Internal assessment (fieldwork) is an integral part of the Geography course and is compulsory for both SL and HL students. It enables students to demonstrate the application of their skills and knowledge, and to pursue their personal interests, without the time limitations and other constraints that are associated with written examinations.
The internal assessment requirements at SL and at HL are the same. The time allowed is 20 hours. For SL students the IA makes up 25% of the final grade in IB Geography. For HL students it is 20% of the final grade. Students are required to undertake fieldwork collecting primary information and produce one written report of maximum 2500 words that is based on a fieldwork question.
The internal assessment requirements at SL and at HL are the same. The time allowed is 20 hours. For SL students the IA makes up 25% of the final grade in IB Geography. For HL students it is 20% of the final grade. Students are required to undertake fieldwork collecting primary information and produce one written report of maximum 2500 words that is based on a fieldwork question.
Research Question
To what extent has leisure and tourism had a positive impact upon St Cergue, Switzerland?
Grateful thanks to my friend and colleague, Mr Roberts, College Champittet for the reproduction of material.
Here is the link to further and important fieldwork and investigation skills from your Oxford textbook. Read and use it thoroughly.
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What areas of the sight and which research hypothesis should be studied?
- We need to have enough of the right type of data to effectively answer the research question.
- We need to include at least one statistical analysis.
There will be 6 areas for study:
Building height/type - high and new worse - Jonathan, Yasmina, Carolina
Traffic stopping in town and passing through - Johanas, Vansh
Piste vegetation - Philip, Hamza
Pristine environment / 5 point scale - Yaelle, Sam, Aasir
Tourist survey - Kornel, Liam, Astrid
At selected leisure sites: more litter, disturbed/bare ground distance from sight (Spearman’s/chi-square) - Felipe, Georgia
Building height/type - high and new worse - Jonathan, Yasmina, Carolina
Traffic stopping in town and passing through - Johanas, Vansh
Piste vegetation - Philip, Hamza
Pristine environment / 5 point scale - Yaelle, Sam, Aasir
Tourist survey - Kornel, Liam, Astrid
At selected leisure sites: more litter, disturbed/bare ground distance from sight (Spearman’s/chi-square) - Felipe, Georgia
Data spreadsheet link |
Final work before data collection
Write the first two sections of the IA: the fieldwork question/geographic context and method(s) of data collection. By writing these two sections before undertaking the field trip, the context of the investigation and the methods to be used will be at the forefront of the investigator's mind. As sites will have been viewed virtually, this may also help to formulate hypotheses which should be completed at this point.
A bibliography should have been created by this point, with information sources included that have been used to find out information such as about the relevant geographic theory and the field trip site, including websites used for mapping. |
An example introduction from a previous study.
Note the link to the syllabus in red.
Fieldwork question and geographical context
Geographical Context
The study was carried out in Riederalp, a village in the Canton of Valais in the Swiss Alps. It lies next to the Aletsch Glacier, one of the principle sources of the Rhône. The area surrounding Riederalp is a year-round popular tourist location for mountain sport activities (skiing, hiking, paragliding). This investigation links to the leisure, sport and tourism part of the syllabus and examines the impacts of unsustainable tourism in the rural area.
Switzerland’s tourist industry is largely orientated around its Alpine climate and scenic landscapes, as well as the vast availability of sporting and outdoor recreational activities. Tourism plays an important role in the Swiss economy. In 2016 tourism contributed an estimated CHF 16.8 billion to the country’s gross domestic product, ranks 6th in national export revenue and supplies nearly 5% of all jobs.
Riederalps’ tourist industry took off following the construction of two cable car systems in 1987 and 1996. Materials were able to be taken up to Riederalp, hence its structural development which, alongside improved access, led to an influx of tourist activity.
It is said that growing tourism puts pristine environments and traditional agrarian economies under increasing threat due to the requirement of infrastructures and the introduction of national or transnational corporations.
Word count: 207
TASK - Present your part of the investigation clearly to the class.
Include:
"To what extent has leisure and tourism had a positive impact upon St Cergue, Switzerland?"
Include:
- A clear description of the methodology used and how it was implemented.
- Clear justification for the methodology used.
- Any changes to the methodology on the day and the implications of this to the study.
- An overview of the data and findings in terms of the question.
"To what extent has leisure and tourism had a positive impact upon St Cergue, Switzerland?"
Here is the examiner's observations and recommendations for students. Read it carefully and follow the guidance.