What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

The most important requirement is to have a lively and enquiring mind and an interest in the environment and current affairs. You need to show a commitment to exploring new ideas, researching information and learning to communicate your findings effectively in a number of ways. Those students who have studied GCSE Geography will find that the material and the skills that they have so far learned will prove to be a valuable foundation for further studies at this level. However, under certain circumstances, we will consider and accept students that have not studied Geography at GCSE. We suggest that students have achieved at least grade C at GCSE on the higher level paper.

What is the course like?

The course we study at Elliott is the Edexcel syllabus B. This follows an enquiry-based approach to learning which encourages thought and personal investigation. The structure for the course is as follows:

AS-Level

AS Units are as follows:

Unit 1 Changing landforms and their management

- including studies of river environments and coastal environments.

Written paper 1 hr 30 33% AS 16.7% A-Level

Unit 2  Managing change in human environments

- including studies of both rural and urban environments.

Written paper 1 hr 30 33% AS 16.7% A-Level

Unit 3  Environmental investigation

- Based upon an issue or hypothesis that is then investigated in the field by collecting primary and secondary data. This data is collected on a residential field trip to Slapton Ley in Devon.  Coursework 2500 words. 33% AS 16.7% A-Level

Unit 4  Global challenge

-including the study of atmospheric processes and world ecosystems as well as population change and economic futures

Written paper 2 hrs 15% A-Level
Unit 5 Researching global futures

- designed to develop research skills including an investigation of living with hazardous environments and of

the social and economic factors leading to a disparity in health care across the globe

1500 words coursework Written paper 1 hr 20 15% A-Level

Unit 6 Synoptic: Issues analysis exercise

- using all the skills and knowledge gained on the course to follow a route of enquiry on a given issue and to use decision making skills to evaluate a number of options.

Written Paper 2 hrs 20% A-Level

A-Level

 Progression:

You might consider going onto study the subject at university. The wide ranging skills that you acquire will open many career paths that involve decision-making including general management, engineering, the civil service, tourism etc.