A-Level Geography
Overview
“Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future ”
-Michael Palin
There has never been a better or more important time to study A level Geography. Dealing with vital issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation, social issues and natural hazards, A level Geography is one of the most relevant subjects you could choose to study. Students enjoy the scope of the material they cover in geography, the insights it can provide into the world around us and the highly contemporary nature of the issues it tackles. The A level Geography course is often split into human and physical geography even though geography is a very fluid subject with some of the issues overlapping. (cife.org.uk)
This qualification is linear which means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessments at the end of the course.
Key Information
Qualification: A-Level
Exam Board: AQA
Entry Requirements
English 5+
Maths 4+
Geography 5+
Useful Links
Paper 1: Physical Geography
Section A: Water and carbon cycles
Section B: either Hot desert systems and landscapes or Coastal systems and landscapes or Glacial systems and landscapes
Section C: either Hazards or Ecosystems under stress
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
120 marks
40% of A-level
Paper 2: Human Geography
Section A: Global systems and global governance
Section B: Changing places
Section C: either Contemporary urban environments or Population and the environment or Resource security
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
120 marks
40% of A-level
Paper 3: Geography fieldwork investigation
Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content.
3,000–4,000 words
60 marks
20% of A-level
Marked by teachers
Moderated by AQA
Progression
Students studying Geography most commonly progress onto a university course or an apprenticeship. Many Geography students go on to study law and/or international politics. Jobs directly related to geography include;
Cartographer
Commercial/residential surveyor
Planning and development surveyor
Environmental consultant
Town Planner
Secondary school teacher
Tourism
What goes well with Geography?
Psychology
English
Sociology
History