Geography GCSE

Duration of course: 2 years

Course type: GCSE

Examination Board: AQA

Overview: 

This exciting course is based on a balance between physical and human geography. It allows students to investigate the link between the two themes, and approach and examine the battles between the man-made and the natural worlds.

In addition to this, you will also be taking an active part in a geographical fieldwork enquiry. You will undertake fieldwork opportunities for both physical and human elements of the course in year 10.

Students who complete the course will have the skills and experience to progress onto A-Level and beyond.

Assessment Method and Component Percentages: 

Living with the Physical Environment

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology (SPaG))
• 35% of GCSE

Challenges with the Human Environment

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology (SPaG))
• 35% of GCSE

Geographical Applications

• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG)
• 30% of GCSE
• Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam

What will I learn? 

You will cover the following topics:

Living with the physical environment

• Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
• Section B: The living world
• Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK

Challenges in the human environment

• Section A: Urban issues and challenges       •              
• Section B: The changing economic world
• Section C: The challenge of resource management

Geographical applications

• Section A: Issue evaluation
• Section B: Fieldwork

Geographical skills

• Geographical skills

How will I learn?

You will learn through:

• Exam practice questions in every lesson.
• Regular feedback from staff and peers.
• Homework based on further research or revision.
• End of topic assessments for each unit.
• Individual and collaborative work both within lessons and for homework.

Departmental Expectations: 

It is the expectation that all students will follow the school’s behaviour and presentation policies as standard. Additionally, it will be the responsibility of each pupil that they use and regularly check Show My Homework to keep track of deadlines for submissions as well as revision for assessments. All work is to be completed to a high standard, whilst reading around the subject outside of lessons, regardless of any homework set, is expected.

Career Potential: 

With a qualification in Geography, you will be able to access a wide range of opportunities. Geography was rated as the “must have A-level” (The Guardian, 2015) and is one of the top facilitating subjects that Russell Group universities look for. If you are not 100% certain on your career choices at this stage, studying Geography enables you to keep your options open. The following career paths are an examples of the wide range of potential jobs open to Geography students:

Oceanography; Business Management; Cartography; Nature conservation; Environmental Consultant; Incident Response Manager; Waste Management; Land Surveying; Development and Flood risk Manager; Town Planning; Travel Writer and Broadcaster;  Catastrophe Risk Analysis; Meteorology; Geologist; Landscape Architecture; Traffic Planning; Geomorphology; Hydrography; Travel Consultancy; Analyst.

Future Progression routes possible: 

A level Geography, A level History,  A Level in Science (Biology and Chemistry)

Entry Requirements:

One of best 4 subjects based on Geography Rank Order  To do both History and Geography you need to be in the top 80 for rank order in both subjects.