Geography

Geography

Board AQA Specification 8035

This new GCSE Geography specification can be divided into three examined units. The diverse content covered is given below, reflecting the dynamic and contemporary, global nature of modern Geography.

Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment (35% of total assessment)

Section A – Challenge of Natural Hazards

• Tectonic hazards • Tropical Storms • Extreme Weather in the UK • Climate change

Section B – Living World

• Ecosystems • Tropical Rainforests • Hot deserts •

Section C – Physical Landscapes in the UK

• Coastal landscapes and management • River landscapes and management

Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment (35% of total assessment)

Section A – Urban issues and challenges

• The global pattern of Urban Change • Urban change and challenge in a Low Income Country (LIC) • Urban change and challenge in a High Income Country (HIC) • Sustainable development in an urban area

Section B – The Changing Economic World

• Economic development and quality of life • Reducing the global Development Gap • Economic development in a LIC or NEE • Economic change in the UK

Section C – The Challenge of Resource Management

• Global Resource Management • Resource management for the UK • Water supply and issues

Section A – Issue Evaluation Exercise

• Critical thinking and problem solving exercise based on a pre-released thematic resource pack. This examines the students’ geographical skills of analysing a range of resources (sketches, graphs, maps etc.) and their ability to synthesize and critically assess the information provided taking into consideration the viewpoint of different stakeholders.

Section B – Fieldwork Investigation and geographical Skills

• Students must undertake two contrasting enquiries that include the collection of primary data through geographical fieldwork. It is anticipated that these fieldwork opportunities will take place in Trinity 1 term of Year 10.

Entry Requirements

There are no specific requirements, although a good geographical ability gained at Key Stage 3 level including good graphical analytical skills and strong written evaluation skills are important. An interest in the UK and global development issues, as well as an understanding of the environmental issues surrounding the resources we use from our ‘one world’ are important. A curiosity about the processes that shape the landscape of our planet and a strong mathematical background would also be helpful.

GCSE Assessment

The new AQA GCSE Specification 8035 has linear assessment via three externally examined papers, outlined in detail above. These are Paper 1 – Physical Environment worth 35% of the course, Paper 2 – Human Environment worth 35% of the course, and Paper 3 – Geographical Applications worth 30% of the course. All papers will be taken in the summer GCSE series at the end of Year 11.

What next?

Geography’s integrating nature makes it a good choice at A Level since it combines easily with both sciences and creative arts subjects. It provides you with key skills that are valued by employers in specific areas such as town planning, environmental conservation, leisure and tourism or civil engineering. More widely, it is highly regarded by financial and ICT industries as well as businesses where management roles are often filled by geographers.

Further Information

The specification provides a very useful insight into many processes and issues that are of growing importance to our society and way of life such as globalization, urbanization and resource sustainability, while maintaining some of the more traditional elements of studying and appreciating the physical landscapes and processes around us. Certainly, an understanding of the natural environment and our interaction with it is now an essential part of modern education, especially in areas such as hazard impact and management. In addition, the study of Geography at this level allows the integration of scientific knowledge with humanity and the development of a range of transferable, mathematical and communication skills.