GCSE Geography
Geography is not only up-to-date and relevant, it is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world's current problems boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them.
Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the spread of disease, the reasons for migration and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers and some of the issues we cover in our wide range of topics. Studying geography gives you the knowledge to make informed decisions on many of our current events and is a skill highly valued by current employers.
Choosing geography at school can open the doors to a university degree, either specifically in geography or by combining geography with other A Levels to gain a place on a degree programme in another subject. A GCSE in geography is recognised for its academic ‘robustness’ and, most importantly, it also helps young people into the world of work.
We know this is true because so many employers prize the knowledge and skills that studying geography can provide as well as transferable skills such as planning research, report writing, working in a team, using new technologies and communication skills. You will find geographers working in a wide range of jobs such as city planning, travel, international charities, environmental consultancy and many more. With geographical issues being at the forefront of political debates and government campaigns, the knowledge and skills of geographers is always in demand.
CONTENT & ASSESSMENT
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment 35% of GCSE
Section A – The challenge of natural hazards
Section B – Physical landscapes of the UK
Section C – The living world
How it’s assessed: Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 2: Challenges in the Human environment 35% of GCSE
Section A – Urban challenges
Section B – The changing economic world
Section C – The challenge of resource management
How it’s assessed: Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 3: Geographical Application 30% of GCSE
Section A – Issue evaluation - questions based on pre released resource
Section B – Fieldwork - questions based on students’ fieldwork
How it’s assessed: Written exam: 1 hour—Pre-release resources released to students in March of yr11.
PROGRESSION AT POST-16 AND BEYOND:
Students with GCSE Geography can progress onto A Levels in Geography, Sociology, Economics or Business (all of which are available at RR6) or study BTEC Travel and Tourism, available at local colleges.
Geography can be used in conjunction with many other A-Level subjects to study a wide range of degrees.
CAREERS:
As a degree subject, geography is highly respected by employers. Geography graduates have one of the highest rates of graduate employment, pursuing a wide range of career paths. It is often said that there is no such thing as a geography job; rather there are multiple jobs that geographers do.
Some of the direct examples include environmental consultant, civil servants, town planners, travel and tourism and working for international charities.