Geography (A Level)

A-Level Geography will help you to understand the big issues facing the world today from natural hazards to population growth and from climate change to urban sprawl. This course will equip you with the skills you need to go into the world a better informed person with more to offer and with a deeper understanding of complex issues.

This course is for anyone who wants to know why the world is the way that it is, the forces that shape it and that will continue to shape it in the future.

What you will learn

In physical geography you will learn about the earth’s life support systems through looking at the carbon and water cycles. You will discover how human actions can affect these finely balanced systems and how they can be better managed. You will also study landscape systems by looking at the coast and the forces that shape it. Finally you will study the debates around natural hazard management by considering the threats posed by tectonic hazards.

In human geography you will consider the nature of places and the things that make them distinct as well as the challenges the people who live in them face. You will also study global governance through looking at migration and human rights abuses. Finally you will consider the debates around disease management as both a national and global issue.

How you will learn

As with all A Level subjects, you will find a higher expectation when it comes to independent learning. It will teach you how to make good quality notes, study effectively and to read around the subject. You will use this independent reading in your lessons to ensure that you can join in with informed discussions and debates in class.

In your lessons you will encounter academic articles about the subjects you are studying, be supported to understand complex data and debate issues such as managing climate change or resolving human rights abuses. You will learn by thinking hard about the subject and reflecting on what you have learnt.

Year 1

• Changing Places, Making Spaces
• Global Migration
• Earth’s Life Support Systems
• Coastal Systems

Year 2

• Non-examined Assessment
• Human Rights
• Disease Dilemmas
• Natural Hazards

Assessment 1: Physical Systems, written exam, 1 hours 30 minutes, 22% of final grade

An exam on earth’s life support systems and coastal landscape systems. A mixture of short knowledge questions, data handling questions and longer questions that test your application of what you know about the topic.

Assessment 2: Human Interactions, written exam, 1 hours 30 minutes, 20% of final grade.

An exam on changing places, making spaces and global governance. A mixture of short knowledge questions, data handling questions and longer questions that test your application of what you know about the topic.

Assessment 3: Geographical Debates, written exam, 2 hours 30 minutes, 36% of final grade

An exam on disease dilemmas and natural hazards. A mixture of short knowledge questions, data handling questions and longer questions that test your application of what you know about the topic. This paper will also test your ability to find links between the topics you have studied.

Assessment 4: Non-examined assessment, coursework, 20% of final grade

You will select a topic to investigate and pose a question to be answered. You will then collect the data you need, present and analyse it and reach a conclusion. Your teachers will guide you but this will be done with a high degree of independence.

College basic entry requirements

• Grade 5 or above in GCSE Geography

Where Next?

Geography graduates are some of the most employable of all graduates. A Geography A Level could support further studies in either the humanities or the sciences. Many of our students go on to study anything from photo-journalism, geology, environmental sciences or business. Others go into work and pursue things like nature conservation or working with local authorities and town planning.

Couse Combinations

Geography sits at the centre of many other subjects. It combines well with anything but in particular with Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Sociology, Economics and Business.