A Level 2016 Overview

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Edexcel

Written examination: 2 hours

30% of the qualification 90
marks
Students answer all questions in
Section A (Tectonic Processes
and Hazards), Section C (The
Water Cycle and Water
Insecurity) and Section D (The
Carbon Cycle and Energy
Security). Students answer
either Question 2 (Glaciated
Landscapes and Change) or
Question 3 (Coastal Landscapes
and Change) in Section B

Written examination: 2 hours Written examination: 1 hour and Non-examined assessment 20%
30% of the qualification 90
45 minutes 20% of the
of the qualification 60 marks
marks
qualification 60 marks
The investigation report is
An externally-assessed written A resource booklet will contain internally assessed and
examination comprising four
information about the
externally moderated.
sections. Students answer all
geographical issue.
The student will produce a
questions in Section A
The specification contains three written report of 30004000
(Globalisation) and Section C synoptic themes within the
words.
(Superpowers). Students answer compulsory content areas:
one question from Section B
Players, Attitudes and actions,
(Regenerating Places and
Futures and uncertainties. The
Diverse Places) and one
synoptic investigation will be
question from Section D
based on a geographical issue
(Health, Human Rights and
within a place-based context
Intervention; Migration, Identity that links to the three synoptic
and Sovereignty).
themes and is rooted in two or
more of the compulsory content
areas

WJEC

Written examination: 2 hours 15 Written examination: 2 hours 15 Written examination: 2 hours

minutes 30% of qualification
minutes 30% of qualification
20% of qualification
Section A: Changing
Section A: Global Systems
Section A: Tectonic Hazards
Landscapes Choice between two Water and Carbon Cycles: two One compulsory extended
themes, either Coastal or
compulsory structured questions response question Section B:
Glaciated Landscapes: two
and data response Section B:
Contemporary Themes in
compulsory structured questions Global Governance: Change and Geography Five optional
and data response Section B:
Challenges Processes and
themes: Ecosystems, Economic
Changing Places Two
patterns of global migration and Growth and Challenge: India or
compulsory structured questions global governance of the Earth's China, Energy Challenges and

Non-exam assessment: 3000 to

4000 words 20% of
qualification
of qualification One written
independent investigation, based
on the collection of both
primary data and secondary
information

and data response

oceans: two compulsory

structured questions and data
response

Dilemmas , Weather and

Climate, Development in an
African Context Two essay
questions chosen from these
five optional theme

OCR

Physical systems (01) 72 marks

1 hour 45 minute written paper
24% of total A level
Landscape Systems, Earths
Life Support Systems,
Geographical Skills

Human interactions (02) 72

marks 1 hour 45 minute written
paper
24% of total A level
Changing Spaces; Making
Places, Global Connections,
Geographical Skills

Geographical debates (03)* 96 Investigative geography (60

marks 2 hours 30 minute written marks Non-examination
paper
assessment (NEA)
32% of total A level
20% of A-level
Optionality study 2 of 5:
Climate Change, Disease
Dilemmas, Exploring Oceans ,
Future of Food, Hazardous
Earth, Geographical Skills

AQA

Written exam: 2 hours 30

minutes
96 marks, 40% of A-level
Section A: Water and carbon
cycles
Section B: either Hot desert
environments and their
margins or Coastal systems and
landscapes
Section C: either
Hazards or Ecosystems under
stress or Cold environments

Written exam: 2 hours 30

N/A
minutes, 96 marks, 40% of Alevel
Section A: answer all questions
(27 marks)
Section B: answer all questions
(27 marks)
Section C: answer either
question 5 or question 6 or
question 7 (42 marks)

3,0004,000 words, 35 marks,

20% of A-level
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.