Geography

Geography is an academically robust subject which spans the social and physical sciences and promotes a lifelong interest and fascination in how the world works. The knowledge and transferable skills that geographers gain from their A level studies are highly relevant to the workplace. You will find geographers working in every sector of the economy, leading highly relevant research or as key decision-makers in local and national government.

Qualification	A level geography
Awarding body	AQA
Year 12	Water and Carbon cycle systems – two of the earth’s major systems and how they interact to influence each other and the rest of the earth system. Coastal systems – the development of distinctive coastlines due to local and global variations and how these can be managed in the future. Changing places - people’s engagement with places, their experience of them and the qualities they ascribe to them, all of which are of fundamental importance in their lives. Population and the environment – the relationships between key aspects of physical geography and population numbers, population health and well-being, levels of economic development and the role and impact of the natural environment. Students will develop an NEA from an aspect of the syllabus. Students will conduct their own fieldwork, analysis and draw conclusions related to their chosen hypothesis. This starts in Year 12 and continues into Year 13.
Year 13	Hazards – the management of tectonic (earthquakes and volcanoes) and weather hazards (tropical storms and wild fires) in different locations around the world. Global systems and governance - the economic, political and social changes associated with technological and other driving forces which have been a key feature of global economy and society in recent decades. Personal investigation – choose an aspect of the syllabus that you wish to investigate further through the setting of hypothesis and collection of data to develop your own conclusions.
Assessment	Two written exams which each make up 40% of the final mark. The personal investigation carries 20%.

I chose geography A level because it was a subject that I have always enjoyed learning about from first starting school. I think geography is important to get a better understanding about the physical and human world that we live in and how to protect it.

Why study geography?

Geography is an obvious choice for careers in sustainability and green issues, urban regeneration, energy supply, retail location, managing the effects of hazards and climate change. For careers in the world of business, an understanding of global economics forms an important part of geography. If you are thinking of a career in law, human rights, international relations or welfare, then geography gives you the opportunity to consider relevant issues such as; how do we measure development? What are the consequences of migration on societies?

I chose A level geography not only due to my interest in the topic but due to its current and future relevance to the ever-changing world (whether that be climatic change or human development) and it’s a subject in which I feel will be safe and sustained for when I’m searching for job opportunities.