Geography GCSE

AQA 8035 (9-1)

Geography is an academic subject that will enhance your global outlook. It focuses on the major issues affecting the UK and the world today, whether natural hazards or urban growth. It creates an important link between other subjects, whether Maths, English or Science by applying many of their elements to the real world. It develops knowledge and understanding and shows you how you can contribute to a future that is both sustainable and inclusive.

This course encourages you to be an inspired and motivated learner with an emphasis on developing essential skills that will enable you to become a reflective, analytical thinker with an enquiring mind. These qualities are highly regarded by both universities and employers as they enable you to be an independent thinker who has skills that transfer across the arts and the sciences.

 

Course content

There are three key component areas which focus on a wide range of examples from around the world and the United Kingdom. You will develop your understanding and knowledge of these areas through discussion, enquiry, research, analysis and fieldwork. This includes a trip to North Norfolk to study coastal management.

Component 1: Living with the physical environment.

• The challenge of natural hazards

• The living world

• Physical landscapes in the UK

 

Component 2: Challenges in the human environment.

• Urban issues and challenges

• The changing economic world

• The challenge of resource management
   

Component 3: Geographical applications

• Issue evaluation (based on one of the six units above)

• Fieldwork

Assessment

• Paper 1: 1 hour 30 minutes; 35% of the qualification (88 marks)

• Paper 2: 1 hour 30 minutes; 35% of the qualification (88 marks)

• Paper 3: 1 hour and 30 minutes, 30% of the qualification (76 marks)

• There is no coursework (fieldwork is assessed in Paper 3)

The Geography department organises an optional trip to Iceland at the end of Year 10.