The Geography A Level course is a rigorous and highly regarded option. It helps students prepare for Higher Education and/ or enhance their employability profile.

It gives them the opportunity to learn and apply important transferable skills in critical thinking and analysis, communication and relationship-building, autonomy and resourcefulness.

OCR’s A Level in Geography aims to encourage learners to develop a range of essential skills for Higher Education and the world of work through content which is relevant to any citizen of the planet in the 21st century. Through exciting topics learners will understand the nature of physical and human geography whilst unpicking the debates surrounding contemporary challenges facing the world today.

We are committed to providing efficient and effective support and we are always here when you need to speak to a person about an important issue.

We will always try to resolve issues the first time you contact us but, should that not be possible, we will always come back to you and keep working with you to find the solution.

Students will be assessed internally on a regular basis, including through formal mock exams. There are final exams at the end of the course in Year two.

YEAR TWO:

Paper One – Physical systems

• Section A: Landscape systems (option A – costal landscapes)
• Section B: Earth’s life support systems (compulsory)

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 36% of A level

Questions

• Section A: Landscape system (coasts)
• Section B: Answer all questions

Question Types

Short answer, levels of response and extended writing and skill-based questions including math.

Paper Two – Human interactions

• Section A: Changing Spaces, making places
• Section B: Global connections (option B – global migration and option D- power and borders)

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 22% of A Level.

Questions

• Section A: Answer all questions
• Section B: Answer only option B and D questions

Question Types
Short answer, skilled based, levels of response and extended writing.

Paper Three – Geographical debates

• Section A: Disease dilemmas (topic 3.2), hazardous Earth (topic 3.5)
• Section B: Synoptic questions – Disease dilemmas (topic 3.2), hazardous Earth (topic 3.5)
• Section C: Disease dilemmas (topic 3.2), hazardous Earth (topic 3.5)

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 36% of A Level

Questions

• Section A: Answer all questions (3.2 and 3.5)
• Section B: Answer all questions (3.2 and 3.5)
• Section C: Answer only one question from both topics (3.2 and 3.5)

Question Types
Short answer, skilled based, levels of response and extended writing.

Component Four: Independent investigation

Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content.

How it’s assessed:

• 3,000–4,000 words
• 20% of A Level marked by teachers moderated by OCR

Subject specific entry requirements

• 5 at GCSE (if taken)
• 4 in Maths
• 4 in English Literature and Language

Standard entry requirements

• At least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 including English Language and Maths (one Vocational or Technical qualification at Merit or above may be counted)

AND

• At least grade 4 (or Merit for Vocational or Technical qualifications) in any subject(s) that you have taken at GCSE and wish to continue studying at Level 3

AND

• Average GCSE (best 8) of at least 4 (38 on the old points table)

AND

• Grade 4 (or Merit), at least, in any subject previously studied
• Students will take either 3 A-Level subjects or 1 AAQ subject with 2 A-Levels