Exam Board: AQA
In GCSE Geography, the subject content is split into four units:
3.1 Living with the physical environment
You will explore threats to human survival: extreme weather, tectonic hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes) and climate change; look at what is special about the UK landscapes: roaring rivers and dramatic coasts; investigate what is destroying our planet; how humans exploit the rainforest; and the stage for World War Three: Antarctica.
3.2 Challenges in the human environment
You will look at both London (rich) and Rio (developing) and the challenges and opportunities for people living there; ‘Is it OK for some people to be poor?’ (tackling the poverty crisis); and ‘Will we run out of puff?’ (resource issues focusing on food, energy and water). We will also explore the newly emerging economy of Nigeria and how the political landscape of the country affects its economic development.
3.3 Geographical applications
You will learn how to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to an issue that arises from one of the topics you have studied in sections 3.1 or 3.2. The decision making exercise is designed to use your knowledge of physical and human geography and apply that knowledge to analyse a geographical issue, consider and select a possible solution and justify your decision with evidence. A resource booklet will be available twelve weeks before the date of the exam, to allow pupils to become familiar with the issue and materials.
3.4 Geographical skills
A GCSE in Geography will develop a range of transferable skills including communication and strong presentation skills, competent IT skills, independent research, the ability to work effectively in a team in a variety of roles, effective time management, and combining information from a variety of sources with excellent writing skills. These could be useful in the following areas: an expedition leader, a travel writer, a TV researcher, a conservation worker, an architect, an urban planner, an environmental consultant, a financial risk assessor, a banker, an accountant, a lawyer, a transport/logistics, manager, a diplomat, Voluntary Service Oversea (VSO), a human rights officer, the armed forces, a surveyor, a town planner, an environmental engineer (all fields of engineering), marketing, a social worker, a hydrologist, hazard prediction and management and a weather presenter.
You will go on one compulsory field trip in term time to the Peak District to measure the velocity of a river. There is also an optional field trip to Manchester’s Salford Quays .
100% examination — 3 final exams
Paper 1: Living with the physical world (1 hour 30 minutes/35% of the final mark)
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment (1 hour 30 minutes/35% of the final mark)
Paper 3: Geographical applications (1 hour 15 minutes/30% of the final mark)