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Geography

About the course:

The Edexcel A Level geography course provides students with a qualification that is engaging and relevant to today’s geographers – a qualification that enables students to engage critically with real world issues and places, apply their own geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to make sense of the world around them, and to help prepare them to succeed in their chosen pathway.


What does this qualification cover and how will you be assessed?

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Geography consists of;

  • three externally examined papers and
  • one non-examination assessment component.

Dynamic Landscapes

Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards - Tectonic processes, a study of the causes of tectonic

hazards, the impact of tectonic activity on people, and responses to tectonic hazards.

Topic 2: Landscape Systems, Processes and Change - An integrated study of processes,

landforms and landscapes. A study of one landscape system and the physical and human processes influencing change over time and space.

Choose one from:     • Option 2a: Glacial Landscapes and Change

                                      • Option 2b: Coastal Landscapes and Change.

Dynamic Places

Topic 3: Globalisation - A study of globalisation, its causes and consequences for different people and places.

Topic 4: Shaping Places - A study of how and why places are shaped and changed, the meanings and identities attached to different places and the consequences for different people.

Choose one from:    • Option 4a: Regenerating Places

                                     • Option 4b: Diverse Places.

Physical Systems and Sustainability

Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity - Water cycle, human and natural factors that impact on water cycling, consequences for water security and future water conflicts.

Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security - Carbon cycle, human and natural factors impacting on carbon cycling, the consequences for ecosystems and management strategies.

Human Systems and Geopolitics

Topic 7: Superpowers - Superpowers, the reasons for shifting economic and political power, the

impacts of superpowers, influence of superpowers in governing the global commons.

Topic 8: Global Development and Connections

Choose one from:   • Option 8a: Health, Human Rights and Intervention

                                    • Option 8b: Migration, Identity and Sovereignty.


What is expected of you:

You will be expected to attend all lessons and meet deadlines set. You will need to have a strong interest in geography and be able to cope with a rigorous and demanding course.


What it prepares you for:

According to the Royal Geographical Society, Geography graduates have some of the highest rates of graduate employment.

Geography will help you develop your communication and teamwork skills, as you’ll often work on group projects. You’ll also develop your research and analysis skills including in IT, lab and fieldwork, which means you will be able to collect and look for patterns in data.

Employers love the mix of technical and social skills people get from studying geography, which they see as very transferable i.e. useful for a whole range of jobs.

Geography is great for any kind of career that involves the environment, planning, or collecting and interpreting data. Popular careers for people with geography qualifications include: town or transport planning, surveying, conservation, sustainability, waste and water management, environmental planning, tourism, and weather forecasting.

The army, police, government, research organisations, law and business world also love the practical research skills that geographers develop.

Because geographers learn about human and population development, geography can be useful for jobs in charity and international relations too.


How it will be assessed:

Paper 1

Written examination:

2 hours and 15 minutes

30% of the qualification

 

105 marks

Paper 2

Written examination:

2 hours and 15 minutes

30% of the qualification

105 marks

Paper 3

Written examination:

2 hours and 15 minutes

20% of the qualification

70 marks

Independent Investigation

Non-examined assessment

20% of the qualification

70 marks


Entry Requirements:

  • At least five GCSEs at grades 5-9.

  • Students who wish to take A Level geography you need to achieve a minimum of grade 5 at GCSE.


Qualification details:

This is an A Level qualification, further details can be found on the link below;

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/geography-2016.html


For more information:

If you are an internal applicant, please talk to your Geography teacher about the possibility of studying Geography in the sixth form. Or you may choose to talk to Miss K Jones , Subject Lead: Geography.

If you are an external applicant and would like more details about this course please email sixthform@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk