A Level Geography

A Level Geography is a GCE AS/A2 type qualification available to students in England and Wales, which is intended to provide a greater depth of learning in the subject the physical environment and human environments. The only examinations board to provide the course are AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA. Most Examboards have 2 specifications e.g. AQA (A) and AQA (B) this enables schools and colleges to have more choice in selecting a Geography Specification to teach. Each Specification is slightly different in content. Statistics have shown that most students use the AQA Specification.

Course structure

A Level Geography is made of 6 Units to make the whole A-Level and 3 Units to make the AS-Level. Exam Example used AQA(A)

AQA (A) Specification

* Unit 1 GGA1
* Unit 2 GGA2
* Unit 3 GGA3
* Unit 4 GGA4
* Unit 5 GGA5
* Unit 6 GGA6
* Unit 7 GGA7

The Unit 1 exam is based on the physical Environment, Unit 2 is based on the Human Environment and Unit 3 is based on Geographical Skills. Unit 4 is based on the Physical Environment but in more detail and Unit 5 is Based on the Human Environment but likewise in more detail. Unit 6 is coursework and 7 is a written exam based on fieldwork.

Most A Level Specifications are similar to this, however in some exam boards e.g. Edexcel Coursework is an option in AS Unit 3 in Both Specifiction A and compulsory in Specification B.

Assessment

The AS Units 1, 2 and 3 are all equally divided Units, they are all worth 100 UMS each and they are 1 hour long each paper = 33.3% of the overall AS grade and 16.7% of the A Level.

Units 4 and 5 are both worth 15% of the A Level and are 1 hour & 30 minutes long, Unit 6 & 7 are worth 17.5% of the A Level and Unit 7 is a 2 hour long examination.

Changes to current specification

The current AQA Geography Specification has been taught since 2000 and from September 2008 is being replaced by AQA A Level Environmental Studies, this is comprised of 4 Units, 2 at AS and 2 at A2. However it is still possible to sit the current AS Units and A2 Units in the following Order...

* June 2008: Units Available - Unit 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7
* January 2009: Units Available - Unit 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7
* June 2009: Units Available - Unit 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7
* January 2010: Units Available - Units 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7

External links

* [http://www.aqa.org.uk AQA Home]
* [http://www.edexcel.org.uk Edexcel Home]
* [http://www.ocr.org.uk OCR Home]
* [http://www.WJEC.co.uk WJEC Home]
* [http://aqa.org.uk/qual/gceasa/env.php AQA Environmental Science Link]