Geography
“Geography explains the past, illuminates the present, and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?” – Michael Ignatieff
Subject information
ENTRY DETAILS
Exam board: Pearson Edexcel IAL
Specification: Pearson Edexcel International Advanced A-Level in Business (YBS11)
HOW I WILL BE ASSESSED?
Examination: The course is examined in January and June of both Year 12 and Year 13
COURSE DETAILS
Unit 1: Global Challenges
- Topic 1: World at Risk
- Topic 2: Going Global
Unit 2: Geographical Investigations
- Topic 1: Crowded Coasts
- Topic 2: Urban Problems, Planning and Regeneration
- Fieldwork Investigation
Unit 3: Contested Planet
- Topic A1: Atmosphere and Weather Systems
- Topic A2: Biodiversity Under Threat
- Topic B1: Energy Security
- Topic C1: Superpower Geographies
Unit 4: Researching Geography
- Option 1: Tectonic Activity and Hazards
- Option 2: Feeding the World’s People
- Option 3: Cultural Diversity: People and Landscapes
- Option 4: Human Health and Disease
ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW, DURATION AND WEIGHTING
Paper 1 – Written examination 1 hour and 45 minutes (30% of qualification – 90 marks)
Paper 2 – Written examination 1 hour and 30 minutes (20% of qualification – 60 marks)
Paper 3 – Written examination 2 hours (30% of qualification – 90 marks)
Paper 4 – Written examination 1 hour and 30 minutes (20% of qualification – 60 marks)
| Exam Papers | % of IAL | Assessment overview |
|---|---|---|
Paper 1 – | 30 | Section A: Data response and short-answer questions. Section B: Choice of longer/guided essay questions, on either Topic 1: World at Risk or Topic 2: Going Global. |
Paper 2 – | 20 | Section A: Data response and short-answer questions on Topics 1 and 2: Crowded Coasts and Urban Problems, Planning and Regeneration. Section B: Compulsory short-answer questions on research and fieldwork investigation. Section C: Choice of one fieldwork question, on either Topic 1: Crowded Coasts or Topic 2: Urban Problems, Planning and Regeneration. |
Paper 3 – Contested Planet | 30 | Section A: Longer/guided essay questions and a synoptic question. Section B: Choice of one data response/essay question from two topics (B1 or B2). Section C: Choice of one data response/essay question from two topics (C1 or C2). |
Paper 4 – | 20 | Students will be given a list of questions based on the four options. Students will select and answer one question that relates to the option they have studied. |
WIDER READING
- Dorling, D. (2013) Population 10 billion. London: Constable
- Marshall, T. and Scarlett, J. (2019) Prisoners of Geography: Ten maps that tell you everything you need to know about global politics. London: Elliott and Thompson Limited
- Rosling, H. (2018) Factfulness: Ten reasons we’re wrong about the world – and why things are better than you think. UK: Sceptre
