Geography

Aims and objectives

Geography is the study of where places are, what they are like, what life is like in them and how and why they are changing. It can help students to:

Aims and objectives

Geography is the study of where places are, what they are like, what life is like in them and how and why they are changing. It can help students to:

• Read and use maps, atlases and diagrams.
• Analyse and evaluate data.
• Develop decision-making skills.
• Gain knowledge of the world and understand current events.
• Appreciate different cultures, attitudes and values.
• Become aware of physical and human environments.
• The geography syllabus is divided into four core units and two optional units as follows:

CORE UNIT A1: THE PHYSICAL WORLD

Rivers, Valleys and Coasts: Where do rivers fit into the hydrological cycle? What processes are occurring along rivers and what landforms are produced? How do glaciers change the shape of river valleys and the surrounding countryside? Why do we see such different landforms along our coastlines?

CORE UNIT A2: THE HUMAN WORLD

Population and settlement: What are the causes and consequences of changes in population and international migration? How do the population structures of countries vary and what are the implications? How do people choose the site of a settlement? Are there patterns of land use within cities?

CORE UNIT A3: THE ECONOMIC WORLD

Employment structure, farming and industry: Why do employment patterns vary between places and change over time? How can we classify farming systems? How are agricultural land use patterns related to physical, economic, political and human factors? How does the location of industry change over time?

CORE UNIT A4: THE NATURAL WORLD

Weather and forest ecosystems: Why is the weather so changeable in some places? Why are climates so different around the world? How are trees adapted to different environments and how are forest ecosystems affected by human interference?

OPTION UNIT B6: MANAGING HAZARDS

Tropical storms, earthquakes and volcanoes; their causes and effects; why people live in the areas affected. How different countries are affected.

OPTION UNIT C7: MANAGING TOURISM

The growth of tourism; its impact on people and the environment, and the need for sustainable management.

Who is the course suitable for?

Students choose to study geography for a lot of different reasons. For many it satisfies their curiosity about the world, how it looks, how it is arranged and how it works. Geography is very much a part of everyday life, connecting knowledge and putting phenomena, people and places in context. It also shows links and interrelationships within and between physical and human systems. Geography deepens our spatial understanding, dealing with complexity and uncertainty and nurturing a culture of argument, rather than straightforward answers.

Topics of interest will vary from the local scale, such as traffic problems or shopping in Kowloon Tong, up to global issues, such as the impact of mass tourism and global warming. Studying geography will widen your horizons and help you to become a better world citizen.

The world in which we live is likely to change more in the next 50 years than it has ever done before. Our role in that change is more important than ever. Geography gives a balanced viewpoint which is good preparation for the world of higher education and work. Employers want people with the following attributes, which are all key aspects of geography teaching and learning:

Asesssment

GCSE Geography A (Edexcel 1312)

Assessment will be in the form of both written examination papers and coursework. Two written papers will be taken at the end of the course at either Foundation Level or Higher Level. Foundation Level assesses grades C to G and Higher Level assesses grades A* to D. The two papers will carry 75% of the total marks for the course.

Course work will consist of one geographical investigation, based on fieldwork, completed in Year 11. This should be approximately 2000 words long. The coursework will carry 25% of the total marks for the course.