Geography

What levels are on offer?

You can take Geography at Higher Level or at Standard Level.

How do I decide which to choose?
  • Higher Level Geography is aimed at students who really enjoy Geography and those who are possibly interested in taking it at University.
  • Standard Level is aimed at students who are likely to need to use a high level of Geographical skills in future employment. You may wish to study for a degree in Geography or to use the subject in a range of other degrees including Economics, History and Politics. Studying Geography also provides you with the analytical and evaluative skills much prized by employers.
What will I need?

A grade 'B' or above in Geography (at higher tier) at GCSE level is a desirable but not essential qualification.

What will I study?

The following topics will be covered over the two years at both Higher Level and Standard Level:

  • Geographical Skills
  • Core theme - Patterns and Change (Population, Development and Resource Sustainability)
  • Urbanisation
  • The Geography of Food and Health

At Higher Level you will also study

  • Hazards and Disasters - Risk, Assessment and Response
  • Freshwater - issues and conflicts
  • Global Interactions
How will I be assessed?

In each case there are two aspects to the assessment.

Higher Level

For the Internal Assessment you will write a report on a piece of Fieldwork that will be hypothesis-based and related to one of the themes in the syllabus and is worth 20% of the marks.

The External assessment consists of 3 written papers.

  • Paper 1 lasts 1½ hours and is worth 25%. You will answer two questions from a choice of three based on the core theme.
  • Paper 2 lasts 2 hours and is worth 35%. You will answer three questions from a choice of eleven on the optional themes.
  • Paper 3 lasts 1 hour and is worth 20% and is based on the topic of Global Interactions. You will answer 1 question out of a choice of 3

Standard Level

For the Internal assessment you will produce one piece of coursework related to a theme in the syllabus. It is worth 25% of the marks.

The External assessment consists of 2 written papers.

  • Paper 1 lasts 1½ hours and is worth 40%. You will answer several short answer questions and a choice of one longer answer on the Core Theme.
  • Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 20 minutes and is worth 35%. You will answer 2 questions from the themes you have done (choice of 2 questions from each theme).

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