Geography
GCSE
What will I study?
Geography is ideal as a subject for those interested in the world and its people. It links well to almost any combination of subjects and will thus help to keep your options open in the future.
The course is split into four parts: human, physical, skills and applications. Each part consists of different topics, some of which will build on areas you will have already studied during Year 9.
How will I be assessed?
This is a single GCSE qualification and follows the AQA specification.
Assessment takes place at the end of Year 11 and involves three written exams:
- Paper 1 (Living with the physical environment)
- Paper 2 (Challenge in the human environment)
- Paper 3 (Geographical applications)
You will also sit regular mini-tests and unit assessments which will enable us to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that we can target support.
Enrichment opportunities
in Year 10, you will have opportunities to participate in fieldwork activities. You may also be visited by outside speakers and university students or make visits to universities and local businesses.
Teaching and learning approaches
In geography you will have the opportunity to engage in lots of different types of learning experiences. These may include primary and secondary data collection, map and satellite image interpretation, constructing and analysing graphs and statistics, drawing sketch maps, personal research, note-taking, reading, watching clips and DVDs or problem solving.
There will be times when you will be expected to make and justify decisions and you will get some initial experiences with GIS (Geographical Information Systems).
Sometimes you will need to work independently, but you will also need to work with others.
Homework
Homework is an important part of the course. You will get regular homework that might build on what we have learnt in the lesson. Alternatively it may involve spaced learning of earlier topics. All homework is designed to help you retain the knowledge you have learnt in order to be more successful in your exams.
The Future
Geography is available as an A level course in the Sixth Form. Many students have a preference for either human or physical topics and although both have to be studied, you can follow your own interests in the Year 13 coursework project.
Most years see students progress to university to study geography or related subjects, where degrees may focus on the scientific or the human aspects of this subject. Statistics show that geography graduates go into a wider range of jobs than students of any other degree.
