Edexcel IGCSE in Bangladesh Studies (4BNO) Specification

Paper 1: The History and Culture of Bangladesh

Overview of content
The content for Paper 1 is in eight sections:
• Section 1 − Bengal before the Mughals
• Section 2 − Bengal in the Mughal Empire
• Section 3 − Bengal under British rule
• Section 4 − Bengal from partition to partition: 1905–1947
• Section 5 − Undivided Pakistan
• Section 6 − The struggle for independence and the creation of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
• Section 7 − Bangladesh since 1975
• Section 8 − The heritage, language and culture of Bangladesh.

Overview of assessment Notes

• This paper is assessed through a one-hour and 30-minute examination set and In topics such as tribal culture, students
marked by Edexcel. are not expected to display knowledge
• The total number of marks available is 60. and understanding of any one tribe, but
• The paper will consist of eight question and students must answer three of these. It will be able to comment generally on
is therefore not necessary for students to study all eight tribal culture. Questions on this in the
examination would allow students to
sections of the specification. comment on any chosen tribe. Students
• Each question will be marked out of 20 according to four levels of response. are not expected to write about all of the
• One question will be set on each of the eight sections in the subject content. individuals mentioned in a section. They
are given a choice from two or more of
Detailed subject content the individuals. When planning courses,
teachers can choose topics for teaching.
Section 1 − Bengal before the Mughals It is not necessary to study all the
a) Hinduism and Buddhism in Bengal content, as students are required to
b) The Turkish invasion and the spread of Islam answer questions on only three sections.
c) Sufis and Sufism
d) Bengal under the sultanate
e) The role of individuals: Bakhtiar Khalji, Iliyas Shah, Hossain Shah.

Section 2 − Bengal in the Mughal Empire

a) The occupation of Bengal
b) The Mughal administration in Bengal
c) Problems faced by the Mughals in Bengal
d) Development of Dhaka and its trade relations
e) The role of individuals: Islam Khan, Shaista Khan, Murshid Quli Khan.

Section 3 − Bengal under British rule

a) The British conquest of Bengal
b) The government of Bengal by the East India Company
c) The development of the Bangla language, Bengali nationalism and the Indian
National Congress
d) The government of Bengal from 1858 to the beginning of the twentieth century
e) The role of individuals: Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Lord Cornwallis.

Section 4 − Bengal from partition to partition: 1905-1947

a) The first partition of Bengal, the birth of the All-India Muslim League, the
annulment of partition
b) British attempts to reform the government of India: 1909, 1919 and 1935
c) The impact of the Lahore Declaration and the Pakistan Movement
d) The Indian Independence Act and the second partition of Bengal
e) The role of individuals: M A Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose.

Section 5 − Undivided Pakistan

a) Constitutional differences between East and West Pakistan
b) Linguistic and cultural differences between East and West Pakistan
c) The foundation of the Awami Muslim League
d) The Lahore Conference and the Six-Point Programme
e) The role of individuals: M A Jinnah, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Ayub
Khan.

Section 6 − The struggle for independence and the creation of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh
a) The impact of the 1970 National Assembly elections
b) The War of Liberation
c) Immediate problems faced by the Republic of Bangladesh
d) The Bangladesh Constitution
e) The role of individuals: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Yahya Khan, Indira Gandhi.

Section 7 − Bangladesh since 1975

a) Political changes since 1975
b) The development and role of political parties
c) Bangladesh in world affairs
d) Contemporary issues in Bangladesh, eg the media, education, popular culture, music,
the role of women, the press, agriculture, industry, social and political issues
e) The role of individuals: Ziaur Rahman, H M Ershad, Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina.

Section 8 − The heritage, language and culture of Bangladesh

a) The influence of religion on art and culture
b) The Language Movement, Ekushey February and UN Mother Tongue Day
c) Folk literature, music and culture in Bangladesh
d) Tribal culture (Hill Tracts, Garo and Santhal)
e) The role of individuals: Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrual Islam, Begum Sufia Kamal.

Paper 2: The Land, People and Economy of Bangladesh

Content overview
The examination for Paper 2 is in four sections:
• Section 1 – compulsory question
• Section 2 − The Land of Bangladesh
• Section 3 − The People of Bangladesh
• Section 4 − The Economy of Bangladesh.
The content for students to study in this paper is found in Sections 2, 3 and 4. Each section comprises four key topics.
Assessment overview
• This paper is assessed through a one-hour and 30-minute examination set and marked by Edexcel.
• The total number of marks available is 60.
• The paper is made up of four sections.
• Section 1 will comprise a compulsory question. It will cover the basic geography of Bangladesh and will usually be based
on a map.
• Students will then be required to answer a further three questions, choosing one from Section 2 − The Land of Bangladesh,
one from Section 3 − The People of Bangladesh, and one from Section 4 − The Economy of Bangladesh.
• There will be a choice from two questions in each of Sections 2, 3 and 4. Each question will test knowledge and
understanding of at least one of the section’s four key topics.
• All questions will be structured and some will involve the interpretation of resource materials.
Detailed subject content
Section 1
This section contains no specific content. In the examination Section 1 contains a compulsory question. It will cover the
basic geography of Bangladesh and will usually be based on a map. The content for the Section 1 question is found in
Sections 2, 3 and 4.

