Why choose geography ‘AS’ or ‘A’ level?

Get in touch with the world.

‘A’ level Geography gives you a strong foundation for understanding the two main themes of the subject: human geography and physical geography. Between them, they’re what make our planet tick.

Human geography deals with how people and the environment interact and the way we both exist. It also looks at how people and groups move and live in the world around us. For example, you’ll learn about things you see in the papers and on the news everyday. Physical geography on the other hand, is all about the scientific aspects of our world, with an emphasis on how we can manage them. It’s not all theory either, you’ll get the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and do some fieldwork.

What’s in store?

In the classroom during the first (AS) year you’ll get a solid grounding in geography. The four units you will study are:

• Changing landscapes; Consideration of the changes that occurred during glacial periods.
• Tectonic hazards; Consideration of the causes and issues of volcanoes and earthquakes.
• Changing place; Consideration of the changes in settlements in both rural and urban areas. 
• Fieldwork investigation into physical and human geography; We spend 4 days completing the fieldwork and then writing up our results and conclusions

 

There’ll be more fieldwork too, with the freedom to choose your own area of research which will be worth 20% of your final grade.

Will it fit into my life?

Geography also gives a unique opportunity to develop all the Essential skills.
Students who take Geography find it goes well with Mathematics and any other Science or Arts subject. This means Geography can either be your specialist topic, or play a supporting role for other subjects.

• Numeracy-including collecting and interpreting statistics
• Literacy-including report writing
• Information technology
• Problem solving and decision making
• Working with others
• Evaluating your own performance

All of these skills are very important to employers.

If I am successful, where will it take me?
Anywhere on earth!!!!

As geography is about the interaction between people and our planet, it is valid for many different career paths. Statistics show that compared with other subjects, geographers are amongst the most employable people (see the table showing graduate unemployment in this leaflet).

Many of those leaving university with a geography degree enter three fields of employment:

• administration and management
• financial work.

This is because geographers possess the abilities and skills that many employers look for.

What do employers want and what do geography courses provide?

• Employers want people with good communication skills – geography courses include a wide range of written and oral skills writing essays, projects and oral presentations.
• Employers want people who can work in a team – Fieldwork is an essential component of the geography course and is an ideal setting in which to develop teamwork and leadership skills.

Employers want people who can analyse their work – Geographical Investigations test hypotheses and involve analysis.

• Employers want people who are numerate and literate – Geographers are used to manipulating and interpreting data and preparing reports which encourages conciseness and clarity in the use of language.
• Employers want people who can ask questions and then find the answers – Geographers can pose problems and then investigate the answers. They can undertake complex decision making exercises using information at a variety of scales.

• Employers want people who are computer literate – Geographers use ITC in many aspects of their work, for data collection, through the Internet, analysing spreadsheets, all vital skills, especially in a commercial business environment.
• Employers want people who are spatially aware – Geographers use maps all the time. Mapping has witnessed a revolution in recent years by harnessing remote sensing from satellites, and the development of geographic information systems which are increasingly used in geography lessons.

• Employers want people who are environmentally and socially aware – Geographers understand the links between places and people. They can look at complex systems in a straightforward way.

 

On your marks……

Each year you will have two written papers to complete. The combined marks from those papers account for 80% of your final ‘A’ level grade. In year 12, the exam papers will assess the fieldwork you have completed.

AS LEVEL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A2 LEVEL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entry Requirements

C grade in a literacy based subject

 

 

Course Downloads:

• A Level Geography Specification