GEOGRAPHY (AQA) 

Geography at A level allows an in-depth study of subject matter, which is topical and wide-ranging thus providing a useful basis for a variety of career choices.

We follow AQA B Modular Syllabus at present. Both the AS and A2 specifications incorporate the revised National Subject Criteria for Geography.  There is a strong emphasis in this specification upon the study of geographical change, both in physical and human environments.

Among the many benefits, this new specification is designed to encourage candidates to:
· Develop fieldwork skills and study geographical issues and impacts
· Make the choice between taking the fieldwork investigation paper (Unit 4A)
· Or by taking the issue evaluation paper (Unit 4B)
· Develop a specialist interest within the field of geography and progress to higher education and employment.
 
The new AQA specification for Geography has been designed to:
· Increase the choice offered to centres and candidates while studying GCE Geography, allowing for specialisation and progression to higher education and employment.
· Ensure a natural progression from GCSE to GCE ensuring that there is minimal repetition of content.
· Provide the scope for centres to choose topics to study within units 1 and 3.

At AS, all candidates will study core human and physical geography.  In each area of study candidates will consider the values and attitudes of decision makers, consider their own values and attitudes to the issues being studied and support their learning of ideas through the study of specific case studies.  Candidates will also develop a variety of geographical skills, which will broaden and deepen existing knowledge and be employed with a greater degree of independence.

Unit 1 will cover:
· Rivers, floods and management
· Cold environments, coastal environments and hot desert environments and their margins
· Global population change
· Food supply issues, energy issues and health issues

Unit 2 will cover:
· Basic, investigative, ICT, graphical, cartographical and statistical skills
· Research skills and the assessment of AS fieldwork

At A2, candidates will continue to study a combination of human and physical geography. Candidates are required to choose whether to undertake preparatory investigative work in the field in order to be able to produce a fieldwork investigation, or undertake an issue evaluation exercise to extend the content within the specialised context of issue evaluation.

 Unit 3 will cover:
· Plate tectonics and associated hazards
· Weather and climate and associated hazards
· Challenges facing ecosystems
· World cities – evolution or revolution?
· Development and globalisation
· Contemporary conflicts and challenges 

Unit 4A will cover:
· Investigation of a geographical argument, assertion, hypothesis, issue or problem.

Unit 4B will cover:
· The process of issue evaluation

Mrs E Forrester, BSc. (Hons), MA, PGCE