Section 2 − The Land of Bangladesh

2.1 Location, Relief and Drainage
Students should be able to:
• demonstrate a knowledge of the location of Bangladesh in the world
• locate and name the main features of relief and drainage of Bangladesh and discuss the influence of physical features and
rivers on human activities.
2.2 Climate
• describe and explain the main features of the climates of Bangladesh, including the nature and causes of seasonal and
regional variations in rainfall
• discuss the causes and possible outcomes of global warming
• analyse and use climatic data.
2.3 Natural Resources
• explain the importance to Bangladesh of the following natural resources: soils, vegetation (forests and mangroves), wildlife
(including fish), minerals and energy sources
• discuss the reasons why the use of these resources should be carefully managed.
2.4 Natural Hazards
• explain the causes, effects and responses to cyclones, tidal waves, floods, droughts and earthquakes.

Section 3 − The People of Bangladesh

3.1 Population Growth and Distribution
• discuss the problems caused by rapid population growth and the steps taken to reduce it
• analyse and use population data, including birth and death rates, natural growth rate, infant and maternal mortality rates and
life expectancy; interpret population pyramids
• describe the distribution of population within Bangladesh; understand the factors causing spatial variations in population
density.
3.2 Migration
• explain the reasons for, and effects of, migration within Bangladesh (particularly ruralurban) and migration to other
countries.
3.3 Settlement
• describe and explain the reasons for urbanisation, the problems associated with it and the steps taken to tackle those
problems
• discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in rural and urban areas
• locate, with reasonable accuracy, the main cities of Bangladesh and describe the site, situation and internal structure of any
two major cities.
3.4 Society and Welfare
• describe the homogeneity and diversity of Bangladeshi society, culture and language
• discuss the problems caused by class differences and social inequalities (poverty and illiteracy) and describe the steps being
taken to reduce them
• discuss the role of women in social and economic life, the attempts to improve their status and the difficulties encountered.

Section 4 − The Economy of Bangladesh

4.1 Agriculture
• describe the distinctive character of agriculture as compared with other activities in the primary sector and with those of the
secondary and tertiary sectors
• describe and understand the inputs, processes and outputs of different agricultural systems (particularly the production of
commercial crops and livestock)
• explain why the use of irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides is necessary, and describe the problems associated with them
• describe the attempts and associated problems of increasing agricultural production and assess the contribution of the
‘Green Revolution’.
4.2 Manufacturing
• locate the main manufacturing industries and describe the factors influencing their location
• discuss the problems associated with the growth of manufacturing, including pollution and access to capital, energy, skills
and technology
• discuss labour issues, including skills training, unionisation and the use of female and child labour.
4.3 Services
• describe the range and importance of tertiary sector activities in Bangladesh, paying particular attention to those of the
informal sub-sector
• describe the networks of different modes of transport (rail, road, water, air and pipelines) and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of each of them
• identify the country’s pattern of international trade (its main imports, exports and overall balance).
4.4 Development
• compare the state of development in Bangladesh today with other countries, particularly in terms of per capita income,
literacy, health and education
• explain the nature of economic globalisation and its impacts on Bangladesh
• describe and explain the reasons for, and problems caused by, the differential economic development within Bangladesh, as
between regions and between urban and rural areas
• describe the impacts that development has on the environment, particularly pollution and the depletion of natural resources.

AO descriptions for Paper 1

AO1 Recall, select and use knowledge of the subject content
Students will be expected to acquire knowledge of some periods of the history of Bangladesh included in the qualification.
Where specific individuals, events or changes are mentioned, they should be given special attention.
Students will be expected to describe important events, individuals and changes in the history of Bangladesh since the
Bengali Sultanate. Credit will be given to students who are able to set events in the correct chronological sequence and
describe the contribution of key individuals to the development of Bangladesh.
AO2 Demonstrate an understanding of this knowledge
Students will be expected to use the knowledge and understanding they have gained in explaining the past. Students who are
able to relate their knowledge and understanding to specific issues, events or changes will be more successful than those who
simply recount details of past events. Students will be expected to set events and the contributions of individuals into the
overall context of the development of Bangladesh. They should be able to explain why events and changes took place and
list their consequences or effects. In the case of key individuals, students should be able to assess the significance of their
contribution to the development of Bangladesh.
AO3 Evaluate differing explanations, interpretations and points of view
Students should have developed an understanding that accounts of the past may differ for valid reasons. They should be able,
where relevant, to show understanding of the reasons why explanations of the past differ. For example, students should be
aware of differing explanations of the effects of the British occupation of Bengal. They should also be aware that Bangladesh
has a varied population and that the interests of different ethnic groups have resulted in disagreements about the past, some
of which continue today.

