Geography is one of the humanities subjects.

 

Are you considering on studying Geography at GCSE? This page will provide you with the information that you need to know.

 

Geography will give you an insight into the real world and encourage you to explore your thoughts and opinions on a variety of issues. In addition to your GCSE qualification, the subject will enhance your ability to work to deadlines and be a team member. These skills will be invaluable to you in later life. Students who achieve geography GCSE will find that employers see it as a valuable qualification. It bridges the gap between the arts and sciences and is a good base for further study.

 

What will I be studying?

 

The geography department follows the AQA specification.

 

• Living with the Physical Environment
  • The challenge of natural hazards (tectonic, tropical storms, extreme weather and climate change)
  • Physical landscape of the UK (locations of mountains & rivers, coastal landscapes and river landscapes)
  • The living world (ecosystems, tropical rainforests & hot deserts)
• Challenges in the Human Environment
  • Urban issues and challenges (world population growth, urbanisation, sustainable urban living)
  • The changing economic world (economic development, reducing the global development gap, economic future of the UK)
  • The challenge of resource management (demand & provision of resources within the UK, the growth in energy demands, different strategies to increase energy supply)
• Geographical Application - apply your geographical knowledge and examine the interrelationships between the different aspects of geographical study
  • Issue evaluation – pre-release material will be issued by the exam board from the 15th March in the year of the exam and you will have an opportunity to work through a set of activities before sitting an exam based upon this material
  • Fieldwork – you will undertake two geographical enquiries, one from an area of physical geography and the other based around an element of human geography. You will be expected to type up your fieldwork to be assessed internally and you will sit an exam based upon this material that goes towards your final grade.

 

Field work is a compulsory element of the GCSE and you will be expected to participate in field work activities; in the past, the department has organised residential trips to Walton on the Naze as well as Greenwich in London.

 

What will I be doing in lessons?

 

A variety of approaches are used to guide you through the course. Videos and computer programs are used to illustrate and help you interpret the ideas and theories studied. Class discussions and group work help you to understand and communicate your thoughts and ideas. Past papers and model answers will be regularly examined to help prepare for examinations and to ensure rapid and sustained progress. You will be expected, in addition to your written work, to produce leaflets, reports or display material.

 

How is the course assessed?

 

The course is assessed in three parts by exams that are sat at the end of Year 11.

 

• Paper 1 – Living with the physical world. Written exam that makes up 35% of the GCSE
• Paper 2 – Challenges in the human environment. Written exam that makes up 35% of the GCSE
• Paper 3 – Geographical application. Written exam that makes up 30% of the GCSE

 

How will I be assessed?

 

The qualification will be graded on a nine-point scale: 1 to 9 where 9 is the best grade.