‘Geography is concerned with the study of places, the human and physical processes which shape them and the people who live in them. It helps pupils to make sense of their surroundings and to gain a better appreciation’
Key stage 5, Year 12 AQA Level
Subject content
Physical geography
- Water and carbon cycles
- Hot desert systems and landscapes
- Coastal systems and landscapes
- Glacial systems and landscapes
- Hazards
- Ecosystems under stress
Human geography
- Global systems and global governance
- Changing places
- Contemporary urban environments
- Population and the environment
- Resource security
Geography fieldwork investigation
Geographical skills
Assessments
| Component 1: Physical geography |
| What’s assessed
Section A: Water and carbon cycles Section B: either Hot desert systems and landscapes or Coastal systems and landscapes or Glacial systems and landscapes Section C: either Hazards or Ecosystems under stress |
| How it’s assessed
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 120 marks 40% of A-level |
| Questions
Section A: answer all questions (36 marks) Section B: answer either question 2 or question 3 or question 4 (36 marks) Section C: answer either question 5 or question 6 (48 marks) Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response and extended prose |
| Component 2: Human geography |
| What’s assessed
Section A: Global systems and global governance Section B: Changing places Section C: either Contemporary urban environments or Population and the environment or Resource security |
| How it’s assessed
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 120 marks 40% of A-level |
| Questions
Section A: answer all questions (36 marks) Section B: answer all questions (36 marks) Section C: answer either question 3 or question 4 or question 5 (48 marks) Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose |
| Component 3: Geography fieldwork investigation |
| What’s assessed
Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content. |
| How it’s assessed
3,000–4,000 words 60 marks 20% of A-level Marked by teachers and moderated by AQA |
