Course Overview
Geography helps students make sense of a rapidly changing world by investigating physical landscapes, human environments, and the interactions between people and places.
Learners develop strong enquiry skills asking questions, collecting and analysing evidence, evaluating arguments, and communicating conclusions while gaining a global perspective on sustainability, development, and risk.
The course combines case studies from a range of countries and scales with applied graphical, statistical and cartographic techniques. Fieldwork skills are embedded throughout, enabling students to interpret unfamiliar fieldwork data confidently in the exam.
Course Content
Paper 1: Physical Geography
River Environments
Drainage basins and the hydrological cycle; fluvial processes (erosion, transport, deposition); river landforms (meanders, ox-bow lakes, levees, deltas); flood risk and management in contrasting economic contexts; evaluating hard vs soft engineering.
Coastal Environments
Marine and sub-aerial processes; coastal landforms (headlands/bays, stacks, spits, bars); coastal ecosystems and sustainable shoreline management; impacts of sea-level rise and climate change.
Hazardous Environments
Characteristics, distribution and impact of tectonic, hydro-meteorological, and mass-movement hazards; measuring, predicting and preparing for hazards; short- and long-term responses; risk perception and resilience.
Paper 2: Human Geography
Economic Activity & Energy
Primary to quaternary sectors; globalisation, trade and FDI; changing energy mixes, renewables vs non-renewables, energy security and transition; evaluating energy strategies.
Rural Environments
Contrasting rural regions in developed and developing/emerging countries; diversification, accessibility and service provision; landscape change, conservation and stakeholder conflict.
Urban Environments
Urbanisation and megacities; land-use patterns, transport and housing; sustainable city strategies (waste, water, energy, green space); regeneration and social equity.
Global Issues (Section C)
One of: Fragile environments & climate change, Globalisation & migration, or Development & human welfare applying concepts to global challenges and policy responses.
Fieldwork & Geographical Skills
- Interpreting maps, photographs, cross-sections and GIS outputs
- Graphical techniques (e.g., flow lines, desire lines, isolines), statistics (averages, dispersion, simple hypothesis testing concepts)
- Planning enquiries, sampling, data presentation, analysis, and evaluation in unfamiliar fieldwork contexts
Assessment
- Paper 1: Physical Geography — 40%, 1 hour 10 minutes, 70 marks
- Choose 2 of 3 topic questions (Rivers/Coasts/Hazards) + 1 fieldwork-skills question related to the chosen physical topic(s).
- Paper 2: Human Geography — 60%, 1 hour 45 minutes, 105 marks
- Choose 2 of 3 topic questions (Economic Activity & Energy/Rural/Urban) + 1 fieldwork-skills question related to the chosen human topic(s) + Section C Global Issues choice.
Both papers combine multiple-choice, short answers, data response, map/graph interpretation and extended writing. There is no coursework; fieldwork skills are examined using unfamiliar contexts and data.
Why Choose This Subject?
- Builds analytical, evaluative and problem-solving skills that transfer to many subjects.
- Encourages informed discussion about climate change, urbanisation, migration, energy transition and sustainability.
- Strengthens data literacy (maps, stats, GIS) and communication through extended writing.
- Highly regarded by colleges and employers for its blend of science, social science, and communication.
Progression Routes
- A-level Geography, Environmental Science, Geology or related pathways
- University courses in Geography, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, International Development, GIS/Remote Sensing, Sustainability
- Careers in environmental consultancy, planning, conservation, hazard/risk management, international NGOs, data analysis, and policy.
Subject Lead
Ready to Excel in Geography?
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