Geography

Exam Board:

AQA

What will I study on the course:

You will explore both physical and human geography, investigating how the world works and the challenges we face. Key units include:

  • Living with the physical environment: Natural hazards (tectonic hazards like earthquakes/volcanoes, weather hazards like tropical storms, climate change); physical landscapes in the UK (coastal, river, glacial landscapes and processes); the living world (ecosystems, tropical rainforests, hot deserts or cold environments).
  • Challenges in the human environment: Urban issues and challenges (growth of cities, opportunities and challenges in urban areas, sustainable urban living); the changing economic world (development, global shifts in industry, reducing poverty); resource management (food, water, energy supply and demand).
  • Geographical applications: Fieldwork (two enquiries in contrasting environments, one physical and one human, with questions on unfamiliar contexts); issue evaluation (analysing a contemporary geographical issue using pre-release materials).
  • Geographical skills: Interpreting maps, graphs, data, photos; using numeracy, literacy, and GIS; applying knowledge across scales (local to global). The course uses case studies from the UK and around the world (e.g., higher/lower income countries, newly emerging economies), emphasising sustainability, global interconnections, and real-world issues like climate change and urbanisation.

How is the course assessed:

100% exam-based (linear, all exams at the end of the course; no coursework): Three papers:

  • Paper 1: Living with the physical environment – 1 hour 30 minutes, 88 marks, 35% – Covers natural hazards, physical landscapes, and the living world.
  • Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment – 1 hour 30 minutes, 88 marks, 35% – Covers urban challenges, economic world, and resource management.
  • Paper 3: Geographical applications – 1 hour 15 minutes, 76 marks, 30% – Fieldwork questions (based on your own enquiries and unfamiliar contexts) and issue evaluation (using pre-release resources). Questions include multiple-choice, short-answer, data response, extended writing, and calculations. No tiers (single papers for all abilities); calculators allowed where needed.

Post-16 courses:

A Level Geography, A Level Environmental Science, A Level Geology, or related subjects. Vocational options include Level 3 BTEC in Travel & Tourism, Environmental Science, or Land-based Studies. Many progress to sixth form colleges (e.g., Stoke Sixth Form College or Newcastle-under-Lyme College) or apprenticeships in related fields. A good GCSE grade (4+ or 5+) supports entry to A Levels and university degrees in geography or allied subjects.

Careers:

Environmental consultant, town/urban planner, transport planner, GIS analyst, sustainability officer, meteorologist, surveyor, travel/tourism manager, conservation officer, teacher, journalist, market researcher, logistics/transport manager, or roles in emergency services, armed forces, and government policy. Geography skills are highly valued in business, marketing, data analysis, and environmental management, with strong links to growing sectors like renewable energy and climate adaptation.

Specific advantages:

The course is exciting and relevant, taking you around the world through case studies and current issues like climate change and urban growth. It develops transferable skills like analysis, evaluation, data handling, fieldwork, and critical thinking. No coursework reduces pressure, while fieldwork offers hands-on experience. At Discovery Academy, it builds on KS3 foundations, encourages global awareness, and is respected as an EBacc subject that boosts university and career prospects.

How useful it is in the real world:

Extremely useful – geography helps you understand global challenges like climate change, migration, resource use, and urbanisation, making you a more informed citizen. It builds essential skills like map reading, data interpretation, problem-solving, and decision-making, which employers value highly across industries (e.g., planning sustainable cities, managing disasters, analysing markets). With high graduate employability for geographers, it opens doors to diverse, rewarding careers in a world facing environmental and economic shifts. Strong GCSE Geography enhances critical thinking, spatial awareness, and adaptability for everyday life, further education, and a dynamic job market.

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