AO descriptions for Paper 2

AO1 Recall, select and use knowledge of the subject content
Students will be expected to gain knowledge of selected topics, as specified in the qualification, that relate to three aspects of
modern Bangladesh – its land, people and economy. Ways of demonstrating this knowledge include using appropriate
terminology (see Glossary) and being able to select, organise and present relevant facts in written form.
AO2 Demonstrate an understanding of this knowledge
Students will be expected to use their knowledge to explain geographical aspects of Bangladesh. Students who are able to
demonstrate this understanding will be more successful than those who simply recount factual details. Students will be
expected to set details of the country’s land, people and economy into the context of the overall development of Bangladesh.
Students should understand the links that exist between (i) the three main units and (ii) topics within individual units. An
example of the former might be the significance of natural resources to the economic development of Bangladesh. The
impact of rural urban migration on population distribution and urban settlement might serve as anexample of the latter.
Included under this heading is the expectation that students will be able to interpret and use information conveyed in a range
of resource materials, from maps and graphs to statistical tables and photographs.
AO3 Evaluate differing explanations, interpretations and points of view
Students should be aware that there are particular topics within the qualification on which opinion is divided. Some of those
divisions stem from the fact that people can perceive or interpret the same situation or data in different ways (for example,
the importance of the informal sector or the form of international aid most appropriate to Bangladesh’s current needs). Other
divisions of opinion relate to the explanations given for a particular phenomenon (for example the causes of global warming
or poverty).

Examination questions for Paper 1

Paper 1 will contain eight questions, one for each of the eight sections in the qualification. This means that you can be
confident that, if a section is covered satisfactorily, students will be able to complete the paper. This is intended to give you
flexibility and choice in the selection of material you wish to cover. It will also give students a greater opportunity to display
what they know and can do, rather than identify what they cannot do. Students will be required to answer three questions,
each from a different section of the qualification. The questions, in each section, will always be straightforward essay
questions, which will usually ask students to explain why something happened or why something was important. The essay
question will be supported by stimulus material which will give students guidance on the focus required for a sound answer.
It is important to note, therefore, that students will not necessarily need to have studied all eight sections of the qualification
in order to answer three questions. Indeed, it would probably be extremely difficult, given that the History and Culture paper
comprises half the complete qualification, for you and your students to cover all eight sections in sufficient depth to attempt
the paper satisfactorily. You can, therefore, choose to select a minimum of three sections to cover in detail, knowing that
students will be able to complete the paper satisfactorily. However, you are advised that it would be better to cover a
minimum of four sections. This will give students an extra degree of flexibility.

Examination questions for Paper 2

Paper 2 comprises seven questions. The first of these (Section A) will be compulsory. The remaining six will each be
divided into three sections 2, 3 and 4, with two questions set in each section. These coincide with the three sections: the
Land, the People and the Economy. In addition to the compulsory question 1, students will be required to answer three more
questions, selecting one from each of section 2, 3 and 4. Each question will be marked out of 15, making a total of 60 marks
for the paper as a whole. Given that all the questions carry equal marks, students should be advised to give them equal
attention in terms of the time they spend on them. The time allowed for this paper is 1 hour and 30 minutes. This suggests
that students should devote about 20 minutes to each question, whilst recognising that it will probably take at least five
minutes at the beginning to read through the examination paper and choose their question. All questions are structured,
short-answer questions. Each will incorporate some stimulus material that will, in some way or another, test the skills of
interpreting resource materials (thematic maps, diagrams, photographs, statistical tables) or of drawing sketch maps and
graphs. The compulsory question in Section A will test general knowledge of the basic geography of Bangladesh,
particularly the locations of key features such as rivers and hilly tracts, resource source areas, cities and ports. A map will be
involved. It might be an outline map for plotting locations or a topographic map extract for an interpretation exercise. The
six questions that make up Sections 2, 3 and 4 will all be similar in style and format:
• each will comprise three main parts, a), b) and c) and may have further sub-divisions
• in most instances, there will be a resource (map, diagram or table) that acts as a stimulus in part a). Occasionally students
will be required to complete a diagram or compile a sketch map
• parts a) and b) will mainly involve two types of response: i) the identification and listing of facts or factors, and ii) brief
explanations involving no more than a few lines of prose
• part c) will normally require some sort of explanation and there will be an expectation of extended writing (i.e. continuous
prose). Something in the order of 10 lines of normal-sized writing is a rough indicator of the length of expected response.
It needs to be stressed that each of these six questions will take into account more than one section topic and there are
dangers in teaching too few of the topics in any particular section. To be reasonably secure, you are advised not to ignore any
more than one topic in each section.

