Readable syllabus overview and practice questions
Cambridge International AS & A Level Geography 9696
Examinations 2025–2026. Readable text and equivalent practice questions. Practice scores are not Cambridge grades.
1 · Geography 9696
Cambridge International AS & A Level
Geography 9696
Explore the topics you will study and the skills you will develop.
Examinations 2025–2026 · Syllabus Overview
2 · How the course is organised
AS Level: all six Core Physical and Core Human Geography topics. Full A Level adds two Advanced Physical Geography options and two Advanced Human Geography options. Topics 7–14 are menus, not eight compulsory additions.
Use the syllabus for examinations 2025–2026. Confirm your examination year and any options with your centre.
3 · AS · Paper 1 — Core Physical Geography · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology
Study drainage basins, river processes, landforms and flooding.
2 Atmosphere and weather
Explain energy budgets, atmospheric processes and weather.
4 · AS · Paper 1 — Core Physical Geography · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
3 Rocks and weathering
Connect rock processes, weathering, slopes and landforms.
5 · AS · Paper 2 — Core Human Geography · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
4 Population
Explore population structure, change and relationships with resources.
5 Migration
Explain patterns, causes and consequences of migration.
6 · AS · Paper 2 — Core Human Geography · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
6 Settlement dynamics
Investigate rural and urban settlements and their changes.
7 · A Level · Paper 3 — Advanced Physical Geography Options · 1
Choose two options for Paper 3; this is the full menu.
7 Tropical environments
Connect tropical climates, landforms, ecosystems and management.
8 Coastal environments
Study coastal processes, landforms, ecosystems and management.
8 · A Level · Paper 3 — Advanced Physical Geography Options · 2
Choose two options for Paper 3; this is the full menu.
9 Hazardous environments
Explore tectonic, mass movement and atmospheric hazards.
9 · A Level · Paper 3 — Advanced Physical Geography Options
Choose two options for Paper 3; this is the full menu.
10 Hot arid and semi-arid environments
Study dryland processes, landforms and environmental management.
10 · A Level · Paper 4 — Advanced Human Geography Options · 1
Choose two options for Paper 4; this is the full menu.
11 Production, location and change
Investigate agricultural and manufacturing production and change.
12 Environmental management
Explore energy, pollution, degradation and environmental management.
11 · A Level · Paper 4 — Advanced Human Geography Options · 2
Choose two options for Paper 4; this is the full menu.
13 Global interdependence
Connect trade, aid, tourism and interdependent economies.
12 · A Level · Paper 4 — Advanced Human Geography Options
Choose two options for Paper 4; this is the full menu.
14 Economic transition
Investigate development, globalisation and regional disparities.
13 · Skills you will develop
Use maps, graphs, photographs and data to construct evidence-based arguments. Build detailed real-world examples. Fieldwork supports learning but is not assessed in this syllabus.
14 · Keep the syllabus beside you
– Use the official syllabus for 2025–2026.
– Find each numbered topic or labelled option in the subject-content section.
– Use its detailed requirements to plan study and review progress.
[Open the official Cambridge syllabus](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/664556-2025-2026-syllabus.pdf)
The next five questions check your understanding of this topic map. They are optional practice with feedback and retries, not Cambridge grades.
Topic check 1 · Find the right area
Which topic studies population change and its relationship with resources?
– 8 Coastal environments
– 4 Population
– 11 Production, location and change
Show answer and feedback
Correct: 4 Population
Correct feedback: 4 Population: Explore population structure, change and relationships with resources. Review slide 05 and 06.
If 8 Coastal environments is selected: 8 Coastal environments: Study coastal processes, landforms, ecosystems and management. Review slide 07 and 08. The best match to this question is 4 Population.
If 11 Production, location and change is selected: 11 Production, location and change: Investigate agricultural and manufacturing production and change. Review slide 10 and 11. The best match to this question is 4 Population.
Topic check 2 · Understand the course structure
True or false: All eight advanced Geography options must be studied.
Show answer and feedback
Correct: False
Correct feedback: Correct. Choose two Advanced Physical and two Advanced Human Geography options; all six AS topics are required.
Incorrect feedback: Revisit slide 02. Choose two Advanced Physical and two Advanced Human Geography options; all six AS topics are required.
Topic check 3 · Complete the topic title
Explain patterns, causes and consequences of migration.
Complete the missing word in this topic title: 5 ____
Show answer and feedback
Accepted answer: Migration. Ignore case and surrounding whitespace; do not require the topic number.
Correct feedback: 5 Migration: Explain patterns, causes and consequences of migration. Review slide 05 and 06.
Incorrect feedback: Use the description to identify the topic. The missing word is “Migration”; the complete title is 5 Migration. Review slide 05 and 06.
Topic check 4 · Match topics to their focus
Match each description with its topic label. Use each label once.
Draggable labels: 1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology; 8 Coastal environments; 13 Global interdependence
– Study drainage basins, river processes, landforms and flooding. → [drop zone]
– Study coastal processes, landforms, ecosystems and management. → [drop zone]
– Connect trade, aid, tourism and interdependent economies. → [drop zone]
Show answer and feedback
– Row 1: 1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology. Review slide 03 and 04.
– Row 2: 8 Coastal environments. Review slide 07 and 08.
– Row 3: 13 Global interdependence. Review slide 10 and 11.
Correct feedback: Each label now matches its study focus.
Incorrect/partial feedback: Keep correct matches and revisit the topic descriptions above; use the solution to compare each pair.
Topic check 5 · Identify the study areas
Select the two topic labels that match these descriptions:
– Explore population structure, change and relationships with resources.
– Explore energy, pollution, degradation and environmental management.
Selectable text:
4 Population / 1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology / 12 Environmental management / 2 Atmosphere and weather
Show answer and feedback
Correct labels: 4 Population; 12 Environmental management.
Incorrect labels: 1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology; 2 Atmosphere and weather.
Correct feedback: 4 Population: Explore population structure, change and relationships with resources. Review slide 05 and 06. 12 Environmental management: Explore energy, pollution, degradation and environmental management. Review slide 10 and 11.
Incorrect/partial feedback: Match the meaning of each description, not just a familiar word. 1 Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology: Study drainage basins, river processes, landforms and flooding. Review slide 03 and 04. 2 Atmosphere and weather: Explain energy budgets, atmospheric processes and weather. Review slide 03 and 04.