AS and A Level

Geography AS/A2

People & Places

The GCE Geography AQA course gives students a strong foundation for understanding the two main themes of the subject: human geography and physical geography. Between them, they’re what makes our planet tick.
Human geography deals with how people and the environment interact and the way we both exist. It also looks at how people and groups move and live in the world around us. For example, students will have the opportunity to discuss current global and local issues, including issues of sustainability. Physical geography on the other hand, is all about the scientific aspects of our world, with an emphasis on how we can manage them.

Get in touch with earth

The end result of studying human and physical geography is that students will have a better understanding of how mankind and the earth work together. And it’s not all theory either. Students will get the opportunity to visit places of geographic interest and roll up their sleeves with some fieldwork.

What’s in store?

In the classroom during the first year (AS) students get a solid grounding in Geography. Human and physical geography are studied with two compulsory subjects – such as flood management and population change – along with optional subjects such as food, energy or health issues. There will also be geographic investigative work and fieldwork. A residential Field course will be held in the Spring Term of Year 12 which all students are expected to attend.

In the second year students will step up to topics like tectonics, climate change, world cities and the development of societies. There’ll be more fieldwork too, with the use of ready-made study materials.

On going assessment

Students are set 3-5 hours homework per week, this consists of the following:
• Answering questions from a stimulus material on a theme studied in class. This is marked for accuracy, interpretation and explanation.
• Note taking from texts
• Research, based on a particular topic or issue, using the library or ICT
• Preparing for a class or individual presentation
• Past paper/specimen questions
• Revising for mini-tests & learning vocabulary
• Essay questions (Year 13)

How will I be assessed?

Each year students will have two written papers to complete. In the first year, the paper on classroom work gives 70% of the marks for AS, and the fieldwork paper gives 30% of the marks.
It’s the same format in the second year, but the marks change to 60% of the total for the classroom studies paper, and 40% for the fieldwork paper.

What skills will students learn?

Geography helps students develop a number of skills:
• Undertaking research and analysis
• Teamwork on practical projects
• Investigating global issues
• An ability to interpret natural phenomena

Where does it lead?

Geography, is, and has always been considered an excellent A Level as it encompasses the arts and the sciences.  It broadens a person’s view of the world, shows understanding of different cultures and the variety of landscapes found on the planet.  It is often accepted as a science A Level for many degrees and marries well with almost all of the other subjects on offer at school.  Following a degree within the vast family of Geography and related subjects graduates can find themselves in a variety of professions including: town planner, surveyor, transport planner, geologist, teacher, any graduate job, glaciologist and travel expert.