Official Course Title: GCSE Geography

Exam Board: AQA

Further details can be obtained from: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035 

This exciting course is based on a balanced framework of 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 natural worlds. Students who complete the course will have the skills and experience to progress onto A-level and beyond.

Paper 1 topics include:

• Earth hazards: tectonic hazards, tropical storms and climate change - how do these natural hazards pose a threat to humans? Can we reduce the impacts these disasters have?

• The Living World: rainforests and cold environments - why are these landscapes found in certain parts of the world? What plants and animals are found here? How do humans threaten these areas through economic development?

• UK landscapes: rivers and coasts - how does rivers and seas shape our land? How can we protect land from these natural processes?

Paper 2 topics include:

• Urban issues and challenges - why are cities growing so rapidly? What is life like in a favela in Brazil? How has London changed over time?

• The changing economic world - why are some countries more developed than others? What is life like in Nigeria? How has the UK economy changed over time?

GCSE Geography encourage students to: 

• develop and extend their knowledge of locations, places, environments and processes, and of different scales including global; and of social, political and cultural contexts (know geographical material) 

• gain understanding of the interactions between people and environments, change in places and processes over space and time, and the inter-relationship between geographical phenomena at different scales and in different contexts (think like a geographer) 

• develop and extend their competence in a range of skills including those used in fieldwork, in using maps and GIS and in researching secondary evidence, including digital sources; and develop their competence in applying sound enquiry and investigative approaches to questions and hypotheses (study like a geographer)

• apply geographical knowledge, understanding, skills and approaches appropriately and creatively to real world contexts, including fieldwork, and to contemporary situations and issues; and develop well-evidenced arguments drawing on their geographical knowledge and understanding (applying geography).

Below are examples of the end of year exams students sit at the end of the GCSE course. 

Why study Geography?

According to the Royal Geographical Society, Geography graduates have some of the highest rates of graduate employment.

Geography is great for any kind of career that involves the environment, planning, or collecting and interpreting data. Popular careers for people with geography qualifications include: town or transport planning, surveying, conservation, sustainability, waste and water management, environmental planning, tourism, and weather forecasting.

The army, police, government, research organisations, law and business world also love the skills that good geographers develop.

Because geographers study human and population development, Geography can be useful in charity and international relations too. 

Look at our faculty careers page for more links to careers with Geography: Go to Humanities careers website 

What subjects go with Geography for GCSE?

Geography will support the study of sciences, especially health and social sciences, like Biology, Sociology and Psychology.

Geography A-level is also a facilitating subject, which means that it can be useful for a whole range of university courses and will help you keep your options open. 

What degrees and other qualifications do I need Geography for? 

If you want to study Geography at university, you’ll almost certainly need to study it at A-level. Geography A-level is also required from some environmental science and planning courses.

According to the Russell Group, Geography A-level is useful (that means it’s a good idea to study it!) for courses in: Archaeology, Civil Engineering, Geology and Sociology.

A GCSE or A-level in Geography could also be useful for apprenticeships in surveying, horticulture, agriculture, land based engineering or BTEC’s in environmental sustainability or environmental conservation, although it won't always be required.