Read about the following topics on this page:
Is
A/S level Geography for you?
Am I able to take A/S level Geography?
What will I learn?
What about fieldwork?
What exams will I take?
How does Geography relate to my Key Skills?
What can I go on to do?
What textbooks would I need?
IS A/S LEVEL GEOGRAPHY FOR YOU?
If
you:
• have an interest in and concern for the environment
• are interested in current affairs
• want to study a subject that is relevant to your own life and expereiences
• want to do practical as well as class based work
• want to broaden your A/S studies to cover both arts and sciences
• enjoy travel and finding out about people places landscapes and events.
.... then Adavanced Geography is for you!
AM
I ABLE TO TAKE A/S LEVEL GEOGRAPHY?
You
do not have to have studied Geography at GCSE. It is more important that
you have a lively an enquiring mind an interest in the natural environment
and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and the ability
to communicate your ideas effectively.
If you have studied GCSE geography then we would expect you to have gained
aB grade pass. You also should have passed GCSE English Maths and Science
at C grade or above.
There
are six units of study. A brief description appears below, if you would
like to view the whole syllabus in detail then visit the relevant section
of the EDEXCEL
web site (PDF files)
The A/S level is comprised of three units:
Unit
1 Physical Environment
In
this unit you will learn about:
•
plate tectonics and continental drift; volcanoes and earthquakes; weathering
of rocks; the issues affecting people who live in areas affected by volcanoes
and earthquakes
• the hydrological cycle and rainfall; how and why rivers react to changing
conditions; how and why rivers shape the landscape; how people can manage
rivers to create opportunitiesand lessen risks
• how and why the sea shapes the landscape;how sea levels have changed
over time, and are still changing; the types of ecosystem that may develop
along a coastline; how people can manage coasts to create opportunities
and lessen risks.
Unit 2 Human Environments
In this unit you will learn about:
•
the distribution of the world's population; how populations vary in different
partsof the world; how and why the world's population is changing in number;
and how and why governments are trying to influennce these changes
• the site and situation of settlements, and their sphere of influence;
how different areas within towns are organised; how towns are changing
as people move in and out, and land uses change; how governemnts are influencing
settlements
• why people move around the world, and the effects these movements have
the areas people are leaving, and the areas they are moving to; how governments
influence these movement patterns
Unit 3 Fieldwork investigation or Applied Geographical Skills
For this unit you will carry out some fieldwork on both human and physical topics. The results could be written up as a piece of coursework, or alternatively, you will take an exam testing your knowledge of fieldwork techniques.
The
full Advanced level is made up of the above units plus three more units
Unit
4 Physical Systems, Processes and Patterns
In this unit you will learn:
•
how the earth's atmosphere is heated leading to pressure differences,
movement of the air and different weather systems, how people influence
weather and climate, and how weatherhazards influence people
• how glaciers develop and move and how landscapes are affected as
a result, the effects of meltwater when the glacier melts; opportunities
and challenges for people in and around glaiated areas
• the dynamics of ecosystems at different scales; how soils are formed
and develop their characteristics; how different ecosystems can offer
opportunities and challenges for people
Unit 5 Human Systems, Processes and Patterns
In this unit you will learn:
•
how industries choose locations, and how this is changing; how and why
employment structures vary; the emerging trend of globalisation; how industry
affects the environment
• where and why urbanisation is taking place; how food is produced in
rural areas; how rural and urban areas are interdependent; the pressures
that rapid change is putting on urban and rural environments
• how development varies in different parts of the world, and within countries;
how the process of development changes over time; how international trade
and aid affect developement in different parts of the world
Unit
6 Synoptic Paper: People and their Environments
In this unit you are expected to draw together many of the different
ideas that you have learned during the course. For example during the
exam you may be asked about why people live in hazardous areas and you
could include ideas from the units on agriculture, settlement and development.
WHAT
ABOUT FIELDWORK?
The department is very keen on fieldwork. Recently we have conducted A
level fieldwork in North Wales Scotland Liverpool and the City of London.
If you choose the A/S level qualification you will sit a 75 minute exam paper for each of units 1 and 2 each of which will consist of a choice of structured questions. Unit 3 is assessed either through a coursework project OR through an exam of 90 minutes which will contain 2 compulsory questions.
The
A level qualification requires you to sit a 90 minute exam paper for units
4 and 5 which consists of a choice of structured essays. The Synoptic
paper is assessed by a 2 hour exam consists of a combination of structured
questions and essays.
HOW DOES GEOGRAPHY RELATE TO KEY SKILLS?
Key
Skills are an increasingly important element of your education. As part
of your progression towards Higher Education you are required to produce
a portfolio of Key Skills as well as sit an exam in order to demonstrate
your competence in the following areas:
•
Communication
•
Application of Number
•
Information Technology
•
Problem Solving
•
Working With Others
• Improving Own Learning and Performance
Geography
gives you the chance to develop all the above Key Skills and your teachers
will actively help you by identifying tasks which are suitable evidence
for your portfolio.
WHAT
CAN I GO ON TO DO WITH GEOGRAPHY?
Students with AS or Advanced Geography have access to a wide range of
possible career and higher education opportunities. Skills that you develop
include collecting analysisng and interpreting data, communicating your
findings and developing links between different parts of the subject.
These skills are in great demand and Geographers are currently amongst
the most employable graduates.
Geography combines well with almost all other subjects. Taken with sciences
like mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, geography supports applications
for almost any science- based university course like engineering, psychcology,
environmental sciences, oceanography and geology; taken with
Humanities like English , French history or economics geography provides
a base for courses such as business, law , media, politics and philosophy.
Many
students choose to use their qualification to go straight into employment.
Because AS and Advanced Geography develop the transferrable and Key Skills
that employers are looking for, they can lead to a wide range of employment
opportunities. The qualification can also lead to further training in
such areas as the law, accountancy and journalism.
WHAT
TEXTBOOKS WOULD I NEED?
Visit our bookshop for the latest suggestions
for books to purchase.
Students should read the magazine Geography Review (Philip Allan)
which can be purchased at reduced rate through the department.
Reading a quality newspaper, if only on Sunday, is a necessity. Get into
the habit of collecting clippings! The department has a collection of
geography texts, which are available to be borrowed by A level students.
THE
SYLLABUS: Current year 13 only
London Examinations (EDEXCEL) Geography syllabus A. 9201
Examination board