Global Trade Patterns | Cambridge A Level Geography 9696

Help students describe how global trade has changed and explain why its gains are uneven.

Malaysia provides an example of changing export composition, alongside contrasting commodity and manufacturing economies. Students interpret flows and trade data before judging who benefits from global interdependence.

Designed for students aged 16 to 18 studying Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696), 2027 to 2029 syllabus, topic 13, statement 13.1.1. This is an independently produced Geography Oasis resource. It is not endorsed by Cambridge International.

Learning Focus

• Distinguish visible and invisible trade and interpret the balance of trade.
• Describe major flows between countries and trading blocs.
• Explain growth and changes in trade since 1970.
• Compare commodity dependence, manufacturing trade and terms of trade.
• Use evidence to evaluate unequal gains from world trade.

Teaching and Student Materials

• Detailed Teaching Edition and shorter Essentials PowerPoint presentations.
• Student workbook, detailed Cornell notes and Evaluative Arguments booklet.
• Essentials booklet in completed and notes versions.
• Trade Detectives, with its presentation and printable materials.
• Trade Inequality Seminar, a separate seminar with slides and printable materials.
• Original essay practice in print and digital versions, with content sheet and teacher guide.
• Six original data-response questions, each combining interpretation and explanation, with Student, Guided Practice and Answers booklets and slides.
• Module overview video and START HERE guide.

Pairs identify anonymous countries from trade dossiers, justify their inferences and check them against the supplied evidence. The reveal round makes students reconsider simple assumptions about wealth and export composition. Students argue whether inequality reflects what countries trade or the rules and routes governing trade, switch positions and build a qualified group judgement.

Printable student materials use A4 pages. Supplied as editable PowerPoint (.pptx) and Word (.docx), with accompanying teaching PDFs where present and an MP4 overview film. Written content is editable; diagrams and illustrations may be supplied as images. The workbook has a black and white alternative.

Ongoing access to the module’s interactive Geography Oasis activities is included as a bonus, using the access code supplied in the pack.

This is module M1.1 of the Trade, Aid and Tourism unit and can be taught separately or alongside the complete nine-module bundle.

Download both ZIP parts and extract them into the same folder to access the complete resource.

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