A Level Geography

Exam Board

Edexcel

Course Content  

A level Geographers will engage critically with real world issues and places, apply their own geographical knowledge and have understanding and skills to make sense of the world around them. 

What will I Study?

Paper 1  

• Area of study 1, Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards  
• Area of study 1, Topic 2: Landscape Systems, Processes and Change – including optional sub-topics from which students choose one from two: 2A: Glaciated Landscapes and Change or 2B: Coastal Landscapes and Change  
• Area of study 3, Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity   
• Area of study 3, Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security Assessment  

Paper 2 

• Area of study 2, Topic 3: Globalisation  
• Area of study 2, Topic 4: Shaping Places – including optional sub-topics from which students choose one from two: 4A Regenerating Places or 4B Diverse Places  
• Area of study 4, Topic 7: Superpowers  
• Area of study 4, Topic 8: Global Development and Connections – including optional sub-topics from which students choose one from two: 8A Health, Human Rights and Intervention or 8B Migration, Identity and Sovereignty 

Paper 3 

The specification contains three synoptic themes within the compulsory content areas:  

Players, Attitudes and actions and Futures and uncertainties. The synoptic investigation will be based on a geographical issue within a place-based context that links to the three synoptic themes and is rooted in two or more of the compulsory content areas. 

Assessment overview 

3 externally assessed written examinations plus a non-examination assessment: Independent Investigation 

The examinations may include short open, open response and resource-linked questions. The examination includes 12-mark and 20-mark extended writing questions.  

Career Opportunities  

Architectural technologist  Business analyst  Cartographer  Data analyst   

Geographical information systems officer Marketing executive Secondary school teacher 

Social researcher Town Planner Construction manager Landscape architect 

Market researcher Nature conservation officer  Sustainability consultant Transport planner