A Level Geography Distance Learning Course
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A LEVEL - GEOGRAPHY
Exam Format
A Level Geography consists of 4 units in total:
AS Level = 2 units
A2 Level = 2 units
AS Level
Unit 1: GEOG1 – Physical and Human Geography
Written examination: 2 Hours
Unit 2: GEOG2 – Geographical Skills
Written examination: 1 hour
A2 Level:
Unit 3: GEOG3 – Contemporary Geographical Issues
Written examination: 2 hour 30 minutes
Unit 4: either
GEO4A: Geography Fieldwork Investigation, or:
GEO4B: Geographical Issue Evaluation,
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Summary
Geography is an important subject of study as it gains the student a larger understanding of the world and the way people interact with their physical environment and globally with each other.
The first half of the course is the AS level divided into human and physical topics. Students will study the core subjects of rivers, floods and management for the physical section and populationchange for the human section. Students then choose one other physical topic and one human topic. Unit 2 of AS geography will be based on a piece of fieldwork or an investigation carried out by the student.
The final section is A2, which is also divided into human and physical topics. Students must study three topics; one from physical and one from human, then a free choice. A-level geography also includes a piece of coursework, which will be a piece of fieldwork carried out by the student.
The completion of AS and A2 equates to fulfilment of a full A-level. Read on to find out more about our A Level Geography distance learning course and how you can learn with our amazing materials and online support.
Course Content
An outline of what is offered in our A Level Geography course:
AS Level
Unit 1 – Physical and Human Geography
River, floods and management
Cold environments
Coastal environments
Hot deserts and their margins
Populationchange
Food supply issues
Energy issues
Health Issues
Unit 2 – Geographical Skills
Unit 3 – Contemporary Geographical Issues
Plate tectonics and associated hazards
Weather and climate and associated hazards
Ecosystems: change and challenge
World cities
Development and globalisation
Contemporary conflicts and challenges
Unit 4 – Geography Field Work Investigation
Course Overview
This course is split into units, each of which is further divided into separate topics and options, these are explained below. Units 1 and 2 make up the AS section, and Units 3 and 4 make up the A2 section of the course and completion of all units leads to a full A Level qualification.
Unit 1: Physical and Human Geography (GEOG1)
The core physical and human sections must be studied, also at least one of the physical options and at least one of the human options.
Core Physical Section
Rivers, Floods and Management:
hydrological cycle, river discharge, long and valley profiles, changing channel characteristics, landforms of fluvial erosion and deposition, process and impact of rejuvenation, physical and human causes of flooding, impact of flooding, flood management strategies.
Physical Options
Cold environments:
Global distribution of cold environments, glaciers as systems, ice movement, glacial processes and landscape development, erosional landforms, depositional landforms, fluvioglacial processes, periglacial processes, exploitation and development in tundra areas, the future of Antarctica.
Coastal environments:
The coastal systems, coastal processes, landforms of erosion, case study of coastal erosion, sea level change, case study of coastal flooding, coastal protection objectives and management strategies, case studies of two contrasting areas.
Hot Desert Environments and Their Margins:
Location and characteristics, causes of aridity, arid geomorphologic processes, the effect of wind, the effect of water, landforms, desertification, case study of desertification in the Sahel, managing hot desert environments and their margins.
Core Human Section
PopulationChange:
Population indicators, populationchange, population structures and different stages of the demographic transition, social, economic and political implications of populationchange, effects on rural and urban areas, settlement case studies.
Human Options
Food Supply Issues:
Global patterns of food supply, consumption and trade, contrasting agricultural food production systems, managing food supply, changes in demand, food supplies in a globalising economy, potential for sustainable food supplies, case studies of two contrasting approaches to managing food supply and demand.
Energy Issues:
Types of energy, global patterns of energy supply, consumption and trade, the geopolitics of energy, environmental impact of energy production, potential for sustainable energy supply and consumption, energy conservation, case studies at national scale of two contrasting approaches to managing energy supply.
Health Issues:
Global patterns of health, morbidity and mortality, the study of one infectious disease, the study of one ‘disease of affluence’, food and health, health matters in a globalising world economy, regional variations in health and morbidity in the UK, factors affecting regional variations in health and morbidity, local case studies.
Unit 2: Geographical Skills (GEOG2).
This is an investigative piece of work on a contemporary issue in Geography. It is in the form of an essay of between 1250 and 1500 words. It will be well structured with an introduction, investigation and conclusion. The introduction will have a brief background on the subject and explain why it is being investigated
Unit 3: Contemporary Geographical Issues (GEOG3).
