Geography

WHAT WILL I LEARN & WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE EXAMINATION?

The examination has four components.

COMPONENT 1: Changing Landscapes and Changing Places

This is assessed through a written examination and accounts for 22% of the total marks. There are two sections:

i. Changing Landscapes: Coastal Landscapes ii. Global Systems: Carbon & Water Cycles

COMPONENT 2: Global Systems and Global Governance

This is assessed through a written examination and accounts for 22% of the total marks. There are two sections:

i. Global Systems: Carbon & Water Cycles ii. Global Connections Global Migration:

Power & Borders

COMPONENT 3: Contemporary Themes in Geography

This is assessed through a written examination and accounts for 36% of the total marks. Students study Climate Change and Disease Dilemmas.

COMPONENT 4: Independent Investigation

This is a non-examined assessment worth 20% of the total marks. Students must devise their own question to research and investigate through fieldwork. They will identify their aims and devise appropriate methods to collect, present and analyse the data they collect. They will then draw conclusions and evaluate their investigation.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE TAKING GEOGRAPHY IN THE SIXTH FORM?

A minimum of a grade 6 at GCSE is needed to continue studying Geography at A Level.

WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

• students who have an interest in natural and human environments and their interactions

• students who want to engage critically with real world issues and places, and to apply their geographical knowledge, theory and skills to the world around them

• students who relish the opportunity for independent learning and research on geographical topics that interest them

• students who enjoy using a wide range of skills and resources their learning – written, visual, graphical, numerical and spatial

• students who enjoy studying the world, both in and out of the classroom

GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS AND FIELDWORK

Students will acquire and use a range of qualitative and quantitative skills. These include communication skills, cartographic interpretation, numerical and statistical calculations; graphical, digital and geo – located data analysis; use of textual and visual resources. These skills will, in part, be linked to fieldwork. There will four days of fieldwork in Year 12 which will support the teaching and prepare students for their Independent Investigation which they will have to plan and carry out individually. There will be further opportunity to enhance and broaden their studies with an optional field trip to Barcelona in the October half term.

WHAT COULD I GO ON TO DO AT THE END OF MY COURSE?

Geography can be combined with any subject in the curriculum. It is a versatile qualification which can be combined with Sciences and humanities at A Level. It is viewed as one of the key ‘facilitating’ subjects, and Geography graduates are highly sought after as they have a range of transferable skills, are numerate as well as highly literate, comfortable working inside and out, in teams and independently.

A Geography degree can be used to enter Geography – specific professions such as Environmental Management, urban and rural planning, water management, international development, public policy and planning, but Geography graduates are also desirable for a range of other graduate training schemes and businesses.