Welcome to the Nelson Mandela School

Nelson Mandela School is a diverse and inclusive international bilingual state school, teaching from grade 1 to 13. Students in the final year can graduate with either the bilingual Abitur or the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Greeting from Principal Dr. Bauer

Geography Upper School - Abitur

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Abitur level

In the Pre-Abitur course in Year 11, students study Geography for one whole year and three hours per week. Additionally, they may opt to take the so-called Profilkurs for consolidation as prospective Leistungskurs candidates (two additional weekly hours). Candidates may study Geography at Leistungskurs (higher, 5 hours per week) or Grundkurs (standard, 3 hours per week) level in the Abitur. The course is taught in German. 

In terms of content, Year 11 reinforces knowledge of the physical-geographical foundations of geography in the subject areas of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere & pedosphere and links these to the diverse challenges of the 21st century in Years 11-13. 

The Abitur level builds on the subject areas of the intermediate level, consolidates, and opens the field of vision to new aspects, such as

  • landscape changes due to natural and anthropogenic influences
  • the challenges posed by constantly growing cities and megacities,
  • the need for spatial planning on a regional and international scale
  • population growth and securing the world's food supply
  • economic spatial interrelationships in the world
  • the transformation and emergence of new economic areas (Rust Belt, New Silk Road, etc.) and economic sectors (high-tech industry, artificial intelligence)
  • Structural changes due to tourism development and possible paths to sustainability.

The above-mentioned examples of topics are dealt with using selected regions of the world as examples (e.g. EU, lower and upper income countries, RCEP). 

Excursions in grade 12 with the basic and advanced courses to Weimar & Erfurt offer students insights into various stages of urban development and future development trends in the course of spatial planning. 

Various excursions of the advanced geography courses in recent years to Istanbul (Turkey), to the Amalfi Coast (Italy), to the Croatian Adriatic coast or to Lisbon & Cascais in Portugal were able to make theoretical geographic facts more comprehensible to the pupils in practice and increase their enjoyment of this subject.