KS4 Options Booklet 2016 to 2018

Name of Subject: Geography GCSE
Qualification Type: GCSE Exam Board: Edexcel B QAN Number: 601/8135/7
GCSE
Single or Double Award: Single
Exam sections % breakdown:
Paper 1(1 hour 30 minutes) Global Geographical Issues (37.5%)
Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes) UK Geographical Issues (37.5%)
Paper 3 (1 hour 30 minutes) People and Environment Issues – Making Geographical Decisions (25%)
Controlled assessment details and dates:
There are no elements of coursework in this Geography B specification, as of 2016.
There are no tiered papers (higher/ foundation). All students will access the same exam papers.
Succeeding in Geography
In order to achieve a high grade in this subject, students need to be able to interpret data and statistics, and formulate explanations from such evidence. They need to be aware of conflicting viewpoints that exist in relation to human geography, and to be able to explain why these conflicts occur. Students will be required to explain their ideas using geographical terminology and will then be expected to have a good standard of literacy in preparation for this.
Content:
The specification that we have chosen to deliver focuses on geography both in the UK and worldwide. The new changes have taken into consideration how dynamic geography is as a subject and have altered the course content to reflect this. In addition to this, there is a focus on interchangeable skills such as literacy, ICT, critical thinking, decision making and relationship building skills such as team work.
Unit 1 overview
Global Geographical Issues: Hazardous Earth, Development Dynamics, and Challenges of an urbanising world.
Unit 2 overview
UK Geographical Issues: The UK’s evolving physical landscape with a focus on either coastal regions or rivers, The UK’s evolving human landscape with a focus on changing cities, and also geographical investigations which involves two field work investigations – on based on human geography and one on physical geography.
Unit 3 overview
This paper will involve students making a decision regarding a geographical issue, taking into account concepts such as sustainability. The course content needed for this will involve study of; people and the biosphere, forests under threat and also consuming energy resources.
Students will be presented with a global theme and a resource booklet, which they will then investigate. The exam involves students answering a series of questions requiring them to make some decisions which are justified and explained geographically.
For example:
·  Can fishing be sustainable?
·  The development of an area such as a Caribbean island and the nature of the development – for industry or for tourism.
·  Discuss the suitability of the 3 proposals for the future of the Olympic site.
Guidance / Special Arrangements / Entrance requirements:
This course does not have tiered papers – all students sit the same exam. All exams will be taken at the end of Year 11 in the summer exam season.
Qualification Progression Routes (qualifications this may lead to; also state grades required to access the post 16 course).
To study A level Geography students usually require at least a C grade at GCSE, some sixth form colleges may require a B grade. Students could also study travel and tourism from a Geography GCSE.
Universities may require a humanities GCSE to study any subject.
Possible Career paths using this subject:
Good employers, sixth form colleges and universities understand and appreciate the interchangeable skills students acquire when studying geography. They seek students who can analyse and understand information and situations, students who can think independently, make balanced judgements and produce well written findings based on evidence
Like all humanities subjects, Geography opens up a number of paths for students as well as enabling them to continue their study at A level. Some possible careers include disaster management, journalism, law, social work, education, the media (e.g. TV / radio), architecture, engineering, the military, the police, and politics.
A geography-based careers leaflet is available from the department. This will be obtainable at options evening and from geography class teachers.