Geography

GEOGRAPHY (GCSE)

Geography GCSE offers students the opportunity to study important topical world issues and to further develop their knowledge and understanding of geographical processes studied in earlier key stages.

The course allows students to develop an awareness and competence in a wide range of skills including:

The course consists of both independent study and group work, so helping to build the students' confidence and improving their social development and interpersonal skills.

During the course a number of one-day field trips will take place as well as a coursework data collection day.

We will be following the AQA Syllabus A. This allows students a choice of topics to answer in each of two papers.

Paper 1 covers mainly Physical Geography. It is worth 40% of the total. The topics are:

• Ordinance Survey Map Skills - compulsory
• Plate tectonics
• Rocks
• Rivers
• Coastal landscapes
• Glaciation

• Ecosystems
• Weather and Climate

Besides the Ordinance Survey Skills, three of the other topics need to be answered in the exam.

Paper 2 covers mainly Human Geography It is worth 35% of the total. The topics are:

• Population
• Settlement
• Industry
• Agriculture
• Development
• Managing Resources

3 of these topics need to be answered in the exam.

The final 25% is a coursework component. This will be carried out during the final half term of Year 10. Students will have a choice of a Physical or Human Geography coursework.

The main requirement for studying GCSE Geography is an interest and enjoyment of the subject. Watching the occasional documentary and keeping up to date with the news (local, national and international) on television and newspapers are essential if any student wishes to obtain a good grade. Geography is constantly changing and students need to be aware of these changes (for example relocation of jobs to Asia via internet and telephone, charges for cars travelling through city centres, primary and secondary effects of disasters such as the Asian Tsunami etc).