A Level Geography

You will follow the OCR specification.

From Sept 2016 we have been teaching the new Linear A Level Geography course – all of your exams are at the end of the 2nd year. The course splits equally between Physical and Human aspects.

Human Geography

Global Connections

There are two elements to this: “Global Migration” and “Powers and Borders”

Global Migration is obviously topical in today’s world and we will study a range of complex issues and debates.

Global governance in terms Powers and Borders will include studying the challenges to political borders from Trading Blocs and TNCs as well as Global Governance of Conflict.

Changing Places

In this Core topic, you will study two places, one being local to you, the other being a contrasting place. It is an introduction to basic geographical skills that allow you to investigate and contrast areas. Skills include mapping techniques, data manipulation, statistics and qualitative observations. It will also investigate the perceptions of Place from different groups of people.

Disease Dilemmas

This will focus on the spatial pattern of disease, links to geographical phenomena such as natural disasters and issues related to economic development. We will study two specific diseases.

Physical Geography

Earth’s Life Support Systems: The Water and Carbon Cycles

This core topic is perhaps best summed up by David Suzuki’s quote “Just as human activity is upsetting the Earth’s carbon cycle, our actions are altering the water cycle”. It will involve using a systems approach to understanding these Cycles on a Global, Regional and Local scale. You will study a range of ideas from the impacts of melting permafrost in Alaska to issues of hydrocarbon fuel extraction (fossil fuels) and deforestation.

Hazards

No A Level course would be complete without this topic. After an introduction to Natural Hazards, you will study Volcanic and Seismic (Earthquakes and Tsunami) hazards and associated case studies.

Landscape Systems

Glaciated Landscapes will be studied as systems, through their associated landforms and through the eyes of human exploitation.

Geographical Investigation

You will undertake fieldwork based on Physical and Human Geography and follow this up by completing one Independent Investigation (in the 2nd year)

Assessment

Component 1 Physical Systems

1½ hour written paper 22% of total A Level.

Component 2 Human Geography

1½ hour written paper 22% of A Level (Both papers include multiple choice; short answers; levelled responses and extended prose).

Component 3 Geographical Debates

2½ hour written paper 36% of total A Level

Geographical Investigation

3-4000 words (Internally marked, externally moderated). 20% of A Level