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A Level Geography
Course Codes
OSC1287 / OSC1405 / OSC1404
Save £25 when you enrol on two or more A Levels or GCSEs with code EXTRA25!
Earn up to 56 UCAS points with this online A Level Geography course from home. We have a 94% pass rate** with our A Levels!
- Gain an official A Level Geography qualification from Edexcel.
- Achieve up to 56 UCAS points to help you land your dream place at university.
- Nationally recognised accredited A Level qualification that is the same course offered in schools and colleges.
- No waiting around for term to start, you can enrol today and start studying as soon as you are ready.
- Study this online A Level from home at your own pace.
- Benefit from the full support of your personal tutor via email.
- Choose to include exams and fieldwork and save up to £770*.
Course overview
Studying this A Level Geography course will give you the opportunity to explore geographical subjects such as tectonic hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions; glacial processes of erosion, transport and deposition; how political and economic decisions are accelerating globalisation; and the role water plays in supporting life on earth.
Depending on the degree you aspire to study and the career you wish to achieve, the A Levels we recommend studying alongside this course are A Level Environmental Science, A Level Physics, and A Level Chemistry.
Degrees this subject could lead to
After completing your Geography A Level, you could progress to study a degree in subjects such as global studies, geography, environmental sciences, politics, economics and sciences.
Future career options
Potential future careers could include travel and tourism, environmental management, civil engineering, agriculture, and horticulture.
A Level geography via distance learning
This A Level Geography course is exactly the same as an A Level you would study at school or college, meaning you will take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.
Course Duration
Up to two years.
Course Outcome
A Level Geography qualification from Edexcel.
Entry Requirements
We recommend that you have at least a grade 4/C in GCSE Maths, however, this is not essential.
Assessment
Three paper-based exams, four days of fieldwork and coursework
Course content
Specification code: Edexcel 9GE0
- Volcanoes
- Earthquakes
- Tsunami
- The earth's internal structure
- Plate tectonic theory
- Continental drift
- Paleomagnetism
- Plate boundaries
- MEDCs and LEDCs
- Tectonic mega-disasters
- Prediction and forecasting
- Hazard management
- Climate change
- Volcanic eruptions
- The cryosphere
- Ice masses
- Periglacial processes
- Periglacial landforms
- Tundra
- Glacial mass balance
- Glacier movement
- Rate of movement
- Glacial erosion
- Glacial transportation
- Glacial deposition
- Formation of lowland depositional features
- Fluvioglacial landforms
- Proglacial features
- Biodiversity
- Water cycle
- Carbon cycle
- Human activity
- The influence of technology
- International political and economic organisations
- Special economic zones
- Benefits of SEZs
- KOF index
- Transnational corporations (TNCs)
- The global shift
- Push and pull factors
- International migration
- A global culture
- Cultural erosion
- Gross domestic product
- Social measures of development
- Effects of globalisation
- Retention of cultural values
- Fair trade
- Ethical consumption schemes
- Recycling
- Economies
- Places change
- Reasons for change
- Measuring change
- National and regional influences
- Global and International influences
- The negative multiplier effect
- Media sources
- Representations of place
- Infrastructure investment
- North-south divide
- Planning policies
- Government policy
- Local interest groups
- Rebranding
- Regeneration strategies
- The living environment
- Hydrological cycle
- Water stores
- Types of precipitation
- A tropical rainforest: the Amazon
- Water budget
- River regimes
- Storm hydrograph
- Urbanisation
- Drought
- The ecological impact
- Flooding
- The water cycle and climate change
- Rising demand and diminishing supply
- Physical and economic scarcity
- Water conflicts and the future
- Techno-fix
- Sustainable schemes
- The biogeochemical carbon cycle
- Human effects
- Carbon budgets
- Carbon sequestration in oceans
- Thermohaline circulation
- Terrestrial sequestration
- The greenhouse effect
- The greenhouse effect and climate change
- The concentration of carbon
- Photosynthesis
- Energy consumption
- Fossil fuels
- Biofuels
- Economic power
- Military power
- Political power
- Cultural power
- Natural resources
- Demographics
- Hard power vs soft power
- Types of polarity
- Geopolitical polarity and stability
- Emerging nations
- Strengths and weaknesses
- The role of TNCs
- Global action
- International alliances
- Arctic oil and gas
- Intellectual property
- Political spheres of influence
- Conflicts in the middle east
- Importance of China and India
- Economic problems
- Human development
- Happy planet index
- Sharia law
- Bolivia under Evo Morales
- Goals of development
- The importance of education
- UNESCO
- Health and life expectancy
- The importance of IGOs
- Millennium development goals
- Human rights
- The transition to democracy
- Levels of political corruption
- Equality
- Geopolitical interventions
- Short-term responses
- Just war theory
- The effectiveness of development aid
- Recent military interventions
- The cost of inaction
Extra info
Course duration
You will have two years to complete your A Level Geography course.
