Geography

Geography is about the interaction between people and the natural environment. There are now over seven billion people on the planet who all need food, housing and work. In trying to meet these needs we are exploiting and in many cases damaging the natural environment. The challenge of the 21st century is sustainable development and how to raise living standards without causing irreversible damage to the environment.

There are many key global issues that are part of an A-level Geography course.
The Edexcel specification is a very modern approach to Geography and is made up of both Physical and Human Geography topics.

Exam Board
EDEXCEL

Physical Geography
This will include tectonic processes and hazards, physical landscapes such as rivers and coasts, the water cycle and water conflicts, climate change, the carbon cycle and energy security, environmental issues and geopolitics.

Human Geography
This will include urbanisation, urban redevelopment and rebranding, diverse places, cultures and societies, population growth, migration, globalisation, global development and connections, and the role of superpowers in Geography.

How should I prepare for A-Level study?
You will need to have studied GCSE Geography and hopefully you will have enjoyed the course and found it interesting and stimulating.
Rather than any specific reading you should be taking an interest in environmental issues and current affairs. The BBC news website and the Guardian newspaper website are excellent sources of information. There are also two useful websites called Global issues and Earthweek.com.

Future Careers
As a facilitating subject Geography is an excellent foundation for higher education. Geography related careers include town planning, environmental consultancy, water supply, energy supply, conservation, surveying, architecture, civil engineering, retailing, tourism, transport and education.

"You can travel the seas, poles, and deserts and see nothing. To really understand the world you need to get under the skin of the people and places. In other words, learn about geography. I can’t imagine a subject more relevant in schools. We’d all be lost without it."
– Michael Palin