Curriculum - Sixth form

What Do You Study?

Physical Geography

¨ Biogeography - ecosystems (communities of organisms and their environment), vegetation (why particular species of plant grow in particular parts of the world), and soils.

¨ Geomorphology - the shaping of the Earth's surface by the environment (wind, the oceans, rivers, etc), through the processes of weathering and erosion.

¨ Hydrology - water on and just above the Earth's surface: how it goes through a cycle by evaporation, rainfall, and the return of water via rivers to the sea; how these process can be managed by 'applied hydrology' (dams, irrigation, hydroelectric power, etc) for the benefit of humans.

¨ Atmospheric systems - climate and weather, atmospheric pollution and global warming; implications for human life.

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Human Geography

¨ Economic geography - the distribution of the world's economic resources including agriculture, industry, economic development, tourism, energy and transportation; regional differences.

¨ Population - distribution and change, migration and resources.

¨ Settlement - where and how people settle in different parts of the world: the location, character and structure of villages, towns and cities, and how they grow, change and decline.

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How Do You Study?

There is a greater amount of coursework in A-Level geography than in many other subjects. Such coursework includes using textbooks and essay-writing, as with most subjects, but you also work with maps, films and videos, official publications such as social surveys, statistical data and weather reports. You carry out fieldwork by measuring and selecting data, and by conducting surveys using questionnaires and interviews. You may look at issues such as the possible effects on shopping patterns and traffic of a new supermarket. IT skills in word processing and the use of spreadsheets are especially useful here. Fieldwork is mainly in your own area. An individual project or study forms part of the final assessment on most syllabuses.

Geography issues have an important bearing on many aspects of life, so regularly reading a newspaper such as The Times or the Guardian, watching TV news and documentaries, and reading magazines such as National Geographic and New Scientist, will be helpful.

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Higher Education Options

Geography is a popular subject at higher education level, and a good grade in A-Level geography is recommended for entry.

Degree-level study

Geography can be studies for either a BA or a BSc. Which one often indicates the extent to which the course focuses on the human or physical aspects of the subject. An arts-oriented course in geography, for example, would mainly build on the human geography content of your A-Level, including topics such as population studies, settlement, and distribution of wealth and resources. A BSc course is far more likely to involve topics such as geoscience, the scientific study of the structure of the Earth, and issues relating to natural resources), hydrology and germorphology. However, many colleges and universities, especially those offering degrees with a modular structure, allow for flexibility in 'mixing and matching' topics from both types of degree.






	Sixth Form : Geography - A Level « GO BACK *What Do You Study?* Physical Geography ¨ Biogeography - ecosystems (communities of organisms and their environment), vegetation (why particular species of plant grow in particular parts of the world), and soils. ¨ Geomorphology - the shaping of the Earth's surface by the environment (wind, the oceans, rivers, etc), through the processes of weathering and erosion. ¨ Hydrology - water on and just above the Earth's surface: how it goes through a cycle by evaporation, rainfall, and the return of water via rivers to the sea; how these process can be managed by 'applied hydrology' (dams, irrigation, hydroelectric power, etc) for the benefit of humans. ¨ Atmospheric systems - climate and weather, atmospheric pollution and global warming; implications for human life. Top Human Geography ¨ Economic geography - the distribution of the world's economic resources including agriculture, industry, economic development, tourism, energy and transportation; regional differences. ¨ Population - distribution and change, migration and resources. ¨ Settlement - where and how people settle in different parts of the world: the location, character and structure of villages, towns and cities, and how they grow, change and decline. Top *How Do You Study?* There is a greater amount of coursework in A-Level geography than in many other subjects. Such coursework includes using textbooks and essay-writing, as with most subjects, but you also work with maps, films and videos, official publications such as social surveys, statistical data and weather reports. You carry out fieldwork by measuring and selecting data, and by conducting surveys using questionnaires and interviews. You may look at issues such as the possible effects on shopping patterns and traffic of a new supermarket. IT skills in word processing and the use of spreadsheets are especially useful here. Fieldwork is mainly in your own area. An individual project or study forms part of the final assessment on most syllabuses. Geography issues have an important bearing on many aspects of life, so regularly reading a newspaper such as The Times or the Guardian, watching TV news and documentaries, and reading magazines such as National Geographic and New Scientist, will be helpful. Top Higher Education Options Geography is a popular subject at higher education level, and a good grade in A-Level geography is recommended for entry. Degree-level study Geography can be studies for either a BA or a BSc. Which one often indicates the extent to which the course focuses on the human or physical aspects of the subject. An arts-oriented course in geography, for example, would mainly build on the human geography content of your A-Level, including topics such as population studies, settlement, and distribution of wealth and resources. A BSc course is far more likely to involve topics such as geoscience, the scientific study of the structure of the Earth, and issues relating to natural resources), hydrology and germorphology. However, many colleges and universities, especially those offering degrees with a modular structure, allow for flexibility in 'mixing and matching' topics from both types of degree.









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