Why choose A-Level Geography?

Are you interested in studying Geography further? You should be as Geography tackles the BIG issues! The world in which we live is likely to change more in the next 50 years than ever before. Geography will explain why, and will prepare you for these changes.

The transferable skills that Geography develops are an asset in the world of work today. Geography is all about the future, and encourages flexible thinking. Geographers are good communicators, spatially aware, problem solvers, computer literate and well rounded, flexible thinkers. This is achieved through a variety of thinking skills, field visits, role play, and decision making activities and through current affairs media.

Geography is compatible with ALL other A levels due to the wide variety of skills and issues studied throughout the course.

Possible careers: British Antarctic Survey, Environment Officer, Oxfam, Diplomatic service, Tourist guide, Journalist, Teacher, Lawyer, Town planners, Cartographer, Market researcher, Meteorologist, future king….. and many more!

Course Outline

AQA [AS]

Unit 1: Physical and Human Geography

Topic list
Rivers, floods and management
Cold environments, coastal environments and hot desert environments and their margins
Global population change
Food supply issues, energy issues and health issues.

Assessment

Externally assessed
Written Paper:	2 hours
Weighting:	70% of total AS / 35% A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions.

Unit 2: Applied Geography

Topic list
Basic, investigative, ICT, graphical, cartographical and statistical skills
Research skills and the assessment of AS fieldwork

Assessment

Externally assessed
Written Paper:	2 hours
Weighting:	30% of total AS / 15% A Level marks

Structured skills and generic research/fieldwork questions. 

AQA [A2]

Unit 3: Contemporary Geographical Issues

Topic list
Plate tectonics and associated hazards
Weather and climate and associated hazards
Challenges facing ecosystems
World cities – evolution or revolution?
Development and globalisation
Contemporary conflicts and challenges.

Assessment

Externally assessed
Written Paper:	2 hours
Weighting:	30% of total A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions and an essay.

Unit 4: Geography Fieldwork Investigation

Assessment

Externally assessed
Written Paper:	1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting:	20% of total A Level marks

Structured short and extended questions based on candidates' own fieldwork investigation.

Resources and facilities

Each student is provided with a textbook and encouraged to read newspapers and the Geography Review. Arrays of field trips are offered i.e. Liverpool, London Docklands, Peak District, Venice , Cambridge , Suffolk conferences and University of East Anglia. In the lessons students will use many ICT skills including using the Interactive whiteboard and Geographical Information systems [GIS].

Careers and progression

For further information why not visit The Royal Geographical Society www.rgs.org and The Geographical Association www.geography.org.uk .

For example, previous A level geographers have gone on to become town planners in Warwickshire, Lawyers for EMI, Teachers, Actors, Designers for furniture companies, BMW marketing and Ford car design.

Entry requirements

You must have at least a 'B' grade in Geography GCSE or a related humanities subject.

Course Results

100% pass rate at AS and A2 [2006].

Enquiries

Via Samuel Ward Arts and Technology College :

kcavilla@samuelward.suffolk.sch.uk
mharrington@samuelward.suffolk.sch.uk