Course planner for Paper 1

You are strongly advised to take note of the structure of the question paper when devising a scheme of work for the History
and Culture section of the qualification. You do not need to cover all eight sections of the specification because there will be
one question set on each of the eight sections. It is necessary, therefore, to cover a minimum of three sections only.
However, it is advisable to cover four in order to give students more flexibility and choice. You are free to decide on the
choice and number of units. However, outlined below is an exemplar scheme of work. It covers Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, which
may prove to be the most popular options in many centres.
Section 3: Bengal under British rule
a The British conquest of Bengal
b The government of Bengal by the East India Company
c The development of the Bangla language, Bengali nationalism and the Indian National Congress
d The government of Bengal from 1858 to the beginning of the twentieth century
e The role of individuals: Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Lord Cornwallis
Section 4: Bengal: from partition to partition: 1905-1947
a The first partition of Bengal, the birth of the All-India Muslim League, the annulment of partition
b British attempts to reform the government of India: 1909, 1919 and 1935
c The impact of the Lahore Declaration and the Pakistan Movement
d The Indian Independence Act and the second partition of Bengal
e The role of individuals: M A Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose
Section 5. Undivided Pakistan
a Constitutional differences between East and West Pakistan
b Linguistic and cultural differences between East and West Pakistan
c The foundation of the Awami Muslim League
d The Lahore Conference and the Six-Point Programme
e The role of individuals: M A Jinnah, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Ayub Khan
Section 6. The struggle for independence and the creation of the People’s Republic
of Bangladesh
a The impact of the 1970 National Assembly elections
b The War of Liberation
c Immediate problems faced by the Republic of Bangladesh
d The Bangladesh Constitution
e The role of key individuals: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Yahya Khan, Indira Gandhi
Term 1
Area covered Content
Bengal in the The rule of the Nawabs (by way of introduction).
eighteenth century Reasons for the arrival of Europeans, establishment of trading posts.
War between the French and British (outline only as far as it affects Bengal).
The military and political achievements of Robert Clive; Double Government; relations with the
Mughal Empire.
The reforms of Warren Hastings; tax farming; law courts.
The Cornwallis reforms of the police, law and order and civil service.
Separation of East India Company administration from trade.
The Permanent Settlement.
Exclusion of Indians from administration.
Term 2
Area covered Content
Bengal in the The government of the East India Company to 1857.
nineteenth century Reasons for the removal of the East India Company.
Government by Westminster from 1858.
The powers of the Viceroy.
The administration of India.
Indian involvement in the government of Bengal.
The foundation of the Indian National Congress and its impact.
The development of the Bangla language – promotion by the East India Company.
The work of Rabindandrath Tagore and other writers and poets.
Term 3
Area covered Content
Bengal 1900 to 1947 The partition of Bengal 1905 and the foundation of the Muslim League.
The Morley-Minto reforms and the end of partition.
The Government of India Act 1919.
The Government of India Act 1935.
Reasons for the growth of support for Pakistan.
Impact of war on support for the Muslim League.
The Lahore Declaration.
The role and impact of Subhas Chandra Bose.
Reasons for partition – failure of the Cabinet Mission; communal violence; Mountbatten.
 Impact of the Partition of Bengal
Term 4
Area covered Content
Pakistan The constitution of Pakistan.
The foundation and impact of the Awami League.
Cultural and linguistic differences.
Ekushey February.
The Language Movement.
The United Front and the election of 1954.
The Lahore Declaration and the Six-Point Programme.
The role of Sheikh Mujib.

Term 5
Area covered Content
Liberation The role of President Ayub Khan.
Impact of the 1970 election.
Tactics of the Pakistan army.
The Bangladeshi holocaust.
Indian and international involvement..
Independence.
Post-war difficulties
Economic and political problems 1971-75.

Course planner for Paper 2

Paper 2 is made up of three sections. There is no reason why these sections and each of their component topics should not be
allocated an equal amount of time. We recommend that you think broadly in terms of 20 hours for each section, and five
hours for each topic. However, this is not intended to be prescriptive. You should feel able to relax those guidelines to allow
you to teach to your particular strengths and interests, or to capitalise on opportunities and resources that exist in and around
your centre. The most straightforward approach is to teach the three sections in the order in which they are set out in the
qualification, namely to start with the physical environment and finish with the overarching topic of development (see
Planning sheet 1).

