Based at the Workington Academy site.

Examination Board

AQA

Entry Criteria

5+ in English, maths, Science and Geography

Assessment

  • 3000-4000 words
  • 35 marks
  • 20% of A-Level
  • Marked by teachers, moderated by AQA.

Why you should study Geography

Contemporary Geography is a subject which explicitly engages with the relationship of human populations to each other over space and time and their relationship with their physical environment at a variety of scales from the local to the global. There has never been a better or more important time to study geography. With growing interest in issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation and social cohesion, geography is one of the most relevant courses you could choose to study. Geographers are also highly employable.

Whatever your passion for the world -fascination with landscapes or concerns about inequality – geography will provide you with knowledge and transferable skills that will reward you personally and advance you professionally.

Course Content

AS Geography

Component 1: Physical Geography and people and the environment.

Section A: either Water and Carbon Cycles or Hot Desert Environments and their Margins or Coastal Systems and Landscapes.
Section B: either Hazards or Contemporary Urban Environments.

How it’s assessed: written exam (1 hour 30 minutes), 80 marks, 50% of AS.

Component 2: Human geography and geography fieldwork investigation

Section A: either Global Systems and Global Governance or Changing Places.
Section B: Geography fieldwork investigation and Geographical skills.

How it’s assessed: written exam (1 hour 30 minutes), 80 marks, 50% of AS.

A2 Geography

Component 1: Physical Geography

Section A: Water and Carbon Cycles
Section B: either Hot Desert Environments and their Margins or Coastal Systems and Landscapes.
Section C: either Hazards or Ecosystems under stress or Cold Environments.

How it’s assessed: written exam (2 hours 30 minutes), 96 marks, 40% of A-Level.

Component 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.

How it’s assessed: Written exam (2 hours 20 minutes), 96 marks, 40% of A-Level.

Component 3: Geographical 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.

Skills Developed, Progression and Possible Future Careers

  • You will observe the world as an integrated system. You will develop skills which will enable you to observe, describe, analyse, represent, interpret and report information about the world. You will investigate changes and stability in human and physical worlds, including the causes, rates and patterns of change and the prediction of change to the foreseeable future.
  • Geography involves a variety of IT, field and laboratory analytical approaches including techniques such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and fieldwork is an integral part to most courses.
  • You will develop skills and knowledge that will allow you to follow a variety of career paths. You may choose a route directly associated with Geography e.g. town and transport planning, chartered surveying, land and water management, sustainability, environmental consultancy, development, tourism, conservation, demography, housing and social welfare. You may also choose a route which utilises the skills you develop through studying Geography e.g. information technology, administration and management, the financial sector, marketing, research, and industry and manufacturing.