Introduction
The course will follow the Edexcel Specification A. It is not a requirement to have studied Geography at GCSE level as although some of the topics are developments of the GCSE course, others are completely new. What is more important is that you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in the environment and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate effectively.
Subject Choices
Geography is a broad-based subject and can be suitably combined with almost any combination of other subjects. It can act as a useful bridge between arts and sciences. It also provides an appropriate qualification for a wide range of higher education and career choices.
AS
The AS course consists of three units:
Unit 1
- plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and their impact on people, and weathering
- rivers and their role in shaping the landscape; human management of the opportunities and risks that rivers provide
- how the sea shapes the coastal landscape; coastal ecosystems; the human management of the coastal environment.
This unit is assessed by a 1¼ hour examination in which there will be six structured questions on the topics above. You answer three, one on each topic.
Unit 2
- the distribution of the World’s population; how and why populations are changing; how and why governments are influencing change
- the site and situation of settlements; the structure of urban areas; the influence of government on changing urban areas
- the migration of people around the world and its effects; how governments influence these patterns of movement.
The assessment is the same as for Unit 1.
Unit 3
- skills and techniques used in fieldwork. Questions are based on fieldwork that you carry out during the course, currently on investigation into the downstream changes on a local river and a study of the urban structure of Salisbury, and skills that you acquire and develop
This is assessed by a 1½ hour examination consisting of two structured questions.
AT AS LEVEL THERE IS NO ASSESSED COURSEWORK AND THE EXAM PAPERS DO NOT REQUIRE ESSAY WRITING.
A2
To complete a full A level you must follow the ‘A2’ course after the ‘AS’ course.
This course also has three units:
Unit 4
- the earth’s weather and climate and its impact on people
- glaciation and its impact on the landscape and on people
- ecosystems and soils; how they develop and how they can be used and abused.
This unit is assessed by a 1½ hour exam. There will be six structured essays, two on each of these topics. You choose two, on different topics.
Unit 5
- industries and their changing locations; the globalisation of industry; the impact of industry on the environment.
- the relationship between urban and rural areas; farming for food production; the pressures of change on rural and urban environment.
- how countries develop; how trade and aid affect development in different parts of the world.
This Unit is assessed in the same way as Unit 4.
Unit 6
- in this unit you draw together many different ideas from different units of the course. The emphasis is on people and their environments.
The Unit is assessed by a 2 hour examination. The first section consists of structured questions in which you apply your knowledge and skills. The second section consists of four essays and you must choose one.
General
Sixth Form students are encouraged to involve themselves in the activities of the Geographical Society, both in attending and helping to organise events. These include additional field trips, visiting lecturers, seminars on higher education and the Worldwise Quiz. A 5-day trip to Iceland takes place in October during the last few days of the half-term holiday and the first few days of the second half of term.
The subject has been a very popular option in recent years and the provision of 3 or 4 teaching sets enables flexibility in your choice of options. Geography and the many related subjects have also been very popular degree course choices amongst recent leavers, including 15 in 2005. Recent A-level results have been impressive with a record 90.9% gaining A or B grades in 2004.
A.J. Palmer
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