The only deadlines involved in studying this course are concerning the A Level exam timetables. Please see the exams and assessments section for more information on this.
Exams and assessments
To achieve your A Level Geography qualification, you must complete the exams, fieldwork and coursework required. There are three written exams for this course which will cover the topics studied on this course. A breakdown of the exam papers can be found in the following section.
When you enrol on your course, you will have the option to add your exams to your enrolment, or you can select the course-only option.
Fieldwork
As part of this course, you must undertake fieldwork that meets the minimum requirement of four days. You can choose to add this on with us as part of the exams and fieldwork package. The fieldwork will be based on a range of habitats in Lincolnshire. Once you have completed your fieldwork, you must complete a written report that is 3,000-4,000 words long based on your fieldwork.
Choosing to add the exams and fieldwork package
You will need to contact our team to find out the exact dates for the fieldwork. Fieldwork and exams must be completed in the same year.
If you choose to add your exams and fieldwork to your enrolment, all you need to do is contact us when you are ready to complete your fieldwork and sit your exams, and we will book and pay for them on your behalf. Please note that the A Level exam timetable typically takes place during May and June each year. You are advised to contact us well in advance of when you intend to complete your fieldwork and exams so that we can confirm your place with the exam board (cut-off dates apply).
Please note, our A Level exam centre locations for this course are as follows:
- Coventry
- Doncaster
- Bolton
- Wimbledon
- Taunton
- St Neots, Cambridgeshire
- High Wycombe
- Romford
- Belfast
As mentioned above, your fieldwork will take place in Lincolnshire, so you must be able to travel to complete your fieldwork.
The course-only option
If you do not add your exams and fieldwork to your enrolment, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your assessments yourself. If you select this option, you must source and liaise with your chosen exam centre in order to book your exams and fieldwork, Open Study College will not be able to book your exams for you. In this instance, you are advised to contact Pearson Edexcel exam centres well in advance of their intended exam dates, as cut-off dates sometimes change.
Study method
This course will be studied entirely via distance learning, meaning you will complete your learning either from home or a place that suits you. Full tutor support will be available via email, so if you have any questions or need some guidance, your tutor will be here to help. Your course materials will include a series of self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked questions to allow both yourself and your tutor to monitor your progress.
The study method you choose depends on your personal learning style. Your options are:
- Study pack: if you choose the study pack option, you will be sent a set of printed course materials.
- Study online: if you choose this option, you will be sent your login details to our online portal through which you will access your course materials digitally. You can access your course via a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Course Outcome
Upon successful completion of your exams, you will be awarded an A Level Geography qualification issued by Edexcel. You will also receive UCAS points relevant to the grade you achieved to support your university application.
UCAS
The final grade you achieve in your A Level will be translated into UCAS points. Based on your grade, you will be awarded up to 56 points per A Level which can then be added together to reach the UCAS points you need to be accepted by your chosen university.
To help you achieve the best possible grade from home, we recommend that you complete the tutor-marked assessments included in your course materials. These are designed to provide you with detailed feedback to help you fine-tune your technique before you sit your exam. Completing your tutor-marked assessments will also help your tutor to provide you with a predicted grade if this is required for your UCAS application.
