Geography
What is A level Geography about?
Are you interested in the world around you?
Geography is all about developing your understanding and awareness of the human and physical world. You will study issues at a local, regional, national and global scale through a combination of visual, verbal and numerical data.
The emphasis is on processes that cause change and these are extended through the study of case examples in countries at varying levels of development. You will be identifying patterns and suggesting why these might occur and change over time.
The course will enhance your understanding of the environment and will add an extra dimension to your holiday experiences – as well as helping you to understand some of the pressing environmental, economic and social problems facing the world today.
Whom does it suit?
Geography is concerned with an understanding of the real world and it best suits students who are observant, are interested in what is happening around them, enjoy active thought and problem-solving, and like to identify and explain patterns. The subject touches on Biology, History, Sociology, Physics, Politics, Mathematics as well as graphical skills and IT, but it is most important that you are interested in real world events. Having travelled is useful – but so is regular reading of newspapers and watching news and the right television programmes. Successful students need a good memory but, more importantly, they must be able to see the implications and significance of the material they are using. Answers demand analysis as well as description.
Examples of concepts and questions you will address in Geography include:
- 'Development and sustainability are incompatible goals.' Discuss.
- 'Urban management issues are the same across the world.' Do you agree?
- Critically evaluate the success of management schemes in fragile environments.
What does the AS consist of?
We follow the AQA syllabus. The AS specification bridges the gap between GCSE and A level, with structured shorter answer questions. The main difference is that you are asked to analyse and question data more extensively than at GCSE.
There are two core (compulsory) sections: 'Rivers, floods and management' and 'Population change'. In addition to these, one further physical topic is chosen from three options: coasts, arid environments and cold environments, and one of the following three human topic is chosen: food issues, energy demands and geography of health.
The second of the two papers set in June of the Lower Sixth year requires fieldwork, and involves a greater emphasis on geographic skills.
What does the A2 consist of?
The A2 incorporates longer-answer questions and also essay writing – in which you must interpret a question, plan a relevant answer and include theory and detailed case studies.
Unit 3 is called 'Contemporary Geographical Issues and involves a 2-and-a-half hour written examination (60% of the A2 award). Students study 3 topics including at least one human and one physical; the choice is flexible and will reflect the interests of the groups:
Optional physical topics
- Plate tectonics and associated hazards
- Weather and climate and associated hazards
- Ecosystems: change and challenge
Optional Human topics
- World cities
- Development and globalization
- Contemporary conflicts and challenges
Unit 4 is a 1-and-a-half hour written examination (40% of the A2 Award) that offers students a choice between responding to questions based on their own fieldwork experience (Unit 4A) or a paper that involves questions based on advance-released data supplied by the board (Unit 4B).
Will there be any fieldwork?
Yes – fieldwork is an important part of Geography: it brings the subject to life and gives students a change to develop key skills that are tested both at AS and A2.
There will be two compulsory field trips: one in March of the AS year and a second in October of the Upper Sixth. The latter will allow the collection of data to be written up into a project that is tested in January (Paper 4A).
What might the subject lead onto?
Geography at A level and at University is a valued qualification attracting such diverse employers as Accountancy firms, Banking, Industry, Media and Travel & Tourism. The subject is valued not just because it increases knowledge of the world but also because it instils a wide range of skills. Geography teaches you to identify patterns in data, how to separate the important from the 'noise', how to analyse, express and communicate data as well as how to structure reports and use IT. These skills are required in almost all employment.