AS & A level Geography

Summary of the Course

GEOGRAPHY – You'd be lost without it

Recommended entry requirements – The main requirement to study A level Geography is an interest in the world around you and a desire to know more. It is preferable that you have a grade C or above in GCSE Geography. However, if you are able and committed but have not taken GCSE Geography, you could take A level Geography.

Teachers: R Kerr*, J Brennan, R Hollinger, S Smith

Timetable organisation: You will have a total of 5 periods per week split between two teachers.

Exam Board: Edexcel Syllabus A

Main syllabus areas

The interaction between the physical world and the human world is at the heart of the course. The resulting issues, problems and opportunities which arise are studied and you are encouraged to develop management strategies to deal with these issues. The AS comprises the first three units below, and the Advanced GCE comprises all six units. The content is as follows

Unit 1 Physical Environments

• Earth Systems – Why is Merapi erupting at the moment?
• Fluvial Environments – What exactly is happening in the River Porter?
• Coastal Environments – What is Old Harry's Rocks?

Unit 2 Human Environments

• Population characteristics – Why will you have to work until you are 68?
• Settlement patterns – How and why is Sheffield CBD changing?
• Migration – What are the impacts of immigration into the UK?

Unit 3 either 3a Personal Enquiry or 3b Applied Geographical Skills i.e. coursework or skills exam

Unit 4 Physical systems, patterns and processes

• Glacial Systems – How is climate change affecting the world's glaciers?
• Ecosystems – What impact has man had on changing global ecosystems?

Unit 5 Human systems, patterns and processes

• Economic Systems – Why has the Chinese economy grown so rapidly?
• Development processes – Should Third World debt be dropped?

Unit 6 Synoptic: People and their environments

• The synoptic unit integrates all aspects of the course

You are encouraged to be aware of current news items as they are relevant to the course. In class you will work on your own, in pairs and in groups and you are given the opportunity to develop presentation skills.

Fieldwork

“It's a really interesting subject and you get to go on lots of trips out.” Lucy Nelson 2005

This is an integral and enjoyable element of the course. At the beginning of Y12 you have the opportunity to get to know your classmates through a half day fieldwork exercise on the River Porter.