AQA Spec A and B KS4 Geography

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCSE Geography

GCSE Geography


Workshop objectives

• Introduce the structure of the specifications, teaching content and assessment structure

• Highlight changes in the new GCSE specifications for teachers of the current specification(s)

GCSE Geography


Underlying principles

• To build on the strengths of the existing specifications

• To provide a relevant and interesting Geography course for GCSE students and so increase the take up of Geography at GCSE level

• To build a solid geographical foundation through popular and familiar topics, with inspiring and motivating content to raise student achievement

• To provide a contemporary and modern approach that considers new ideas and developments about the changing nature of geography in the 21st century

GCSE Geography



• To produce students who are aware of their responsibilities to other people, the environment and the sustainability of the planet

• To provide the knowledge, understanding and the skills for further study at A-Level and beyond

• To give opportunities for students to undertake individual research and investigative work and to make use of modern information technologies, including GIS

GCSE Geography



• To offer greater flexibility to centres by providing degrees of modularity

• The two Controlled Assessment options give centres further flexibility regarding fieldwork provision

• By offering a totally ‘co-teachable’ short course option, to provide centres with a means of dealing with an overcrowded KS4 curriculum

• Short Course also provides centres that are not ‘mainstream’ with an opportunity to maintain an element of Geography in the curriculum

GCSE Geography


Specification A at a glance

Unit 1Physical

Geography1 hour 30 minutes

37.5% of total marks

Unit 2Human

Geography1 hour 30 minutes

37.5% of totalmarks

There are two tiers of assessment:Foundation (G-C) and Higher (D-A*)

GCSE Geography


Specification A at a glance• Controlled Assessment : 25% of total marks

•

• Fieldwork Investigation and Report (25%)• (Choice from TWELVE spec related themes• SIX Physical and SIX Human)•

GCSE Geography


Subject content details

Unit 1: Physical GeographySection A• The Restless Earth• Rocks, Resources and Scenery• Challenge of Weather and Climate• Living WorldSection B• Water on the Land• Ice on the land• The Coastal Zone

Candidates answer three questions, one from Section A and one from Section B plus free choice of one other

GCSE Geography



Unit 2: Human GeographySection A• Population Change• Changing Urban Environments• Changing Rural EnvironmentsSection B• The Development Gap• Globalisation• Tourism

Candidates answer three questions, one from Section A and one from Section B plus free choice of one other

GCSE Geography


Key changes from the current specification

• Modular course - first examination available June 2010

• Content for both papers revised and updated for Geography in C21st

• Change in unit titles

• Each unit of study similar in amount of content

• Parity between the two written papers in terms of style of assessment and weighting

• Both papers require the candidate to answer three questions each worth 25 marks

GCSE Geography


Assessment

• Modular option gives choice of learning approaches. Some students are motivated by ongoing feedback and assessment over a longer period. The pressure of all or nothing terminal assessment is removed

• Questions will be more varied, with extensive use of stimulus material. There will be ample opportunity for extended writing. Skills assessed will be wide ranging and not circumscribed by a compulsory OS map question

GCSE Geography


Paper 1 changes

• The units are divided into two sections and candidates have to answer at least one question from each section

• The mark allocation for each question has changed from 15 to 25 marks

• There is a corresponding slight increase in the content of each unit

GCSE Geography


Paper 1 changes

• No compulsory Section A geographical skills/OS mapwork question

• Questions requiring the use of geographical skills and OS mapwork may appear anywhere on the paper. In some years there maybe no OS map question

GCSE Geography


Examples of paper 1 changes• The Restless Earth. The characteristics and impacts of super

volcanoes and tsunamis

• Challenge of weather and climate. Evidence of extreme weather in Britain. Global climate change-causes. Consequences and responses

• Water on the land. Demand for water in the UK. Deficit, surplus and water transfer

• Ice on the land. Glacial budgets, seasonal shifts. The avalanche hazard. Glacial retreat and the threat to economies and environments

