A-level Geography

‘Geography is concerned with the study of places, the human and physical processes which shape them and the people who live in them. It helps pupils to make sense of their surroundings and to gain a better appreciation’

A Level Geography at St Michael’s

A Level Geography at St Michael’s offers an exciting selection of new topics not covered at GCSE, and allows greater depth of understanding in some key topics previously studied. The course is split into physical and human Geography with both sides covering the complex interaction of systems and processes that shape our world. Within the classroom there is room for discussions, analytical work and extended research which allows you to become an independent thinker. You will learn in a wide variety of ways using maps, GIS skills, data analysis, photos and articles. The A Level course, outlined below, also includes fieldwork opportunities to collect data for your coursework.

Students who have studied Geography at St Michael’s have continued their study of Geography at Russell Group universities including the University of Bristol, King’s College London and the University of Nottingham.

Subject content

Physical geography

  1. Water and carbon cycles
  2. Hot desert systems and landscapes
  3. Coastal systems and landscapes
  4. Glacial systems and landscapes
  5. Hazards
  6. Ecosystems under stress

Human geography

  1. Global systems and global governance
  2. Changing places
  3. Contemporary urban environments
  4. Population and the environment
  5. Resource security

Geography fieldwork investigation

  1. Fieldwork requirements
  2. Investigation requirements

Geographical skills

  1. Geographical skills checklist

Assessments

Component 1: Physical geography
What’s assessed

Section A: Water and carbon cycles

Section B: either Hot desert systems and landscapes or Coastal systems and landscapes or Glacial systems and landscapes

Section C: either Hazards or Ecosystems under stress
How it’s assessed

Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

120 marks

40% of A-level
Questions

Section A: answer all questions (36 marks)

Section B: answer either question 2 or question 3 or question 4 (36 marks)

Section C: answer either question 5 or question 6 (48 marks)

Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response and extended prose
Component 2: Human geography
What’s assessed

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 30 minutes

120 marks

40% of A-level
Questions

Section A: answer all questions (36 marks)

Section B: answer all questions (36 marks)

Section C: answer either question 3 or question 4 or question 5 (48 marks)

Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose
Component 3: Geography fieldwork investigation
What’s assessed

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.
How it’s assessed

3,000–4,000 words

60 marks

20% of A-level

Marked by teachers and moderated by AQA