Geography
Entry Requirements
Minimum of 5 grade 5 at GCSE or equivalent with English, maths and preferably science. Grade 5 or equivalent in geography is preferred.
Course Description
AQA A Level Geography looks at the physical world and the complex interactions between humans and the natural environment. The course stimulates investigative and analytical skills, critical thinking of geographical issues and challenges. It is broad in scope and current in terms of topics studied, reflecting the world we live in today. There are three units across the two years.
Unit 1 – Physical Geography - Within this unit students will learn about aspects of the physical world around them and far away and understand processes occurring in diverse, dynamic landscapes. Core topics include Water and Carbon Cycles, Desert Systems and Landscapes and Hazards.
Unit 2 – Human Geography - Within this unit students will learn about aspects of the human world around them, and phenomenon which affects populations and the interrelationships between people and the environments in which they live. Core topics within this unit include Global Systems and Global Governance, Changing Places and Population and the Environment.
Unit 3 – Geography Investigation - Students will have the opportunity to research and develop their own depth of knowledge on a geographical topic of issue that interests them. This section of the course will require students to complete their own primary and secondary data collection and will involve a field study trip.
Assessment
Unit 1 (Physical Geography) and 2 (Human Geography) are assessed as terminal, external examinations which will be sat at the end of Year 13. Both of these exams are 2.5 hours long and combined are worth 80% of the total A-Level (40% Per paper).
For unit 3, students will be required to produce a report on their chosen geographical issue or concept, from any part of the course; physical or human. Students decide on their topic and investigation themselves, and complete four days of fieldwork collecting data to prove or disprove their hypothesis. This report will be between 3,000 and 4,000 words long and will be assessed internally and then moderated externally. This component is worth 20% of the total A-Level.
Opportunities exist in such fields as:
- Environmental Health
- Town Planning
- Management
- Armed Forces
- Social Services
- Journalism
- Navgator
- Teaching
- Research
Course Details
For more information please contact Mrs S Robinson, Head of Geography in Room 307.