• Coastal zone. Changes in sea level. Protection and conservation strategies. Coastal habitat case study

GCSE Geography


Paper 2 changes

• The main changes in content are in this paper

• The paper is divided into two sections and candidates need to answer at least one question from each of the two sections (three questions to be answered in total)

• Changing Urban Environments and Changing Rural Environments are two new units which involve the study of recent changes in settlements, industry and agriculture

GCSE Geography


Paper 2 changes

• Tourism is now a separate section

• Globalisation replaces the study of Managing Resources

• There is still a requirement to study Population and Development but the content has been revised to account for a change in emphasis

GCSE Geography


Examples of paper 2 changes

• The Development Gap. The study of factors leading to global inequality. Development in two contrasting countries of the EU

• Globalisation. The role of technology in a shrinking world. China as the new industrial giant. Global food shortages and insecurities

• Population Change. Key migrations into and within Europe. Consequences of movements and the issues create

GCSE Geography


Examples of paper 2 changes

• Tourism. Effects of mass tourism. Extreme environments. Ecotourism and sustainable development

• Changing Urban Environments. Housing, traffic and cultural issues in urban areas. Sustainable cities

• Changing Rural Environments. Development of agri-business. Growth of organic farming. Government support for the rural economy and environment

GCSE Geography


Specification B at a glance

Unit 1Managing Places

in the C21st.1 hour

25% of total marks

Unit 2 Hostile World 1 hour25% of total

marks

Unit 3Investigating theShrinking World 1 hour

25% of totalmarks

There are two tiers of assessment:Foundation (G-C) and Higher (D-A*)

GCSE Geography


Specification B at a glance

• Controlled Assessment: 25% of total marks

Local Investigation including Fieldwork (15%) and Geographical Issue Investigation (10%)

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Unit 1: Managing Places in C21st.

• External Examination• January and June availability starting from January 2010

Summary of content

Section A: The Coastal Environment Section B: The Urban Environment

One hour examinationAnswer either Section A or Section B

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Unit 2: Hostile World

• External examination• January and June availability starting from June 2010

Summary of content

Section A: Living with Natural Hazards Section B: The Challenge of Extreme Environments


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Unit 3: Investigating the Shrinking World

• External examination• June availability starting from 2010

Summary of content

Section A: Investigating the Globalisation of Industry Section B: Investigating Global Tourism


GCSE Geography



Unit 4: Local investigation including Fieldwork and Geographical Issue Investigation

• Controlled Assessment• June availability starting from June 2010

Task one: Local investigation including Fieldwork (15%)

- Marked out of 36 - Word guidance 1200 - 4 hour write –up under direct supervision

GCSE Geography


Subject content

Unit 4 (cont’d)

Task Two: Geographical Issue Investigation (10%)

- Marked out of 24 - Word guidance 800 - 2 hour write-up under direct supervision

GCSE Geography


Unit structure

• Unit 1,2 & 3 are divided into sections

Each section contains:• context statement• key question• key ideas• specification content.

GCSE Geography


Examples of Unit 1 content

• Coastal Environment. Processes and distinctive landforms. Management to reduce effects of physical processes. Economic and environmental value of coastlines. Challenges of increasing sea levels.

• Urban Environment. Opportunities and challenges created by urban environments in developing and developed countries. Sustainable management of urban areas (eco-towns). Impact of hazards on urban areas (flooding/landslides)

GCSE Geography



• Living with Natural Hazards. Cause and effects relating to earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical storms and wildfires. Reducing damaging effects

• Challenge of Extreme Environments. Characteristics of hot deserts, tropical rainforests and cold environments (tundra and polar). Opportunities and challenges presented by these environments and the interaction of people with these environments

GCSE Geography



• Investigating the Globalisation of Industry. Growth of the globalised economy (TNCs) impact on people and the environment. Management of global industry to ensure sustainability. Contribution to closing the development gap

• Investigating Global Tourism. Global nature of tourism. Opportunities provided by tourism and the contribution made to closing the development gap. Challenges and conflicts of tourism. Planning and management to ensure sustainability

GCSE Geography


Unit 4 Local Investigation incl. Fieldwork

• Centres will select a task from a choice of SIX provided by

• AQA 2 years prior to submission.

