Geography KS5

 

GCE AS and A Level Geography

The department follows the specification provided by the WJEC.

AIMS

The AS and A level specification in geography is designed to encourage students to:

  • develop and apply their understanding of geographical concepts and processes to understand and interpret our changing world;
  • develop their awareness of the complexity of interactions within and between societies, economies, cultures and environments at scales from local to global;
  • develop as global citizens who recognise the challenges of sustainability and the implications for their own and others’ lives;
  • improve as critical and reflective learners aware of the importance of attitudes and values, including their own;
  • become adept in the use and application of skills and new technologies through their geographical studies both in and outside the classroom;
  • be inspired by the world around them, and gain enjoyment and satisfaction from their geographical studies and understand their relevance.

Specifically, the AS specification aims to encourage students to:

  • understand the role of physical processes operating within the dynamic earth system;
  • understand the impact of selected physical processes on environments and people;
  • develop an awareness of some of the current environmental and human issues that face the world;
  • know that issues can be studied at different scales and at different levels of complexity;
  • be able to use and interpret geographical information from a range of sources;
  • be able to reinforce classroom work by out-of-class activities in the field and to develop an understanding of changing environments through out-of-classroom learning.

In addition, the A level specification aims to encourage students to:

  • understand the links between the activities of people in a range of environments and the environmental, social and economic consequences of those activities;
  • appreciate that an understanding of causes and processes can lead to relevant management strategies;
  • synthesise information from a variety of sources in order to draw conclusions;
  • be able to research an aspect of geography with guidance and to report that experience under examination conditions;
  • be able to evaluate contrasting theories and explanations of geographical processes and phenomena as reflective learners;
  • understand why different individuals and groups hold differing opinions and may be biased;
  • understand and interpret information from a variety of sources and be aware of the limitations of those sources;
  • develop their awareness of their own role and responsibilities as future citizens.

AS GEOGRAPHY

COURSE CONTENT

Unit G1 – Changing Physical Environments

Theme 1 – Investigating Climate Change

Key Questions for Investigation

1.1 What are the world’s major climates and how do they relate to biomes?

1.2 What are the temporal patterns of climate change?

1.3 What are the causes of climate change?

1.4 What are the issues resulting from climate change?

1.5 What strategies can be used to change?

1.6 How successful have strategies been in tackling climate change?

Theme 2 – Investigating Tectonic and Hydrological change

Key Question for Investigation

2.1 What are the processes associated with plate tectonics?

2.2 What are the hazards associated with tectonic events?

2.3 How are tectonic hazards perceived and managed

2.4 What are the hydrological processes associated with drainage basins?

2.5 What are the causes and consequences of flooding?

2.6 How is the flood hazard perceived and managed within a drainage basin?

Unit G2 – Changing Human Environments

Theme 1 – Investigating Population Change

Key Question for Investigation

1.1 What is demographic change?

1.2. How and why do populations change naturally?

1.3 What is the role of migration in population change?

1.4 What are the issues of the migration of refugees and asylum seekers?

1.5 What are the causes and impacts of changing gender structures?

1.6 What are the demographic challenges facing countries?

Theme 2 – Investigating Settlement Change in MEDCs

Key Question for Investigation

2.1 What are the distinctive features of settlements?

2.2 How does the social and cultural structure of settlements vary and why?

2.3 What are the issues of the inner city?

2.4 What are the issues being faced in the CBD?

2.5 How is the rural urban fringe changing and why?

2.6 How are rural settlements changing and why?

A LEVEL GEOGRAPHY

COURSE CONTENT

The course consists of:

Unit G3 (30%) Contemporary Themes and Research in Geography

Section A – Contemporary Themes

Landforms and their management – Glacial Landforms and their Management

One from

Development or Globalisation

This Section will enable the student to follow a balanced course of one physical and one human environment. Assessment is through essays that are designed to provide ‘stretch and challenge’.

Synoptic assessment, testing candidates’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject and their holistic understanding of the subject, is a requirement of all A level specifications. In the context of Geography this means:

Assessment of candidates’ ability to draw on their understanding of the connections between different aspects of the subject represented in the specification and demonstrate their ability to ‘think like a geographer‘.

In G3 Section A, essay questions will explore key geographical concepts through linkages between physical and human geography, or issues or problems that will require candidates to draw together and apply relevant integrated knowledge and understanding of the specification. This will require higher order skills in constructing answers. Candidates will need to draw on knowledge, understanding and skills from across the specification to inform their understanding of topics, to recognise the linkages between different elements of geography, and to appreciate the broad concepts which underpin their geographical studies.

G3 Section B: Individual Research Enquiry

This part of the specification provides the opportunity for the student to carry out individual research and out of classroom work, including fieldwork, on a pre-set topic area based on a range of themes:

Candidates will select one ‘Research Investigation Theme’ from the following list:

G3.B.1 Geography of Crime

G3.B.2 Deprivation

G3.B.3 Geography of Disease

G3.B.4 Environmental Psychology

G3.B.5 Leisure and Recreation

G3.B.6 Microclimates

G3.B.7 Atmospheric and Water Pollution

G3.B.8 Geography of Retailing

G3.B.9 Rivers

G3.B.10 Small-scale Ecosystem

Unit G4

Sustainability

Synoptic assessment is a requirement of both A2 units.

