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

 

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

 

It is a requirement that you should have studied Geography at GCSE and gained at least a grade 6 in order to take an AS or A Level course in AQA Geography at Moulsham High School.

 

What is really important in this subject is that you have an enquiring mind, an interest in the environment and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate your ideas effectively. If you have studied Geography at GCSE you will find that the material and skills you have learned will prove a valuable foundation for further studies at this level.

 

What is the content of the course?

 

At Moulsham High school we study the AQA syllabus. The new A level follows the linear system with all students taking their exams for the A level at the end of Year 13. However we also enter all students for the AS exam in the summer of Year 12. The grade from this exam will not go towards your final A level grade however we expect all students to successfully pass this exam in order to continue studying A level Geography in Year 13.

 

What we teach in Year 12:

 

Physical Geography:

 

Coastal systems and landscapes:   This section of the specification focuses on coastal zones, which are dynamic environments in which landscapes develop by the interaction of winds, waves, currents and terrestrial and marine sediments. Students will study a systems approach to the formation of a variety of coastal landforms as well as examining how people manage coasts in the 21st century.

 

Hazards: This section of the specification focuses on the lithosphere and the atmosphere, which intermittently but regularly present natural hazards to human populations, often in dramatic and sometimes catastrophic fashion. We will be exploring the origin and nature of these hazards and the various ways in which people respond to them.

 

Human Geography:

 

Changing places - This section of the specification focuses on people's engagement with places, their experience of them and the qualities they ascribe to them, all of which are of fundamental importance in their lives. Students will study the cities of Liverpool and Chelmsford to examine how both places have changed over time and how people perceive these locations.

 

Year 12 fieldwork: This involves a compulsory residential trip to Wales and Liverpool which takes places in October. Students are unable to participate on this course if they do not attend this fieldwork trip. Upon returning from this trip students will write up two pieces of fieldwork which will support them in preparation for the AS exam.

 

The AS Exam  - Summer of Year 12 :

Paper one  -  Physical geography and people and the environment.  Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 50% of AS.

Paper two -  Human geography and geography fieldwork investigation.  Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 50% of AS.

 

What we teach in Year 13:

 

Physical Geography:

 

Water and Carbon cycles -  This section of the specification focuses on the major stores of water and carbon at or near the Earth’s surface and the dynamic cyclical relationships associated with them. It examines how people are affecting these systems and considers issues related to climate change.

 

Human Geography:

 

Global systems and global governance - This section of the specification focuses on globalisation – the economic, political and social changes associated with technological and other driving forces which have been a key feature of global economy and society in recent decades.

 

Contemporary urban environments – This section of our specification focuses on urban growth and change which are seemingly ubiquitous processes and present significant environmental and social challenges for human populations.  The unit examines the challenges associated with urban change including alterations to climate and drainage as well as waste management.

 

Independent fieldwork enquiry— Students choose and complete their own piece of fieldwork which is normally around 4000 words. This makes up part of the final A Level grade.

 

The A Level exam - Summer of Year 13:

 

Paper one  -  Physical Geography and people and the environment.   Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 40% of A Level

 

Paper two - Human Geography and Geography fieldwork investigation.  Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 40% of A Level

 

Fieldwork investigation - 20% of A Level.

 

What skills will I learn during this course?

 

·         Communication

·         Application of numeracy

·         Information Technology

·         Problem Solving

·         Working with others

·         Improving own language and performance

 

Fieldwork

 

Students are required to complete five days fieldwork for this course. This will take the form of a residential trip. This will be in North Wales & Liverpool.

 

More details on this course can be found in our Sixth Form Course Guide.