Course
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Learn more about A Levels at SGS College

Summary

You will study many aspects of the natural and human environment, including contemporary issues, natural hazards such as flood events, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and hurricanes, and our expanding population. You will also study the globalisation of economics and its major impacts on our daily lives, such as world energy and food production. As geography is such a broad subject, it opens many doors and will prepare you for a wide variety of courses at university, including traditional human and physical geography, environmental science, climate change, marine biology, oceanography and seismic exploration.

The course follows the AQA specification, which was first introduced in September 2016.

In Years 1 and 2 students will study core human and physical geography. In each area of study learners will consider the values and attitudes of decision-makers, consider their own values and attitudes to the issues being studied and support their learning of ideas through the study of specific case studies. Students will also develop a variety of geographical skills, which will broaden and deepen existing knowledge and be employed with a greater degree of independence.

Field studies are an essential part of the course, and as well as undertaking class trips (both day-long and at least one residential), there are opportunities to attend optional residential trips to places such as Iceland, the Bay of Naples and other locations.

At the end of the first year (usually during the summer holiday) all students MUST undertake an individual field study, which is planned and carried out by themselves under guidance from the department. This is the compulsory fieldwork element and it aims to help develop independent research and analytical skills. It is marked internally and submitted to the exam board for moderation.

What do I need to join?

To study this course, you will need 5 GCSEs, including English and Maths at grade 5 or above. You must also have a 5 or above in GCSE Geography.

How will I know how I am doing?

This course is assessed by:

Year 1: Two papers, each one and a half hour exams at AS-level

Year 2: Two papers, each two and a half hour exams

Independent fieldwork investigation NEA, worth 20% of your A-level

Work Experience

You will be required to do a minimum of 36 hours of work experience. This is usually completed in a week during your first year in term time, where you will have the opportunity to explore a career field which takes your interest. In the lead-up to this week, you will be asked to create an exciting CV during a group tutorial period. The aim of this activity is to give you an idea of what full-time employment is like and to help you think about which career you would like to follow.

What can I do next?

As geography is such a broad subject, it opens many doors into university life. This qualification will prepare you for a wide variety of courses, varying from traditional human and physical geography to environmental science, climate change, economics, development, marine biology, oceanography, seismic exploration and many more.

The careers made possible by studying geography are endless. You could become: a meteorologist, hydrologist, volcanologist, geologist, geophysicist, storm-chaser, surveyor, town planner and many more

Apply for this course

Course information last updated: Monday 20th January 2020 @ 8.30am (22 hours ago)