Geography A Level Block D

Applications Open: - 7th November 2025

Applications Close: - 31st March 2026. If you require any further information after our closing date please do contact nicola.owenhughes@swale.at

Entry Requirements: - Grade 4 and above in 5 GCSEs Including English and Maths for Level 3 programmes, higher grades are required for some subjects

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Details of our Pathways and Option Blocks can be seen in the Gallery or viewed here

If you have any questions regarding the Sixth Form, our courses, facilities or our application process, please do contact us, either by telephone (01233 614613) or email (tns-sixthform-team@swale.at). We will be happy to arrange either a telephone call or meeting to answer these. We are happy to forward subject specific questions to subject leaders who may be better placed to answer your queries. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you.

Geography is a broad based academic subject that will open up options for you in your future. Employers and universities see geography as a robust academic subject rich in skills, knowledge and understanding. As a subject linking the arts and the sciences it is highly flexible in terms of what you can combine it with, both at GCSE and A Level. If you choose to take geography on to university there are literally hundreds of courses to choose from and the range of career areas accessed by graduates of geography will probably surprise you.

AS/A Level Geography overview:

Component 1: Physical geography (Exam – 2hrs 30 mins, 120 marks)

Component 2: Human Geography (Exam – 2hrs 30 mins, 120 marks)

Component 3: Fieldwork (coursework (marked by Mr Jinks) - 20% of final grade)

Component 1: 3 of the following:

Water and carbon cycle

Hot desert systems and landscapes

Coastal landscapes

Glacial systems and landscapes

Hazards

Ecosystems under stress

Component 2: 3 of the following:

Global systems and governance

Changing places

Contemporary urban environments

Population and the environment

Resource security

The final topic will be confirmed once students have been enrolled on the course as we will select the topics you wish to study. The compulsory topic in component 1 we will need to study looks at the water and carbon cycles. These cycles are imperative to all life on earth and are essential in the transfer of nutrients and filtering of pollution and greenhouse gases. The compulsory topic in component 2 is global systems and governance. In this unit, we will develop a deeper understanding of how global trade and communication has grown in importance. We will investigate the processes behind and factors affecting global trade. You will be required to produce a 3,000-4,000 word piece of fieldwork based on part of the geographical content of your A-Level course. You, with the support of your teacher, will be responsible for identifying a suitable research question and hypothesis. As part of this component, you will also need to collect data, present your findings and conclude using a variety of skills and techniques. This section is the essence of geography and accounts for 20% of your final grade.

Students will require a minimum of five A*-C / 9-4 grades at GCSE, including English and a grade 6 in either History or English Language.

Higher Education