A Level
Basic Course Details
Geography teaches us to enquire and Geography teaches us to make informed decisions. Many questions and inquiries in our world do not have a yes or no or right or wrong answer; they require a decision and consideration of the facts.
Geography is a fascinating and popular choice of subject. A-Level geography is engaging and relevant to today’s students. It is a qualification that enables you to engage critically with real world issues and places, apply your own geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to make sense of the world around you and to help prepare you to succeed in their chosen pathway.
A-Level offers an issues-based approach to studying geography, enabling students to explore and evaluate contemporary geographical questions and issues such as the consequences of globalisation, responses to hazards, water insecurity and climate change.
A-Level gives students the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of physical and human geography, the complexity of people and environment questions and issues, and to become critical, reflective and independent learners.
This Geography Specification has four equally-weighted content areas of study, offering both compulsory and optional content, assessed through three external assessments and one piece of non examination assessment.
Assessment
Paper 1 Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes
30% of the qualification
- Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards
- Topic 2: Coastal Landscapes and Change
- Topic 3: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
- Topic 4: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
Paper 2 Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes
30% of the qualification
- Topic 1: Globalisation
- Topic 2: Superpowers
- Topic 3: Regenerating Places
- Topic 8: Migration, Identity and Sovereignty
Paper 3 Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes
20% of the qualification
Synoptic Paper – Students work across different topics to show their knowledge and understanding of the interconnectedness of Geography
NEA (Coursework)
20% of the qualification
An individual piece of work whereby students plan, conduct and review their own fieldwork. This is on one topic they have studied within the specification.
Fieldwork
A Level students must complete a minimum of four days of fieldwork. Fieldwork must be carried out in relation to processes in physical and human geography.
This A Level course will enable students to be inspired by their geographical understanding, to engage critically with real world issues and places, and to apply their geographical knowledge, theory and skills to the world around them. Students will grow as independent thinkers and as informed and engaged citizens, who understand the role and importance of geography as one of the key disciplines relevant to understanding the world’s changing peoples, places and environments.