Why Choose A-Level Geography?

A-level geography is a dynamic and engaging subject that allows you to understand and question the world around you. A-level geography equips you with skills that complement a range of other subject choices. Geography could be described as a chameleon subject due to its uniqueness, allowing you to justify geography alongside other a-level choices that are either scientific or humanities based. A-level geography allows you to learn in the outside world, with at least 4 fieldwork days to practise and learn skills that are central to our understanding of the world and how it works. It is A-level geography’s uniqueness and flexibility that makes it a desirable A level that shows universities and employers a range of transferable skills. Geography is a good choice for those keeping their options open, as geography has the capacity to accompany many different career pathways and university applications.

What Will I Study and Learn?

Physical Geography Topics:

• Water and Carbon Cycles – This topic involves looking at how water and carbon interact and overlap to create systems in our world. It also explores how changes in these cycles could have catastrophic impacts on the world.
• Coastal Systems and Landscapes – This topic looks at dynamic coastlines and key processes that cause coasts to change both within the UK and elsewhere. This includes management of the coastline and solutions to problems.
• Hazards – This topic gives the opportunity to dive deeper into other hazards the earth faces such as: volcanic, seismic, storm and fire hazards.

Human Geography Topics:

• Global Systems and Global Governance – This topic looks as global interactions and how these can change access to trade and management of global issues. The focus is Antarctica as a global common and how it changes due to climate, tourism, scientific research and more.
• Changing Places – This is the most unfamiliar and new topic in geography. This topic explores the ideas of how people, objects and time can impact on spaces and places. It involves thinking about places not just as locations, but as places that can hold memories and meaning through interactions.
• Contemporary Urban Environments – This topic looks at a whole range of different concepts that affect and change cities including, but not limited to: economic inequalities, urbanisation, counterurbanisation, urban regeneration, the urban heat island effect, pollution in cities, sustainability in cities, flood risk.

How will I be assessed?

A-level Geography is split up into 3 main components. Components 1 and 2 are assessed using exams, each with 3 topics per paper. Component 3 is a non-examinable assessment (coursework), which is completed and submitted before your final exams.

• Component 1 – Physical Geography (2 hours 30 minutes) 40% of grade
• Component 2 – Human Geography (2 hours 30 minutes) 40% of grade
• Component 3 – NEA (coursework) 20% of grade. This is an individual investigation that includes data that you will collect during fieldwork. During this coursework, you will learn key skills relating to data collection, presentation and analysis. You have the freedom to choose either a human or physical based enquiry question in line with your strengths and interests.