A LEVEL GEOGRAPHY
Exam Board
AQA
Overview
Geography is a unique subject because it looks at both the physical structure of the planet and the social structure (i.e. how we affect our environment and how it affects us) in the past, present and future. Geography is also a facilitating subject which means that it can be useful for a whole range of university courses and will help you keep your options open.
Why Choose This?
Candidates with A level geography have access to a wide range of possible careers and higher education opportunities. Skills that you develop include collecting analysing and interpreting data, communicating your findings and developing links between different parts of the subject. Geography graduates are some of the most employable of all graduates. Employers like geography graduates because of their broad skills base and understanding of the world that we live in. Traditional geography careers include: town planner, meteorologist, climatologist, volcanologist, tourism, teaching, civil servant, environmental agencies, water and forestry commissions, and resource management. However, being a geography graduate is not restrictive, geography graduates can easily enter other careers, including: journalism, business, law, accountancy, banking and insurance.
Areas of Study & Assessment
Component 1: Physical Geography
Section A: Water and carbon cycles
Section B: Coastal systems and landscapes
Section C: Hazards
Component 2: Human geography
Component 2: Human Geography
Section A: Global systems and global governance
Section B: Changing places
Section C: either Contemporary urban environments
Component 3: Geographical Investigation
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.
Component 1 & 2
Written exams: 2 hours 30 minutes
80% of A level (40% each)
Component 3
3,000 - 4,000 word Geographical Investigation
20% of A-level
What Our Students Say
I think geography is great, it challenges the brain and makes you think about the little things. It’s also so much more than about geography, it contains different elements that blend together for a better more fulfilling experience. I took A level geography because I enjoyed the learning and the thoughts behind it, it’s a good course that gives you the skills for everything. The things I have leant in geography can be used in many different areas of my future, for example, I can be more confident and find it easier to think about the reasoning behind certain aspects. It’s also helped improve my English skills and allows you to become a better person.