Paper 2 — Planning sheet 1

Content taught in the same order as it is presented in the specification.
Term 1 Term 2
Content Content
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
2.1 Location, relief and drainage 2.3 Natural resources (continued)
2.2 Climate 2.4 Natural hazards
3.3 Natural resources Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
3.1 Population growth and distribution
Term 3 Term 4
Content Content
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
3.2 Migration 3.4 Society and welfare
3.3 Settlement (might benefit from more than five Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
hours) 4.1 Agriculture
4.2 Manufacturing
Term 5
Content
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh 4.3 Services
4.2 Manufacturing (continued) 4.4 Development

The links between Paper 2 topics

It is possible to order teaching of the Paper 2 topics in a variety of ways. As shown below, the many links and points of
contact that exist between the topics can provide, and justify, a range of delivery pathways.
Links within sections
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
• Location, relief and drainage affect climate, particularly the amount of precipitation and its subsequent disposal.
• Climate creates events that become natural hazards.
• Climate is both a natural resource and a factor affecting biotic resources (soils, vegetation, wildlife).
• The accessibility of natural resources is conditioned by location, relief and drainage.
• The impact of natural hazards (floods and tidal waves) is affected by relief and drainage.
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
• Migration is an important influence on changing population distribution.
• Rural-urban migration fuels the growth of urban settlements.
• It is in large settlements that many of the current issues of society and welfare are most keenly felt.
• The environments created by settlements are a major influence on society and welfare, particularly the latter.
• Population growth goes hand in hand with the growth of settlements.
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
• Development involves rising expectations in terms of services.
• Agriculture yields raw materials for manufacturing.
• Marketing the outputs of manufacturing generates a range of services.
• The growth of manufacturing and services places demands on commercial agriculture to feed a rising number of non-
agricultural workers and their families.
• The improvement of transport services is a vital part of the development process.
Links between sections
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh and Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
• Location, relief and drainage affect the locations and built-up areas of settlements.
• Location, relief and drainage help mould population distribution.
• Population growth means increased exploitation of natural resources.
• Natural hazards have an adverse effect on population growth and distribution.
• Natural hazards can trigger migration.
• The reliability of climate is important to modern society and welfare.
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh and Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
• Location, relief and drainage are important considerations in the location of manufacturing.
• Natural hazards can impede development.
• Climate is a major influence on agriculture (what is grown and when).
• Natural resources are crucial to development.
• Development leads to the depletion of natural resources.
• Changes in climate (global warming) could have serious consequences for development.
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh and Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
• Population growth increases the demands placed on agriculture.
• Development is necessary to support population growth.
• Development should benefit both society and welfare (reducing poverty and illiteracy).
• Manufacturing and services are mainly located in urban settlements.
• The changing pattern of demand for services reflects both population growth and shifts in society and welfare.
• Migration is one way of meeting the changing labour patterns that are a part of development.

Paper 2 — Planning sheet 2

This sets out a sequence of topics starting with 3.4 Development. The thread that links the remainder of the topics is the
development process itself – its causal factors, its outcomes and its challenges.
Term 1 Term 2
Content Content
4.4 Development (as the launch topic, it might benefit from Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
more than five hours of teaching)
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh 2.2 Climate
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
2.3 Natural resources 4.1 Agriculture
4.2 Manufacturing
Term 3 Term 4
Content Content
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
4.2 Manufacturing (continued) 3.1 Population growth and distribution
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
3.3 Settlement 2.1 Location, relief and drainage
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh 2.3 Natural hazards
4.3 Services
Term 5
Content
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
2.3 Natural hazards (continued)
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
3.2 Migration
3.4 Society and welfare

Paper 2 — Planning sheet 3

This starts with 2.1 Population growth and distribution and the remaining topics are seen as factors affecting the
Bangladeshi people in terms of where they live, what they do and their quality of life.
Term 1
Content
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
3.1 Population growth and distribution (as the launch topic, it might benefit from more than five hours of teaching)
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
2.1 Location, relief and drainage
Term 2 Term 3
Content Content
Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh Section 2 – The Land of Bangladesh
2.4 Natural hazards 2.3 Natural resources (continued)
2.2 Climate Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
2.3 Natural resources 4.1 Agriculture
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
3.2 Migration
Term 4 Term 5
Content Content
Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh
4.2 Manufacturing 3.3 Settlement (continued)
4.3 Services 3.4 Society and welfare
Section 3 – The People of Bangladesh Section 4 – The Economy of Bangladesh
3.3 Settlement 4.4 Development

It is recommended that during the course of covering the qualification content, students should be made aware of, and have
the opportunity to practise, a number of skills. These include:
• communication skills – developing proficiency in the English language through class discussions of relevant topical issues,
essay writing, compiling continuous prose answers to the final parts of questions and using appropriate terminology (see
Glossary)
• map skills – with particular reference to topographic maps, recognising landforms and human features of the landscape
• atlas skills – using an atlas wherever relevant in the course
• sketching skills – communicating ideas through simple sketch maps and diagrams
• graphic skills – plotting graphs, using proportional symbols, annotating diagrams
• statistical skills – using simple statistical measures, such as means and percentages
• ICT skills – accessing the internet to gain information about Bangladesh and its place in the modern world.

Teaching ideas
Preparing students for Paper 1
In the study guide there are a number of exercises that you can use to help prepare students for the examination. The
principle aim of these exercises is to encourage students to take a more active role in their studies and also to provide a
means of revision before the examination. You can use the exercises as they stand or you may wish to adapt them to be used
in any medium that is available. They are also intended to be used as models to develop other possible exercises, which
either use different subject matter or extend and develop the approaches adopted further.

