Studying GCSE Geography gives students the opportunity to learn about both natural and human environments from local to global scales. Critical thinking skills are important for analyzing geographic information. The course content covers three physical environment topics, three human environment topics, and geographical applications including issue evaluation and fieldwork. Students develop skills in map and data analysis that can lead to careers in areas like urban planning, tourism, conservation, and more. The GCSE is assessed through three written exams covering the different topics, with no coursework.

1. Geography Option
Information

2. Why GCSE Geography?
Studying geography gives students the opportunity to
travel the world via the classroom, learning about both
natural and social sciences along the way.
They will understand how geography impacts everyday
life and discover the key opportunities and challenges
facing the world.
Students will also develop academic and life skills from
writing, teamwork and communication to analytical skills.

3. How to be successful in Geography:
Critical analysis is a key skill for geographers. Being able
to analyse information in order to choose the right GIS
data, analytical method, and scale of data is important.
Geographers must display logic, good judgment, and the
ability to reason when analysing information.
Building on the skills and topics at Key Stage 3, GCSE
Geography will equip students with essential skills and
prepare them for further study.

4. Subject content:
This unit is concerned with the dynamic nature of physical processes and
systems, and human interaction with them in a variety of places and at a
range of scales.
The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the tectonic,
geomorphological, biological and meteorological processes and features in
different environments, and the need for management strategies governed
by sustainability and consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human
interaction with the Earth and the atmosphere.
Living with the physical environment
Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
Section B: The living world
Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK

5. This unit is concerned with human processes, systems and outcomes and how
these change both spatially and temporally. They are studied in a variety of
places and at a range of scales and must include places in various states of
development, such as higher income countries (HICs), lower income countries
(LICs) and newly emerging economies (NEEs).
The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce
a diverse variety of human environments; the dynamic nature of these
environments that change over time and place; the need for sustainable
management; and the areas of current and future challenge and opportunity for
these environments.
Challenges in the human environment
Section A: Urban issues and challenges
Section B: The changing economic world
Section C: The challenge of resource management
Subject content:

6. Subject content:
Geographical applications
Section A: Issue evaluation
Section B: Fieldwork
The Geographical applications unit is designed to be synoptic in that students will
be required to draw together knowledge, understanding and skills from the full
course of study.
It is an opportunity for students to show their breadth of understanding and an
evaluative appreciation of the interrelationships between different aspects of
geographical study.

7. Subject content:
Geographical skills
Students are required to develop and demonstrate a range of geographical skills,
including cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical skills, throughout their
study of the specification.
Skills will be assessed in all three written exams. Ordnance Survey (OS) maps or
other map extracts may be used in any of the three exams.

8. Assessments – Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
What's assessed:
The challenge of natural hazards, The living world, Physical landscapes in the UK,
Geographical skills
How it's assessed:
• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist
terminology (SPaG))
• 35% of GCSE
Questions:
• Section A: answer all questions (33 marks)
• Section B: answer all questions (25 marks)
• Section C: answer any two questions from questions 3, 4 and 5 (30 marks)
• Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose

9. Assessments – Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
What's assessed
Urban issues and challenges, The changing economic world, The challenge of resource
management, Geographical skills
How it's assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG)
35% of GCSE
Questions
Section A: answer all questions (33 marks)
Section B: answer all questions (30 marks)
Section C: answer question 3 and one from questions 4, 5 or 6 (25 marks)
Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose

10. Assessments – Paper 3 : Geographical applications
What's assessed
Issue evaluation, Fieldwork, Geographical skills
How it's assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG)
30% of GCSE
Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam
Questions
Section A: answer all questions (37 marks)
Section B: answer all questions (39 marks)
Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose

11. Examples of Geography related jobs:
• Cartographer
• Climatologist
• Conservation officer
• Consultant
• Demographer
• Economic development officer
• GIS specialist
• Hydrographer
• Researcher
• Urban planner
• Remote-sensing analyst
• Teacher
• Transportation manager
• Water resources specialist
• Cruise staff
• Curator
• Event and conference coordinator
• Flight attendant
• Heritage interpreter
• Hotel manager
• Marketing executive
• Nature guide
• Researcher
• Tour director
• Tour operator
• Tourism marketer
• Tourism officer
• Travel agent
• And much more!

12. Subject specific FAQs
Q - Are there any trips?
A – Yes. There will be a fieldwork trip which will take place during the third and
final unit, ‘Geographical applications’. This will take place locally.
Q – Are there any revision materials that would be useful?
A – Yes. We recommend the CGP AQA Geography Revision Guide as a minimum.
There is the option to purchase these, as well as other revision materials,
cheaper through the school.
Q – Is there any coursework?
A – No. Everything is assessed through the 3 examinations.

13. Need more information?
• Book an appointment to speak to a subject teacher
• Visit the AQA website:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035