GCSE Geography


Unit 4 Geographical Issue Investigation

Centres will select a Geographical Issue Investigation

from a choice of two provided by AQA 2 years prior to submission

• Energy in the 21st. Century. Link between energy and development. Environmental impact of energy use. Future energy demands and energy efficiency (carbon footprints/carbon neutral residential areas)

• Water-a precious resource. Distribution of water supplies. Adaptation of the water cycle for human activity. Impact of poor water supply. Water security.

GCSE Geography


Key changes from the current specification B

• Modular Course – January (unit 1) and June (units 2 and 3) availability starting from January 2010

• Contemporary issues based not place specific

• Three written papers

• No compulsory OS mapwork question

• Questions requiring the use of geographical skills and OS mapwork may appear in any of the units. Some years there may be no OS mapwork question

• Coursework replaced by controlled assessment

GCSE Geography


Key changes from the current specification C

• Modular Course – January (unit 1) and June (units 2 and 3) availability starting from January 2010

• Three written papers

• No decision-making exercise (DME). Although question papers will contain elements of issues evaluation and the style of Unit 2 will be very similar to the existing spec C Paper 1.

• Element of choice relating to the questions not all compulsory


GCSE Geography


Controlled assessment


• Local Investigation including Fieldwork(15%) and Wider Geographical Issue (10%)

GCSE Geography


Controlled assessment

• There will need to be a greater degree of monitoring and supervision of candidates during the process (task setting, taking, marking)

• Candidates must work independently and complete all work under the formal supervision of a teacher or invigilator (ie in the classroom)

• Controlled assessment component is worth 25% of the total marks which equates to approximately 20 hours teaching time

GCSE Geography


Advantages of controlled assessment

• More straightforward marking

• Varying levels of control, making it easier to manage the assessments

• Tasks can be adapted to suit the resources available and can be made appropriate to the local area

• Addresses issues raised in recent reviews especially plagiarism

GCSE Geography


Specification A short course

June availability starting from June 2010

Unit 1: Physical and Human Geography (50% of total)Section A• The Restless Earth• Water on the Land• The Coastal ZoneSection B• Tourism• Changing Urban Environments• Changing Rural Environments

GCSE Geography


Style of assessment

• One hour examination

• Candidates answer two questions, one from Section A and one from Section B

GCSE Geography


Specification A short course

• Controlled assessment

Fieldwork Investigation and Report (50%)

GCSE Geography


Specification B short courseUnit 1: Managing Places in C21st. (50% of the total marks)

• External examination• January and June availability starting from January 2010

Summary of content

Section A: Coastal EnvironmentSection B: Urban Environment

Style of assessment• One hour examination• Answer either Section A or Section B

GCSE Geography


Specification B short course

• Controlled assessment

Local Investigation including Fieldwork(30%) and Geographical Issue Investigation (20%)

GCSE Geography


Support for these specifications

• Register to receive specification updates and free online support

• Free of charge support meetings in the autumn term 2008 – to help both new and experienced teachers to transfer to the specification

• Further free of charge ‘preparing to teach’ support meetings in 2009

GCSE Geography


Further support

• Direct access to adviser network

• Resource banks of materials which support the specification

• CPD courses also available to cater for the professional development of teachers

GCSE Geography


We provide the CPD teachers need

• Updating knowledge and skills

• Supporting teaching, learning and assessment

• Using a workshop-based, interactive approach

• Across GCE, GCSE, Diploma, Functional Skills and KS3

• Excellent tutors and resource packs

• Relevant, progressive and reasonably priced

GCSE Geography


GCSE Geography


Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.

Thank you for your interest

AQA Spec A and B KS4 Geography

Education

Transcript of AQA Spec A and B KS4 Geography