Essay writing
The ability to write clear and well-organised essays will be very important if students are to be awarded high grades in Paper
1.
What are the key features examiners will be looking for?
1 An essay should begin appropriately
The simplest way of beginning an answer is to use the words from the question. This has two benefits. (i) It ensures that
students actually answer the question on the examination paper. Very often examiners find that students have not read the
question carefully enough and therefore answer the question that they think is on the paper. (ii) It will also ‘catch the
examiner’s eye’. Examiners like to be convinced as soon as possible that answers are on the right track.
2 If possible, an essay should be planned
At the very least, events should be in the correct order so that an examiner can understand what the student is describing or
explaining. If students wish to reach bands 2 and 3, there must be some degree of organisation.
3 An essay should be concluded satisfactorily
Often, students will finish with a short paragraph which begins with words such as ‘In conclusion …’. However, this
frequently does little more than tell the examiner that the answer is coming to an end. Students would be better advised to
stop and think briefly before writing their final paragraph and try to sum up the most important reasons, effects or changes.
4 Key words
You may like to use key words to encourage students to write more effectively. A recommendation for a key word to
remember when beginning an answer is ‘smack’. Smack the examiner between the eyes in order to show that the correct
question is being answered. The key word for finishing an answer is ‘overall’. This suggests that there should be some form
of summing up.
Exercise: Planning an essay
Explain the importance of Robert Clive in the development of British rule in Bengal
Below is an answer to this question. It is the band 3 answer used in the marking exercise below, but it has been cut up and
re-arranged. Students can be asked to reorganise this answer into a form that makes sense as a way of practising essay
writing.
1. Clive returned to Bengal in 1765 and began to reorganise the administration. Although the Mughal Emperor was
virtually powerless, he persuaded him to accept 2.6 million rupees a year in exchange for Bengal and took the title of
Diwani.
2. Clive realised that the East India Company army was far too small to defeat Sirajuddaula’s and so persuaded Mir
Jafar to defect. This enabled Clive to win the battle of Palashi. Sirajuddaula and was arrested soon afterwards by Mir Jafar’s
son. Clive had now won control of Bengal against overwhelming odds but was recalled to London in 1760.
3. The East India Company took a share of the taxes but did not have to spend any time, effort
or money in collecting them. This became known as the Clive System or Double
Government. Overall, Clive had showed both military and political skill in ensuring that
the British won control of Bengal.
4. Robert Clive played a very important role in the development of British rule in Bengal. After working as a clerk in
the East India Company, he then joined the army and was able to defend Madras from French attacks in the early 1750s. His
success resulted from his brave leadership and readiness to take risks.
5. He became responsible for the civil government and used traditional Bengali methods. Clive therefore interfered as
little as possible in the administration of Bengal which reduced opposition to British rule.
6. When Kolkata fell to Sirajuddaula in 1756, Clive was given command of the army that was sent to recapture it.
Clive was able to retake Kolkata but then showed his political skill by forming a secret treaty with Mir Jafar.
7. This again showed Clive’s political skill because it ensured that British rule of Bengal would not be challenged. He
also appreciated that he did not have the resources or knowledge to govern Bengal and, therefore, appointed a deputy, Syed
Muhammad Reza Khan.

Essay plan frameworks

Here are three essay plan frameworks. These show how answers can be organised in order to achieve marks in bands 2, 3
and 4. The frameworks can be used in a variety of ways.
1 Students can be given a framework, an essay title and a list of relevant factors out of sequence. Students should arrange the
factors in the most appropriate order.
2 Students can be given a framework, an essay title and a list of factors, some of which are relevant and some of which are
not, and asked to select and organise the relevant material.
3 Students can be given two essay titles (which may be related) and two frameworks with the materials for both, and asked
to sort the materials appropriately.
4 Related titles could cover the causes, events and results of an incident or issue. This has the added advantage of enabling
students to gain a wider understanding of an issue or topic.
5 Students can be given two frameworks and two essay titles with a list of materials, which includes irrelevant content.
Students now have to sort and evaluate the materials appropriately.
6 The essay frameworks can be used to make the above processes more complex. Students may begin by using the band 2
framework, but then be asked to use the band 3 and band 4 frameworks. Decisions on the suitability of the levels for
individual students are important and will need to be taken by teachers.
7 The process can, therefore, be made increasingly complex with very little additional work for you. The requirements for
levels are broken down into small, manageable steps that students can take gradually.
8 The over-riding issue is that it is better for a student to be able to work confidently at a certain level, rather than be exposed
to a level where they lack confidence.

