct a practical investigation to examine density layering in water based on temperature differences

Explain the roles of water temperature and salinity in producing thermohaline circulation resulting in the ocean conveyor belt

Explain how changes in ocean currents and atmospheric pressure influence El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to analyse the ENSO pattern and its effects on water availability in Australia

Discuss changes in the ENSO pattern over time and its potential impact on human activity in Australia

Explain the environmental effects of the overextraction of water

Analyse the relationship between needs and end uses of primary, secondary and tertiary stages of sewage treatment

Assess the effect of increased nutrient levels from sewage release and run-off from agriculture in waterways

Use water monitoring data to determine possible sources of water contamination

Evaluate the effectiveness of water quality guidelines in maintaining human and environmental health

Explain the factors affecting the development of a soil profile

Outline the composition of soil samples in terms of their physical, chemical and biological components

Classify sand, silt and clay samples based on the relative sizes of particles

Conduct a laboratory experiment to determine soil types using a soil texture triangle

Conduct a laboratory experiment to examine factors affecting soil quality

Analyse the impact of soil contamination on humans, plants and animals

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to evaluate strategies used for the effective management of soil as a resource

Distinguish between primary and secondary soil salinity

Explain how land clearing and irrigation impact secondary soil salinity and environmental water flows

Conduct a laboratory experiment to measure the effect of salinity on seedling growth

Evaluate a strategy used to rehabilitate areas affected by secondary salinity

Analyse land management practices that affect soil erosion

Explain the impacts of soil erosion on the environment

Conduct a scientific investigation to evaluate the effectiveness of an erosion prevention strategy

Classify species of plants and animals as endemic, native, introduced or invasive

Use examples to explain how changes to the biotic and abiotic factors of ecosystems impact Australia’s unique flora and fauna

Use data to evaluate the biotic and abiotic effects of an introduced species on an Australian ecosystem

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to analyse the biotic and abiotic effects of the intentional and unintentional introduction of species into Australia

Explain how introduced species impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ interconnections with Country and Place

Analyse ways human activity can alter ecosystems to favour introduced species

Assess control, mitigation and eradication strategies as management options for invasive species

Explain the influence of invasive species in terms of biodiversity decline and species extinction in Australia