A Level Geography
OCR Examination Board
What does the course involve?
This specification offers a balance between physical, human, and environmental geography providing knowledge, understanding and skills for further study and work. Students are able to explore familiar and new geographical topics to a higher degree of detail whilst also critically analysing and evaluating the management of various geographical issues.
How will you learn?
A range of teaching styles will be used during the course including group discussions, critical questioning, debates and independent tasks. Field work, wider reading and individual research are key aspects of this specification. You will develop evaluative skills, learn to identify and analyse connections between various aspects of geography and use a range of geographical skills. There will be four fieldtrip days in coastal and urban areas to hone your data collection skills and gather data for your non-examined assessment. The department is always exploring options for overseas residential trips too.
What exams and coursework are involved?
Paper 1: Physical Systems (1hour 30minute written paper) – 22% of total A Level. Topics include Coastal Landscape Systems, Earth’s Life Support Systems and Geographical Skills.
Paper 2: Human Interactions (1hour 30minute written paper) – 22% of total A Level. Topics include Changing Spaces, Making Places, Global Migration, Human Rights and Geographical Skills.
Paper 3: Geographical Debate (2hour 30minute written paper) – 36% of total A Level. TWO topics from the following will be studied: Climate Change, Disease Dilemmas, Exploring Oceans, Future of Food, Hazardous Earth.
Assessment: Investigate Geography (Non-Examination Assessment – NEA) – 20% of total A Level.
What are the entry requirements?
Please refer to our entry requirements document.
What could you do after completing the course?
Geographers are much in demand in many fields because they have developed skills in research, data handling, data analysis and have a good knowledge of people and environment interactions at a variety of scales. It combines equally well with science or art subjects. This is a particularly highly valued subject with today’s huge emphasis on climate change and sustainability on a national and global scale. Jobs within these areas are becoming increasingly available.