In G4 the decision making/problem solving/issues evaluation exercises require candidates to draw on relevant knowledge, understanding and skills of the specification to tackle a decision, problem or issue that is new to them. The final question will provide ‘stretch and challenge’.

The four themes to be studied are:

Theme 1 Sustainable Food Supply

Theme 2 Sustainable Water Supply

Theme 3 Sustainable Energy

Theme 4 Sustainable Cities

A ‘Resource Folder’ will be released ahead of the examination in May. The material in the booklet will be drawn from a combination of the four themes listed above in G4.Guidance on additional investigation will be given with these materials. Further study may consist of giving greater depth to materials provided, or researching more widely, making comparisons with other examples.

The G4 question paper will be marked out of 80.

Questions in Section A will be set on ideas indicated by the resource booklet, accounting for 55 marks. There will be opportunities for knowledge and understanding from other areas of G4 that candidates have studied, besides those included in the resource booklet, to be used in answering questions in this section.

In Section B, one question will be set (25 marks) that does not rely so heavily on the resource booklet. This question will expect candidates to draw on knowledge, understanding and application from not only G4 but also from other units that have been studied at both AS and A2 Geography to help in formulating an answer.

The major focus in all the four themes in G4 is sustainability. There are many definitions of sustainability. Two well-known ones are:

1. The Brundtland Commission, that stated it is ‘Development which fulfils the needs of the present generation without jeopardising the possibilities of future generations to fulfil their needs.’

2. The Countryside Commission have expanded it to ‘Sustainable development means meeting four objectives, at the same time, in the UK and in the world as a whole’.

These are:

  • social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
  • effective protection of the environment;
  • prudent use of natural resources;
  • maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.’

These and other definitions will all allow candidates to gain full credit.

Resources chosen for the resource booklet will highlight issues, whilst giving information that can be used in answering questions. Some initial questions, carrying a relatively low mark load, may help candidates focus on information related to issues. Later questions will focus on the issues themselves, possible solutions and encourage evaluation of them. The recognition of a variety of attitudes and values of individuals, governments, pressure groups and other interest groups will contribute a good deal towards achieving good evaluation. It is expected that teaching each of the themes will often focus on issues. The opportunities for study given under ‘Suggested examples’ illustrate extreme cases related to the content. None are mandatory, and many other alternatives would serve the purpose. It is expected that for each theme, one well-chosen case study, along with one or more contrasting examples to generate discussion, could draw together all the relevant material to cover all the key questions of the theme.

Information for Parents

Further information can be found on the WJEC website (http://www.wjec.co.uk).

From the home page of the WJEC website select subject geography and search

GCE A/AS. This page gives information about developments related to the course.

Further useful information can be found at the following web site recommended by the WJEC (http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk). The relevant resources can be found following the link A/AS and Geography.

The shared subject area for pupils on the school Intranet provides AS and A Level pupils with notes and resources relevant to the new WJEC specification.

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT

This specification is divided into a total of 4 units, 2 AS units and 2 A2 units.

AS (2 units)

G1 1 hour 30 minutes Written Paper 75 marks (100 UMS)

Unit title: Changing Physical Environments

Two Themes

  • Investigating climate change
  • Investigating tectonic and hydrological change

Three structured questions with stimulus material, one of which tests research/fieldwork

G2 1 hour 30 minutes Written Paper 75 marks (100 UMS)

Unit Title: Changing Human Environments

Two Themes

  • Investigating population change
  • Investigating settlement change

Three structured questions with stimulus material, one of which tests research/fieldwork

A LEVEL (the above plus a further 2 units)

G3 2 hours 15 minutes Written Paper 75 marks (120 UMS)

Unit title: Contemporary Themes and Research in Geography

Section A – 1 hour 30 minutes

Two essays – one from each of the two contemporary themes. A choice from two questions for each theme.

Section B – 45 minutes

Candidates design and carry out a research enquiry based on a chosen theme and prescribed topic area. This will be assessed by a two-part question based on research enquiry and the findings of their research. This question will be given out after 1 hour 30 minutes when Section A is handed in.

G4 1 hour 45 minutes Written Paper 80 marks (80 UMS)

Unit title: Sustainability

Sustainable Food Supply

Sustainable Water Supply

Sustainable Energy

Sustainable Cities

Pre-release material in December and May prior to the examination for a ‘Decision Making Exercise’.

Information for Parents

Further information can be found on the WJEC website (http://www.wjec.co.uk).

From the home page of the WJEC website select subject Geography and search

GCE A/AS. This page gives information about developments related to the course.

How parents can best support their children

  • Regular attendance throughout the AS and the A Level courses is essential in order to maintain continuity in the subject.
  • Students are expected to read around and research into all the topics studied in Year 12 and 13. At times some topics are reported in the media such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, development, migration, climate change, etc.
  • Parents need to be aware of examination dates and times.
  • Ask pupils about what they are studying in the subject and how they are progressing. Any concerns please contact the department.
  • Support for parents is also provided by the WJEC examination board which provides the AS and A Level course (www.wjec.co.uk). It is useful to keep in touch with the news updates provided by the WJEC.
  • Some past papers are available on the WJEC website.
  • A wide range of resources are also available free of charge via the website (http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-aas-home/vtc-as_a-geography).
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