Essay framework exercise

This is an example exercise for an essay framework.
Why did opposition in Bengal grow to Pakistani rule in the 1950 and 1960s?
Students have to decide the most appropriate order for the following pieces of information.
They also need to write notes on the importance of each of the following points.
1 Ekushey February
2 The Founding of the Awami League
3 The Six-Point Programme
4 The Lahore Conference
5 The Language Movement
6 The formation of the United Front
7 The Constitution of Pakistan

Essay plan framework, band 2

Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Introduction: It is important to try to make sure that you start at the beginning. Don’t just jump into writing without a little
thought. If you are describing an event, make sure you get first things first. Write down at what point you are going to start
your answer.
Body: This is the main part of your answer. You need to write a series of paragraphs describing what happened, or, if you
can, giving a reason why something happened. The number of paragraphs may vary depending on the topic that you are
writing about. In each paragraph you should try to write about a different issue, reason or aspect of the topic. Write down
what you are going to mention in each paragraph.
Paragraph 1:
Paragraph 2:
Paragraph 3:
Paragraph 4:
Conclusion: In this section you finish off your answer. Try not to stop `dead’. Try to make sure that you finish at the end.
Write down what you are going to say to round off your answer.

Essay plan framework, Band 3

Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Introduction: This must be the beginning of the topic. Look for the key word, such as ‘Why’ , and try not to leave the
examiner guessing as to what you are going to say. Make sure that you begin at the beginning. If possible, explain any words
or terms in the question.
Body: This must cover the main points that you want to make. It is very important that the paragraphs are arranged logically,
which means that you must work out the sequence before you actually start writing. For example, if you are referring to
long- and short-term causes, make sure that you explain the long-term causes first. But, if you are referring to long- and
short-term effects, make sure that you refer to the short-term effects first. Write down what you are going to mention in each
paragraph, and how you are going to link it to the next one.
Paragraph 1:
Link
Paragraph 2:
Link
Paragraph 3:
Link
Paragraph 4:
Link
Conclusion: In this section you finish off your answer. Try not to stop `dead’ and make sure that you end with the last
reason or event in chronological order. Make it clear to the examiner that you have brought your answer to a logical
conclusion.

Essay plan framework, Band 4

Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Introduction: In this section you must make it clear to the examiner that you understand the question. You must explain any
names, dates or terms and also refer to the main points that you are going to make in your answer. You should be aware of
what you are going to include in your conclusion.
Argument: In this section you explain your answer in detail. It is essential that you refer to all the points that you made in
the introduction and that they are dealt with in a logical sequence. The examiner should be in no doubt about what you
believe are the most important factors, events or consequences, and these must be explained in this section and also referred
to in the conclusion. The most important quality of a band 4 answer is that it is clear that you have planned it fully
beforehand.
Paragraph 1:
Link
Paragraph 2:
Link
Paragraph 3:
Link
Paragraph 4:
Link
Conclusion: In this section you finish off your answer. Refer back to the points that you made in the argument and explained
in the support. Make absolutely clear what you believe to be the main reasons etc. Do not introduce any new information at
this point.

Preparing students for Paper 2

It is important to note that, in the following notes for guidance, the term ‘geography’ is sometimes used as a shorthand
reference for this paper with its three components: the Land, People and Economy of Bangladesh.
‘South Asian’ is used to describe what is widely known elsewhere as the ‘Indian’ sub-continent. Every effort has been made
to use the correct spellings of Bangla place names. In most instances, reference has been made to current Bangladeshi
publications and to the Banglapedia.

Specification content
The specification comprises three sections: the Land, the People and the Economy of Bangladesh. Each section contains four
topics. The content of all 12 topics is detailed below. Section 1 does not contain specific content.
Section 2 — The Land of Bangladesh
2.1 Location, relief and drainage
• Basic dimensions: area, latitudinal and longitudinal extent. A comparative look at neighbouring states in South Asia in
terms of size, physical environments, population and economic development.
• The physical characteristics of the main components of the pattern of relief: the present flood plains (90 per cent of land
area), the scattered Tertiary hills and the Pleistocene terraces.
• The principal rivers of Bangladesh and their seasonal regimes; the work of rivers; their management (anti-flooding
measures, dams, reservoirs and water abstraction).
• River landforms: valleys, meanders, flood plains and deltas.
• The influence of rivers on human activities, particularly agriculture and settlement.
2.2 Climate
• Plotting and interpreting temperature and precipitation graphs.
• Bangladesh’s climatic characteristics (temperature, humidity, precipitation and seasonality).
• The monsoon mechanism: the seasonal shifts in atmospheric pressure, air masses and wind direction.
• Climatic variations within Bangladesh – identifying and explaining the differences between two or more weather stations
(for example Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet).
• The causes of global warming and possible outcomes for Bangladesh.
2.3 Natural resources
• The resource base of Bangladesh (biotic and mineral); the significance of the distinction between renewable (fish, soils,
forests) and non-renewable resources (fossil fuels).
• Soils: different types; maintaining soil fertility; the problem of salinisation.
• Forests: the range of products derived from the three main forest ecosystems (tropical evergreen, tropical deciduous and
mangrove).
• Fish stocks: the principal biotic resource; the distinction between marine and freshwater fisheries; aquaculture.
• Minerals and energy: the location and importance of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and other minerals of
significance (limestone, china clay, silica sand); the main sources of energy supply.
2.4 Natural hazards
• A country of hazards: the principal natural hazards that confront Bangladesh (cyclones, floods, storm surges, droughts,
earthquakes and landslides).
• Cyclones, storm surges and floods: the most destructive of the hazards, but they do bring some benefits (groundwater
recharge, soil replenishment, the survival of wetland ecosystems, water for agriculture and other human uses).
• The causes of, and the scale of, damage inflicted by tornadoes, droughts, earthquakes and landslides.
• The human hand in hazards: how people can turn natural events into hazards; man-made hazards (pollution, road
accidents).
• Living with hazards: the challenges of risk assessment, adjustment and prediction; minimising the negative impacts of
natural hazards.

