A Level Geography
Key Information
| Examination Board | Cambridge International Examinations |
| Syllabus Code | 9696 |
| Entry Requirements | IGCSE Grade B in Geography |
Introduction
Modern geography is an all -encompassing discipline that seeks to understand the Earth and all of its human and natural complexities-not merely where objects are, but how they have changed and come to be. Geography has been called “the world discipline” and “the bridge between the human and the physical science’. The A-Level Geography programme prepares students to sit an examination at the end of Year 12 at Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level, and at the end of Year 13 at Advanced (A2 Level) . The choice of taking AS or A2 papers depends upon the delivery level achieved by the students during the two year course and their plans for future studies in the subject. The course aims to support students in the development of:
- awareness of the relevance of geographical analysis to understanding, and solving contemporary human and environmental problems.
- assessing the inter-relationships between Physical and Human Geography.
- a sense of relative location, including an appreciation of the complexity and variety of natural and human environments.
- awareness of the problems of expansion (including data collection and processing in Physical and Human Geography; to give them an appreciation of the nature, value, limitations and importance of different approaches to analysis and explanation in Geography.
Course Content
AS Course:
- Hydrology and Fluvial Geomorphology
- Atmosphere and Weather
- Rocks and Weathering
- Population Change
- Settlement dynamics
A2 Course:
Advanced Physical Options
- Tropical Environments
- Coastal Environments
- Hazardous Environments
- Arid and Semi-Arid Environments
Advanced Human Options
- Production, Location and Change
- Environmental Management
- Global Interdependence
- Economic Transition
For each topic students are encouraged to cover specific case studies from various sources; as they are expected to show an appreciation of different situations involved by making reference to appropriate examples in real life on various themes.
Assessment
At the end of the first year AS level students take a three-hour paper.
Paper 1 – Core Geography (100%)
At the end of the second year advanced level course students take two 1 hour 30 minute papers- Paper 2 and Paper 3 (50%).
For Papers 2 and 3 are separate papers with 15 minutes break in between.
Careers and Progression
After their AS or A-Level studies students could either go for training or for further Geography Studies at University Level alongside specialist studies in Mathematics or The Sciences for example. They could have careers in the fields of Environmental Management, Meteorology, Archaeology, Research into Solving Global Issues, Diplomat in the Foreign Service Department, Journalist for Travel Magazines