Students must study at least three of the six sections, one from the physical options, one from the human options and a free choice.
Physical Options
Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards:
Plate movement, vulcanicity, seismicity.
Weather and Climate and Associated Hazards:
major climate controls, the climate of the British Isles, climate of one tropical region (tropical wet/ dry savannah or monsoon or equatorial), climate on a local scale: urban climates, global climate change.
Ecosystems: Change and Challenge:
Nature of ecosystems, ecosystems in the British Isles over time, the biome of one tropical region (savannah, grassland or tropical monsoon forest or tropical equatorial rainforest), ecosystem issues on a local scale: impact of human activity, ecosystem issues on a global scale.
Human Options
World Cities:
Contemporary urbanisation processes, urban decline and regeneration within urban areas, retailing and other services, contemporary sustainability issues in urban areas.
Development and Globalisation:
Patterns and processes, countries at very low levels of economic development, global social and economic groupings, aspects of globalisation, development issues within the world (each to be studied with reference to contrasting areas of the world).
Contemporary Conflicts and Challenges:
The geographical basis of conflict, conflict over the use of a local resource (e.g. land, buildings, space), the geographical impact of international conflicts, the challenge of multicultural societies in the UK, separatism within and/or across national boundaries, the challenge of global poverty.
Unit 4A: Geography Fieldwork Investigation (GEO4A).
Students have the opportunity to extend an area of the subject into a more detailed fieldwork study.
Unit 4 B: Geographical Issue Evaluation (GEO4B).
Students will use their skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation in relation to an advance information booklet.
Summary of Assessments
Unit 1 – Physical and Human Geography
70 % of AS, 35% of A Level
2 hour written examination
120 marks
Structured short and extended questions
Unit 2 – Geographical Skills
30% of AS, 15% of A Level
1 hour written examination
50 marks
Structured skills and generic fieldwork questions
Unit 3 – Contemporary Geographical Issues
30% of A Level
2 hour 30 minutes written examination
90 marks
Structured short and extended questions, plus an essay
Unit 4: either
GEO4A: Geography Fieldwork Investigation – structured short and extended questions based on fieldwork investigation and fieldwork skills
GEO4B: Geographical Issue Evaluation – structured short and extended questions based on an Advanced Information Booklet
1 hour 30 minute written examination
20 % of A Level
60 marks
Assignment Information
Throughout the course there will be self-assessment questions, and tutor marked questions, to enable students to monitor their progress.
Recommended hours of study
It is recommended that 200 hours of your time should be allocated towards study for the A Level Examinations.
Recommended Reading
AQA AS Geography: Student's Book
by Smith John, Roger Knill
Publisher: Nelson Thornes Ltd (26 Jun 2008)
ISBN-10: 0748782583
ISBN-13: 978-0748782581
AQA A2 Geography
by John Smith, Roger Knill
Publisher: Nelson Thornes (26 May 2009)
ISBN-10: 0748782591
ISBN-13: 978-0748782598
Support
As a student of UK Open Learning you will have access to tutor via email who will mark your work and guide you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.
Examination Centres
UK Open Learning will provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.
In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams.
Please visit AQA for exam information.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php
The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre.
Entry Requirements
Basic English reading and writing skills. It is recommended that students should have acquired the skills and knowledge associated with a GCSE course or equivalent.
Qualification
AS +A2 = A level in Geography. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.
Language of Examination
Units are provided in English only
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A. yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.
Q. Why do I have to find a centre myself?
A. We have students all over the UK and Europe and it is impossible for us to arrange dates and times for individual students.
Q. What if I cannot find an examination centre in my home town?
A. If you wish to gain the qualification then be prepared to travel it is worth it!
Q. How much are exam fees?
A. These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.
Q. Are the courses paper based or on-line?
A. All our courses are paper based and come in attractive sturdy folders.
Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Tutors are all working Teachers or Lecturers so contact is by email only.
Q. Why can I not take my exams when I have completed the course and why do I have to wait?
A. Exams are taken at the same times as schools and colleges and are not flexible.
Q. I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A. Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See our web site for further information.
Q. Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A. Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.
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PRICE |
INSTALMENTS |
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AL5 |
£395.00 |
6 @ Months at £65.84 |
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Pay in full at the time of ordering
and you will receive the 10% discount (deducted at checkout) | |
