Stratford upon Avon Grammar School for Girls

AS Code: 5031 A2 Code: 6031

Brief Subject Summary
This subject is the study of physical and human geography and the interaction of people and their environments.

Aims of the Course

Prior Level of Attainment
Grade B or above in Geography GCSE is (normally) required.

Course Content Summary and Summary of Method of Assessment

AS Module 1 – Core concepts in physical geography

Unit 1 exam – three structured stimulus response questions plus one extended prose question. (35% of AS and 17.5% of A Level marks) 1 hour

Module 2 – Core concepts in human geography

Unit 2 exam – three structure stimulus response questions plus one extended prose (35% of AS and 17.5% of A Level marks) 1 hour

Module 3 – Geographical Skills
Candidates are required to develop geographical skills

Unit 3 exam – geographical skills paper – content from modules 1 and 2 (30% of AS marks 15% of A Level marks) 1 hour

A2 Module 4 – Challenge and change in the natural environment

Unit 5 exam - Two questions out of three plus one synoptic essay from a choice of three (15% of the A Level mark) 1½ hours

EITHER

Module 6 – Fieldwork investigation coursework
One fieldwork investigation involving personal investigation work of approximately 4000 words This is assessed by the Board and can be based on any aspect of the specifications with a spatial element (20% of A Level mark)

OR

Module 7 – Fieldwork investigation written unit

	Pre-release information material
	Written unit tested under exam conditions
	Topic published in advance (20% of A Level mark)

The assessment units may be taken at stages throughout the course, at the end of each year or at the end of the total course, depending on the availability of these units.

Links to Careers, Employment and Higher Education

This A-level subject has been chosen as a good basis for studying Geography or a related subject in higher education as well as being of value to a student going directly into employment. Geography is a broad-based subject with links to many other subjects. It can be studied as a single subject in higher education within the field of arts or sciences depending on options chosen by the individual. Geography can also be studied in a great variety of combinations with other subjects. It is a subject valued by employers for various reasons including the subject’s emphasis on problem-solving skills and analysis and synthesis of a variety of types of data. Geography students go into a very wide range of types of occupation, for example in the areas of planning, leisure and tourism, journalism and management.

Fieldwork

During the spring term of Year 12 we spend five days at a Field Studies Council Centre planning and carrying out a number of fieldwork studies. These help to prepare the students for the skills paper at AS Level and either of the coursework options at A2 Level as well as being a very enjoyable opportunity to study geography first hand.

Textbooks

All students should have their own up to date atlas.
Our main text books are AS Level Geography and A2 Geography both written by Bowen and Pallister and published by Heinemann.
For revision, we recommend student unit guides published by Philip Allan Updates which are based on our particular exam specification.

Websites

http://www.aqa.org.uk/ AQA examination board: for specification information and access to past examination papers.
http://www.nelsonthornes.com/ Nelson Thornes for the online resources to which we subscribe. The resource for A-level is called Geofile and the user name is 6078 and the password is "welcome".
Other websites will be recommended at appropriate points during the course.

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