Download our A Level prospectus
To find out more about Open Study College, the A Levels we offer and how they work, download our A Level prospectus.
Exam details
Paper 1: 9GE0/01
- Type: written examination
- Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Weighting: 30% of A Level
- Total marks: 105
- Assessed: areas of study are topics one and three
- Assessment format: a mixture of short answers, open response, and resource-linked questions. You will also have to complete a 12 and 20 mark extended writing question.
Paper 2: 9GE0/02
- Type: written examination
- Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Weighting: 30% of A Level
- Total marks: 105
- Assessed: areas of study and topics two and four
- Assessment format: A mixture of short answers, open response, and resource-linked questions. You will also have to complete a 12 and 20 mark extended writing question.
Paper 3: 9GE0/03
- Type: written examination
- Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Weighting: 20% of A Level
- Total marks: 70
- Assessed: content from all areas of study
- Assessment format: a mixture of short answers, open response, and resource-linked questions. You will also have to complete an 8, 18 and 24 mark extended writing question
Coursework: 9GE0/04
- Type: fieldwork and coursework
- Weighting: 20% of A Level
- Total marks: 70
- Assessed: define a question of issue for investigation relating to the content in the course using your own research from your fieldwork
- Assessment format: a written investigation report of 3,000 – 4,000 words which is internally assessed at your chosen examination centre and externally moderated. Before starting your coursework, you must complete a minimum of four days of fieldwork, which will be taken under supervision.
Q&As
Yes, you will study the same course, take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.
We recommend that you hold at least a grade 4/C in GCSE Maths as a range of mathematical skills are needed for the completion of this course.
When you enrol on this A Level course with OSC, you will receive:
- Dedicated personal tutor support with unlimited email access.
- Dedicated learner services from our learner services team.
- Course materials with learning activities.
- Assignment marking and feedback from your personal tutor.
- A predicted grade on completion of your tutor-marked assignments, if required for your university application.
- A free CV critique service and employability guide if you’re focusing on career advancement.
- A free Student Discounts membership to save you money on your favourite brands.
- A study pack including a pen, study planner, and notebook*.
- If you choose to add exams and fieldwork to your enrolment with an A Level package, then your exam and fieldwork fees will be included. We will also handle the booking on your behalf. Otherwise, we can refer you to one of our partner exam centres located throughout the UK so you can book your exams and fieldwork yourself.
* Not included with the online study option
We recommend the following textbooks to help you with your studies, however, they are not essential for completion of the course:
- C Dunn, AS/A-Level Geography Student Guide 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards; Landscape systems, processes, and change (Phillip Allan 2016)
- C Dunn, AS/A-Level Geography Student Guide 2: Globalisation; Shaping Places (Phillip Allan 2016)
- V Pointon et al. Edexcel GCE Geography as Level Student Book and eBook (Edexcel Geography A Level 2016) (Edexcel 2016)
- B Digby, Geography for Edexcel A Level Year 1 and AS Student Book (OUP 2016)
Yes, in order to achieve your A Level qualification, you must complete the exams and fieldwork required by the course’s exam board. A Level exams take place during the summer exam period which typically falls in May and June each year. Fieldwork sessions and coursework will take place prior to you sitting your exams.
You can choose to add your exams and fieldwork to your enrolment with us, in which case we will book and pay for your exams for you when you are ready. Alternatively, if you choose the course-only option, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams and fieldwork which can be done directly with your local exam centre.
Please note: if you add on exams you will need to sit these exams in either the Coventry, Doncaster, Bolton, Wimbledon, Taunton, or St Neots (Cambridgeshire) examination centre. Your fieldwork will take place in Lincolnshire, so you must be able to travel to complete your fieldwork.
If you select the course-only option when enrolling on your A Level, you will need to book and pay for your exams and fieldwork directly with the exam centre yourself. We highly recommend researching your options before enrolling as costs can vary between centres. However, if you choose to add your exams and fieldwork to your enrolment, we will take care of booking and paying for them for you when you are ready.
You are still able to study our A Level courses abroad, however, you must complete your fieldwork and sit your exams within the UK at an official exam centre.
It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.
That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.