Section 3 - The People of Bangladesh

3.1 Population growth and distribution
• The rising rate of population growth over the last 100 years; steps to be taken to avoid overpopulation (development,
family planning).
• Population rates: birth and death rates (including infant mortality rate); their significance and the factors affecting them.
• Bangladesh’s population structure (age and sex) present and future.
• The factors (physical and economic) causing population densities to vary from place to place.
• The present pattern of population distribution.
3.2 Migration
• Migration as a response to push and pull factors.
• Migration types: forced and voluntary, internal and international.
• Rural-urban migration: causes and consequences.
• International migration: principal destinations and their particular attractions (for example family ties in UK; job
opportunities in the Middle East).
• The selectivity of migration in terms of age and sex.
3.3 Settlement
• The settlement hierarchy: from farmsteads and hamlets to towns and cities.
• The process of urbanisation.
• Comparative case studies of two major cities: their location, functions and internal layout (the arrangement of different
land uses and occurrence of different social groups).
• Urban challenges (poverty, housing, traffic, pollution) and steps being taken to deal with them.
• The advantages and disadvantages of urban and rural life.
3.4 Society and welfare
• An homogeneous society in terms of ethnicity, language and religion. Minority groups and their place in modern society.
• The class hierarchy: its structure and manifestations; its strengths and weaknesses.
• Other social inequalities (poverty, illiteracy): their roots and steps being taken to reduce them.
• The present status of women and ways of raising their profile in the social and economic life of Bangladesh; equal
opportunities.
• Possible measures of welfare and quality of life (percentage of the population with access to safe water and proper
sanitation, adequate housing and secure employment, medical care and education, leisure time and recreational
opportunities).
Section 4 — The Economy of Bangladesh
4.1 Agriculture
• The three main economic sectors (primary, secondary and tertiary), their distinctive activities and their relative importance
to the Bangladeshi economy.
• Agricultural systems (subsistence/commercial; arable/pastoral); the two main cash crops.
• The Green Revolution: its developments, achievements and challenges.
• Irrigation: overcoming seasonal extremes and unreliable monsoons; methods and costs.
• Fertilisers and pesticides: the reasons for using them (maintaining soil fertility; reducing losses to pests) and unwanted
consequences (eutrophication; loss of biodiversity and poisoning of food chains). Is there an alternative way?
4.2 Manufacturing
• The leading manufactures of Bangladesh (jute, cotton textile, paper, sugar, fertiliser and cement).
• Location factors affecting manufacturing: raw materials, power, land, labour and transport.
• Craft or cottage industries: their nature and significance.
• The challenge of increasing manufacturing output (need for enterprise, capital, technology, skills and improved
transport).
• Labour issues (skills training, unionisation, use of child and female labour).
4.3 Services
• The diversity of services within the tertiary sector.
• The location of services within towns and cities, particularly the concentration in central areas (for reasons of access to
customers and labour).
• Informal activities and their importance in Bangladesh.
• The transport networks of Bangladesh; the advantages and disadvantages of different modes of transport.
• Bangladesh’s international trade: major exports and imports, the trade balance, main trading partners.
4.4 Development
• The nature of the development process: the recognition of development groups (LICs, RICs, NICs, HICs, etc – see
glossary for explanation of these acronyms).
• Measuring development and making international comparisons.
• Economic globalisation (the forces behind it) and Bangladesh’s involvement (source of resources and cheap labour;
market for imported manufactured goods).
• Regional differences within Bangladesh, particularly between urban and rural areas; thumbnail sketches of the distinctive
character and challenges facing each of the six divisions.
• The environmental impacts: development; making development more sustainable (ensuring the future for tomorrow’s
citizens).
The words in bold above indicate the topics that form the content of the Student Study Guide. Each topic will be covered by
a two-page spread. By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the basic geographical
features of Bangladesh, an understanding of the interrelationships between the physical environment and human activities,
particularly the impact of people on the environment, an awareness of some current, important national issues and an ability
to use maps, diagrams, statistics and case studies.