Lessons
Geography is the study of Earth's landscapes, peoples, places and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live. Geography is unique in bridging the social sciences (human geography) with the natural sciences (physical geography).
Most of the time you'll be taught in lessons, but you'll also undertake two sets of fieldwork, in two contrasting environments to help you show an understanding of both physical and human geography. This experience will help you to apply your geographical knowledge, understanding and skills in your exams and interpret, analyse and evaluate information and issues related to geographical enquiry.
Studying
What you'll learn specifically depends on the exam board your school is using. Here is a look at what the main exam boards cover:
Living with the Physical Environment
- The Challenge of Natural Hazards
- The Living World
- Physical Landscapes in the UK
Challenges in the Human Environment
- Urban Issues and Challenges
- The Changing Economic World
- The Challenge of Resource Management
Geographical Applications
- Issue Evaluation
- Fieldwork
Geographical Skills
- Geographical Skills
Living in the UK Today
- Landscapes of the UK
- People of the UK
- UK Environmental Challenges
The World Around Us
- Ecosystems of the Planet
- People of the Planet
- Environmental Threats to Our Planet
Geographical Skills
- Geographical Skills
- Fieldwork Assessment
The Physical Landscape
- The Changing Landscapes of the UK
- Weather Hazards and Climate Change
- Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management
The Human Environment
- Changing Cities
- Global Development
- Resource Management
Geographical Investigations: Fieldwork and UK Challenges
Exams
In all exam boards you'll be assessed through three exams at the end of Year 11, one focusing on each module. You'll be examined using a number of techniques including multiple-choice questions, short answers, open responses, calculations and extended writing questions.
Skills
Communication & teamwork - working in the field with other students will help you improve your verbal communication and ability to work in a team
Graphical & cartographical skills - the ability to read maps and to construct graphical representations from your data
Technological skills, including ICT and GIS - the ability to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present spatial or geographic data
Problem solving skills - the ability to think through issues and come up with suitable solutions
Analytical skills - the ability to collect data and analyse it appropriately
What's Next
Geography GCSE is a great start to a working life or further study. It can be studied at A-level and is easy to combine with other humanities subjects, social sciences or hard sciences. It's a good A-level to study as it combines both essays and numerical understanding.
Resources
BBC Bitesize - everything you need to know about your Geography GCSE including quizzes to test your knowledge along the way.
