Geography

Geography occupies a central position in understanding and interpreting issues affecting people, places and environments. This engaging and flexible course gives students the opportunity to discover the relationship of human populations to each other over space and time, study the relationship between human populations with their physical environment at a variety of scales from the local to the global, and consider their own role in relation to themes and issues being studied.

Geography with its focus on investigating the links between the physical environment and humans is an excellent subject to combine with both traditional Science and Humanities/Arts ‘A’ Levels. The syllabus follows an issues and impacts approach to contemporary Geography that is suitable for all students.

Students study both Physical and Human Geography over the two years at A-Level. There is an emphasis on skills and all students go out on fieldwork which is assessed in the examination.

Physical geography

• 1. Water and carbon cycles
• 2. Hot desert systems and landscapes
• 3. Coastal systems and landscapes
• 4. Glacial systems and landscapes
• 5. Hazards (optional)
• 6. Ecosystems under stress(optional)

Human geography

• 7. Global systems and global governance
• 8. Changing places
• 9. Contemporary urban environments(optional)
• 10. Population and the environment (optional)
• 11. Resource security(optional)

Geography fieldwork investigation

• 12. Fieldwork requirements
• 13. Investigation requirements

Geographical skills

• 14. Geographical skills checklist

This is a linear qualification. In order to achieve the award, students must complete all assessments at the end of the course and in the same series.

A-level exams and certification for this specification are available for the first time in May/June 2018 and then every May/June for the life of the specification.

Students are assessed on three components:

• Component 1: Physical geography (40% of grade, 2 hours 30-minute exam)
• Component 2: Human geography (40% of grade, 2 hours 30 minute exam)
• Component 3: Geographical investigation (20% of grade)

Geography is a highly regarded subject which is one of only two Humanities subjects (the other being History) regarded as a facilitating subject by the Russell Group of Universities.

Studying Geography at CTC will develop not only content knowledge but also skills. We help learners to bridge the gap to the next stage of education and the world of work. We encourage our students to be:

• Confident in working with information and ideas – their own and those of others
• responsible for themselves, responsive to and respectful of others
• reflective as learners, developing their ability to learn
• innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
• engaged intellectually and socially ready to make a difference.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Geography helps learners develop the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for successful university study.

A GCSE in Geography is not a prerequisite, however it is strongly encouraged. You will need to be fluent in written English and have strong Maths skills. CTC requires a minimum of C at GCSE in both subjects.

Geography is about the world we live in and students need to keep up to date with current events and affairs.  Reading a quality newspaper regularly and watching documentaries and news programmes on television are therefore strongly recommended.  Students are also encouraged to read the Geography Review, written specifically for AS and A Level Geography students, which is available in CTC Library.

With its focus on investigating the links between the physical environment and humans, Geography is an excellent subject to combine with both traditional Science and Humanities/Arts ‘A’ Levels. Geography also involves a range of skills and outside work which appeals to many students.

Geography also involves a range of skills and outside work which appeals to many students. As a subject, Geography leads to a wide range of careers and Geography graduates are the least likely graduates to not find jobs on graduation