The Avon Valley School & Performing Arts College
GCSE Geography
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B
Geography GCSE is about places, peoples and environments. It is an essential subject for the
world in which we live, where population growth, rapid development, global environmental change,
social and economic inequality and resource depletion threaten the planet. These problems place
increasing burdens on cultural tolerance, the sustainable management of societies, natural
resources including biodiversity and landscapes. Geographers have a key role to play in
understanding and helping to solve these issues.
Living with the physical environment – (35% of final mark)
The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the tectonic, geomorphological, biological
and meteorological processes and features in different environments, and the need for management
strategies governed by sustainability and consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human
interaction with the Earth and the atmosphere.
Topics to be studied include:
Natural hazards; Ecosystems; UK physical landscapes – coasts and rivers.
Challenges in the human environment – (35% of final mark)
The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce a diverse variety of
human environments; the dynamic nature of these environments that change over time and place;
the need for sustainable management; and the areas of current and future challenge and
opportunity for these environments.
Topics to be studies include:
Urban landscapes; Economic development; Resource management
Geographical enquiry and applications – (30% of final mark)
There are two sections to this topic:
Issue evaluation
This section contributes a critical thinking and problem-solving element to the assessment structure.
The assessment will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate geographical skills and
applied knowledge and understanding, by looking at particular issue(s) derived from the
specification using secondary sources.
Fieldwork
Students undertake two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data,
collected as part of a fieldwork exercise. Fieldwork must take place outside the classroom and
school grounds and will be carried out in contrasting environments and show an understanding of
both physical and human geography.
Contact Staff: Mrs Collins, Mrs Owen, or Mr Walden
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