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Notre Dame High School

Notre Dame
High School

Years 12 - 13

A-Level Geography

Why study this subject?

Geography may be regarded as either an arts or science subject.  It combines well with many subjects in both fields and broadens the range of course choice at university level. Geography is a flexible qualifying subject. Geographical skills are being increasingly sought after in commerce, marketing, planning and local government. This is being reflected in the number of higher education places available to geographers on both BSc and BA courses. Recent surveys have shown that those leaving university with Geography degrees are the most employable graduates.

 Entry Requirements

A GCSE in this subject is desirable but not essential. Minimum Grade B.

 Where does this subject lead me?

The world needs geographers. It is a multi-disciplined subject that allows geographers to develop an overview that specialists frequently miss – the geographers are able to see the wood because they are not too absorbed by individual trees. That means they are well placed to develop the strategy needed to confront the world’s global problems. It also makes them very employable.

 Exam Board

OCR: Click here to view the OCR website and subject specification.

Key contact for interested students

Mr Adam Pritchard (Head of Geography).

Geography at NDHS

OCR A-LEVEL

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

 

Subject content

1. Physical Systems: Written exam: 1hr 30 mins.    22% of A-level (66 marks)

•          Landscape Systems - Glaciated Landscapes

•          Earth’s Life Support Systems - Water and carbon cycles

 

2. Human Interactions: Written exam: 1hr 30 mins.    22% of A-level (66 marks)

•          Changing Spaces; Making places

•          Global Connections - Global migration and Human Rights

 

3. Geographical Debates: Written exam 2 hours 30 minutes (108 marks)              36% of A-level

• Climate Change

• Disease Dilemmas

• Exploring Oceans

• Future of Food

• Hazardous Earth

 

4. Geographical skills: 4 days in total. 3 day at Blencathra FSC and 2 local fieldwork days.

•          Fieldwork Skills

•          Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) – Independent Investigation (4,000 Words, 20% of A-Level)