Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
Geography
27 Nov 2025
556
3 pages
Hannah @hannnah_study
Urbanisation is reshaping our world as more people than ever are moving from rural areas to cities. Understanding... Show more
Ever wondered why your gran might remember when your town was much smaller? Urbanisation - the rise in people living in towns and cities - has been transforming countries for centuries. The UK kicked off this trend around the 1800s, jumping from mostly rural to 83% urban by 2013.
Today's most dramatic changes are happening in emerging countries like China, which went from 18% urban in 1978 to 59% now. Meanwhile, developing countries like Ethiopia (only 20% urban) are just getting started. Megacities with over 10 million people are becoming the new normal - Tokyo leads the pack with a staggering 38 million residents.
Urban primacy occurs when one city dominates everything else in a country. London's a perfect example - it's where the government sits, major businesses have their headquarters, and the best internet speeds attract international companies. This creates a snowball effect where success breeds more success.
Key Point Migration happens due to push factors (disasters, job losses, war) that force people to leave, and pull factors (better jobs, services, entertainment) that attract them to cities.
Your future job prospects depend massively on where you live and your country's development level. Formal employment means official jobs where you pay taxes and get proper working conditions - basically what the government can see and regulate. Informal employment is the opposite self-employed work that's often unregulated and potentially dangerous.
Countries at different development stages offer completely different work opportunities. In developing countries, most people work informally in primary sectors like farming or mining, often with low wages and poor conditions. Emerging countries focus heavily on manufacturing (secondary sector), offering better conditions than developing nations but still cheaper labour for international companies.
Developed countries like the UK have moved beyond manufacturing into tertiary (services) and quaternary (technology and knowledge) sectors. Nearly everyone works formally with strong rights and conditions, but this also makes labour more expensive.
Remember The four economic sectors are primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), and quaternary . Your country's development level determines which sectors dominate.
Cities aren't static - they go through predictable stages that explain why some areas thrive whilst others decline. Stage one is basic urbanisation as people flood in. Stage two sees suburbanisation as residents escape crowded centres for leafy suburbs, enabled by better transport links.
De-industrialisation (stage three) hits when manufacturers relocate to cheaper areas, causing unemployment and population decline. Counter-urbanisation (stage four) follows as people migrate back to rural areas, especially with remote working making city centres less essential. Finally, regeneration (stage five) attempts to revive declining urban areas.
Land use patterns make perfect sense when you consider three key factors. Accessibility means city centres get the prime spots near transport hubs. Cost decreases as you move outward - that's why houses get bigger and cheaper in suburbs. Planning regulations control what can be built where, keeping strict limits on development.
The result? Tall buildings dominate expensive city centres where space is premium, whilst sprawling developments characterise cheaper outer areas. Old inner-city areas often get converted - former terraced houses become luxury flats, whilst new business parks spring up on urban fringes.
Top Tip Remember that land cost, accessibility, and planning rules work together to create the urban patterns you see around you every day.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore essential key concepts for AQA Geography Paper 2, including urbanisation, energy transition, and sustainability. This summary provides definitions and insights into terms like urban sprawl, deindustrialisation, and the water cycle, helping you enhance your exam responses and understanding of human-environment interactions.
GeographyExplore key concepts in Geography AQA Paper 2, including urbanization, energy consumption, and development indicators. This comprehensive study resource covers essential topics such as the Demographic Transition Model, Human Development Index (HDI), and sustainable energy practices. Ideal for exam preparation and understanding global development challenges.
GeographyApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Hannah
@hannnah_study
Urbanisation is reshaping our world as more people than ever are moving from rural areas to cities. Understanding how cities grow, why people migrate, and how urban areas change over time is crucial for making sense of modern geography and... Show more
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Ever wondered why your gran might remember when your town was much smaller? Urbanisation - the rise in people living in towns and cities - has been transforming countries for centuries. The UK kicked off this trend around the 1800s, jumping from mostly rural to 83% urban by 2013.
Today's most dramatic changes are happening in emerging countries like China, which went from 18% urban in 1978 to 59% now. Meanwhile, developing countries like Ethiopia (only 20% urban) are just getting started. Megacities with over 10 million people are becoming the new normal - Tokyo leads the pack with a staggering 38 million residents.
Urban primacy occurs when one city dominates everything else in a country. London's a perfect example - it's where the government sits, major businesses have their headquarters, and the best internet speeds attract international companies. This creates a snowball effect where success breeds more success.
Key Point: Migration happens due to push factors (disasters, job losses, war) that force people to leave, and pull factors (better jobs, services, entertainment) that attract them to cities.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Your future job prospects depend massively on where you live and your country's development level. Formal employment means official jobs where you pay taxes and get proper working conditions - basically what the government can see and regulate. Informal employment is the opposite: self-employed work that's often unregulated and potentially dangerous.
Countries at different development stages offer completely different work opportunities. In developing countries, most people work informally in primary sectors like farming or mining, often with low wages and poor conditions. Emerging countries focus heavily on manufacturing (secondary sector), offering better conditions than developing nations but still cheaper labour for international companies.
Developed countries like the UK have moved beyond manufacturing into tertiary (services) and quaternary (technology and knowledge) sectors. Nearly everyone works formally with strong rights and conditions, but this also makes labour more expensive.
Remember: The four economic sectors are primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), and quaternary . Your country's development level determines which sectors dominate.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Cities aren't static - they go through predictable stages that explain why some areas thrive whilst others decline. Stage one is basic urbanisation as people flood in. Stage two sees suburbanisation as residents escape crowded centres for leafy suburbs, enabled by better transport links.
De-industrialisation (stage three) hits when manufacturers relocate to cheaper areas, causing unemployment and population decline. Counter-urbanisation (stage four) follows as people migrate back to rural areas, especially with remote working making city centres less essential. Finally, regeneration (stage five) attempts to revive declining urban areas.
Land use patterns make perfect sense when you consider three key factors. Accessibility means city centres get the prime spots near transport hubs. Cost decreases as you move outward - that's why houses get bigger and cheaper in suburbs. Planning regulations control what can be built where, keeping strict limits on development.
The result? Tall buildings dominate expensive city centres where space is premium, whilst sprawling developments characterise cheaper outer areas. Old inner-city areas often get converted - former terraced houses become luxury flats, whilst new business parks spring up on urban fringes.
Top Tip: Remember that land cost, accessibility, and planning rules work together to create the urban patterns you see around you every day.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
20
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore essential key concepts for AQA Geography Paper 2, including urbanisation, energy transition, and sustainability. This summary provides definitions and insights into terms like urban sprawl, deindustrialisation, and the water cycle, helping you enhance your exam responses and understanding of human-environment interactions.
GeographyExplore key concepts in Geography AQA Paper 2, including urbanization, energy consumption, and development indicators. This comprehensive study resource covers essential topics such as the Demographic Transition Model, Human Development Index (HDI), and sustainable energy practices. Ideal for exam preparation and understanding global development challenges.
GeographyApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
