UK Human Landscape: Revision and Exam Practice

This final lesson brings together everything you have learned about the UK's evolving human landscape. It provides key term glossaries, comparison tables, a revision checklist, and detailed guidance on exam technique for the types of questions you will face on Paper 2, Topic 5 of the Edexcel GCSE Geography B (1GB0) specification. Use this lesson as your primary revision tool in the weeks leading up to the exam.

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Key Terms Glossary

Population and Demographics

Term	Definition
Birth rate	Number of live births per 1,000 population per year
Death rate	Number of deaths per 1,000 population per year
Natural change	Birth rate minus death rate
Net migration	Immigration minus emigration
Ageing population	A rising proportion of elderly people in the total population
Dependency ratio	The ratio of non-working (young + elderly) to working-age people
Population density	Number of people per km²
Population pyramid	A graphical representation of the age-sex structure of a population

Economy and Employment

Term	Definition
Deindustrialisation	The decline of manufacturing industry in a country
Post-industrial economy	An economy dominated by service and knowledge-based industries
North-south divide	The economic and social gap between southern England and the rest of the UK
Globalisation	The increasing interconnection of the world's economies, cultures, and populations
TNC	Transnational Corporation — a company operating in more than one country
FDI	Foreign Direct Investment — investment by a foreign company in another country's economy
GDP	Gross Domestic Product — the total value of goods and services produced by a country
Quaternary sector	Economic activity based on knowledge, research, and information technology

Settlement and Urbanisation

Term	Definition
Urbanisation	The increasing proportion of a population living in urban areas
Suburbanisation	The outward spread of the urban area into surrounding countryside
Counterurbanisation	The movement of people from cities to rural areas
Reurbanisation	The movement of people back into city centres
Settlement hierarchy	The ranking of settlements by size and range of services
Commuter settlement	A settlement where many residents travel to a nearby city for work
Sphere of influence	The area served by a settlement or service

London

Term	Definition
Global city	A city with significant influence on world trade, finance, culture, and politics
Gentrification	The transformation of a low-income area by incoming wealthier residents
Regeneration	The planned improvement of a run-down area through investment
ULEZ	Ultra Low Emission Zone — a charge for polluting vehicles
Congestion Charge	A daily fee for driving in central London
Thames Barrier	A moveable flood barrier across the Thames at Woolwich
Green Belt	Protected land around London where building is restricted
Borough	A local government district within London

Rural

Term	Definition
Depopulation	A decline in the population of an area
Spiral of decline	A vicious cycle where population loss leads to service closure, leading to further loss
Farm diversification	Developing non-agricultural income streams on farmland
Second home	A property used as a holiday/weekend retreat, not a primary residence
ELMS	Environmental Land Management Schemes — post-Brexit farming subsidy system
Rewilding	The large-scale restoration of ecosystems to a more natural state
National park	A protected area managed for conservation and public enjoyment
Sandford Principle	In national parks, conservation takes priority over recreation where they conflict

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Comparison Tables

London: Challenges vs Opportunities

Theme	Challenge	Opportunity
Housing	Average price ~£520,000; 300,000+ on social housing waiting lists	Affordable housing targets (35%); shared ownership; Build to Rent
Employment	Inequality — high-skilled jobs cluster in certain boroughs	Extraordinary diversity of employment across many sectors
Transport	Congestion costs ~£5.1 billion/year; 8 mph average car speed	Elizabeth Line, Tube, bus network, cycling infrastructure
Environment	Air pollution causes ~4,000 premature deaths/year	ULEZ has reduced NO₂ by ~44%; green spaces cover ~47% of London
Social	28% live in poverty (after housing costs); extreme borough inequality	Free museums; Olympic legacy in deprived Newham; cultural richness
Growth	Pressure on NHS, schools, police, water, and sewerage	Tax revenue; innovation; global talent attraction

Urban vs Rural

Feature	Urban Areas	Rural Areas
Population trend	Generally growing (reurbanisation)	Remote areas declining; accessible rural growing
Employment	Diverse — services, finance, tech, creative	Limited — farming, tourism, small businesses
Services	Wide range of services close by	Services declining (post offices, pubs, buses)
Housing	Expensive but more available; high density	Expensive in attractive areas (second homes); limited new build
Transport	Extensive public transport	Car-dependent; limited buses and trains
Environment	Pollution, noise, heat island effect	Cleaner air, green space, but loss of habitats to farming
Connectivity	Excellent broadband and mobile	Poor broadband and mobile in many areas
Key challenge	Housing affordability; congestion; inequality	Depopulation; service decline; ageing population

Migration: Positive vs Negative Impacts on the UK

Positive	Negative
Fills labour shortages (NHS, construction, agriculture)	Pressure on housing, schools, and healthcare
Brings skills and entrepreneurship	Can cause tensions in communities experiencing rapid change
Cultural enrichment (food, music, festivals)	Some areas feel local identity is being diluted
Young migrants reduce dependency ratio	Exploitation of low-wage migrant workers
Tax contributions support public services	Language barriers can create challenges

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Revision Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you have covered all required content.

UK Overview

• Population growth trends and causes (birth/death rates, migration)
• Ageing population — causes and consequences
• Population distribution and density across the UK
• Economic sectors and the shift to a service economy
• Deindustrialisation — causes and impacts
• North-south divide — evidence and policies to address it
• UK trade links, FDI, and TNCs
• EU, Brexit, and Commonwealth connections
• Settlement hierarchy and functions
• Urbanisation stages: urbanisation → suburbanisation → counterurbanisation → reurbanisation
• New Towns

London (Dynamic UK City)

• Physical geography (Thames, flood risk)
• Population characteristics (size, diversity, age, boroughs)
• Global city status and economic significance
• Immigration patterns (Windrush, EU, recent trends)
• Gentrification (Shoreditch, Brixton)
• Regeneration (Canary Wharf, Olympic Park, King's Cross)
• Housing crisis (prices, social housing, homelessness)
• Transport congestion and air pollution (ULEZ, Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah)
• Inequality between boroughs (Tower Hamlets vs Richmond)
• Opportunities (employment, education, culture, Olympic legacy)
• Urban strategies (Elizabeth Line, Thames Barrier, affordable housing, Congestion Charge, green spaces)