Geography

Understanding the World, Shaping the Future 

Explore the forces that shape our planet, society, and future through real-world issues and fieldwork. 

Geography is not just about maps – it’s about understanding the world we live in, the issues we face, and the ways we can shape the future. From climate change to global migration, Geography explores the big questions that impact everyone. As Michael Palin once said, “We need the Geographer’s skills and foresight to help us learn about our planet – how we use it and how we abuse it.” 

In A-Level Geography, you’ll explore pressing global issues, analyse how people and environments interact, and develop practical solutions for the challenges we face. Fieldtrips are an integral part of geography and will offer you the chance to learn outside the classroom and experience our world and its current issues. A level Geography is a lively and thought-provoking subject well acknowledged among employers.

Course Overview

Course Type:	A-Level
Exam Board:	OCR
Assessment	80% Exam 20% Coursework

49% of students who studied A Level Geography last year went on to attend Russell Group universities.

What you’ll learn about: 

The causes and impacts of global challenges like climate change, migration, and natural disasters

How human activity interacts with the environment and contributes to both problems and solutions

Key geographical concepts such as urbanization, resource management, and sustainability

Practical geographical skills through fieldwork and data analysis

A-Level Geography is a dynamic and thought-provoking subject that is highly regarded by both universities and employers. It equips you with valuable skills in critical thinking, research, and problem-solving that can be applied to a wide range of careers. 

Course Content & Assessment

Paper 1: Physical Systems – 22% of A Level

Exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 66 marks

This paper is split into two sections:

Section A – Examines landscape systems, where our focus is with coasts. This will be taught during Y12.

Section B – Earth’s life support systems is concentrated on investigating the carbon and the hydrological cycles, and how these two systems are linked.

Paper 2: Human Interactions – 22% of A Level

Exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 66 marks

This paper is also split into two sections:

Section A – Changing spaces, making places, which will be taught in Y12.

Section B – Global connections focusses on investigating global migration patterns and looking at the relationship between powers and borders.
In addition geographical skills will be assessment throughout. Questions are made up of short answers and extended response.

Paper 3: Geographical Debates – 36% of A Level

Exam: 2 hours 30 minutes, 108 marks

This paper will examine 2 contemporary themes, Climate Change and Hazardous Earth.

Climate Change.

Hazardous earth concentrates on investigating volcanoes and earthquakes.

There are 3 sections to this examination:

Section A focusses on your knowledge and understanding of the themes studies. Questions are made up of short answers and extended response.

Section B is again synoptic style questions made up of short answers and extended response.

Section C requires you to write 2 essays.

Independent Investigation – Investigative Geography – 20% of A Level

Non-exam assessment: 60 marks

Investigative geography gives you the opportunity to undertake an independent investigation which is of particular interest to you.
It can be related to any area of the specification.

Staff will take a supportive coaching role to guide you through this process.

It should be around 3-4000 words in length.

To support you in this the department have planned numerous fieldwork opportunities including a 2 night stay in Anglesey, to collect the necessary data and to meet the course requirements.

Fieldwork opportunities: To support you in this the department have planned numerous fieldwork opportunities including a 2 night stay in Anglesey, to collect the necessary data and to meet the course requirements.

Teaching

Lessons will be taught by experts in each discipline, based in specialist classrooms.

Teachers ensure that your learning is enhanced by employing a wide range of teaching and learning activities using a variety of resources. Some sessions are led by students following your own research.

The department uses a range of new technologies to enhance learning experience especially to compliment the skills unit. Substantial guidance and support is also provided by teaching staff in guiding students through the independent investigation

Your Future

Statistics show that compared to other subjects Geography graduates are among the most employable. This is presumably because they possess the skills that employers look for. In part this is because the subject is a combination of the facts of science and the understanding of the arts.

Geography graduates were surveyed after their degree courses about their career destinations.

The results show: (source AGCAS):

40.6% management and administration

24.8% further training including PGCE for teaching

11.4% financial sector

10.4% retail

10% other professional including media and law.

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