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Course Overview
A Level Geography
Course code: OSC1287
Study A Level Geography from home – your route to academic success!
This new A Level course has been updated to meet the latest academic specifications, so you can feel confident you are studying the most up-to-date academic content.
On this course, you will be able to:
- Gain up to 56 UCAS points to help you land your dream place at university
- Study at your own pace with no strict deadlines to contend with
- Develop your knowledge of natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis
- Explore globalisation, the water cycle, human rights and much more!
Studying A Levels with us lets you choose when you take your exams, so that you are always fully prepared. A convenient and stress-free way to study that fits around your existing commitments.
You will be responsible for booking your exams. We can help you to find your nearest exam centre and we have 7 recommended exam centres across the country.
You can contact us for help with this whenever you are ready.
Simply receive your course materials online or by post and start studying to gain that all-important A Level.
Find out how A Level student, Christian, has found studying his A Level with us
Course Content
Specification code: Edexcel 9GE0
Area of study 1: Dynamic Landscapes
Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards:
- Volcanoes
- Earthquakes
- Tsunami
- The Earths internal structure
- Plate tectonic theory
- Continental drift
- Paleomagnetism
- Plate Boundaries
- MEDCs and LEDCs
- Tectonic Mega-disasters
- Prediction and forecasting
- Hazard management
Topic 2: Glaciated Landscapes and Change:
- 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
Area of study 2: Dynamic Places
Topic 3: Globalisation:
- 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
Topic 4: Regenerating Places:
- Economies
- Places change
- Reasons for change
- Measuring change
- National & 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
Area of study 3: Physical Systems and Sustainability
Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity:
- 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
Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security:
- 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
Area of study 4: Human Systems and Geopolitics
Topic 7: Superpowers:
- 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
Topic 8: Health, Human Rights and Intervention:
- Human development
- Happy planet index
- Sharia Law
- Bolivia under Evo Morales
- Goals of development
- The importance of education
- UNESCO
- health & 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
Other Information
Assessment
To achieve the full Geography A Level qualification you will be assessed across the above areas of study. All topics will be assessed by three paper-based examinations and coursework.
You will be responsible for booking your exams. We can help you to find your nearest exam centre and we have 7 recommended exam centres across the country. You can contact us for help with this whenever you are ready.
A more detailed breakdown of the assessment details is provided below:
Paper 1: 9GE0/01
- Type: Written examination
- Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Weighing: 30% of A Level
- Total Marks: 105
- Assessed: Areas of study 1 and 3
- 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
- Weighing: 30% of A Level
- Total Marks: 105
- Assessed: Areas of study 2 and 4
- 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
- Weighing: 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: Coursework/Fieldwork
- Weighing: 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 fieldwork
- Assessment format: A written investigation report of 3000 – 4000 words which is internally assessed and externally moderated. You must complete a minimum of four days of fieldwork, which will be taken under supervision.
Please note: It is your responsibility to source and book your fieldwork and examinations.
Course Duration
You will have 2 years to complete the full A Level from the date you receive your materials. You will be able to study at your own pace and in your own time without the pressure of tight deadlines.
Study Method
This course enables you to study for an A Level in Geography by distance learning at home or at work. Your course materials will be sent by post or online. Full tutor support will be available via email, so help is only a click away! Your course will include self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked study questions, so you can monitor your progress.
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this home learning course you will receive an A Level in Geography issued by Edexcel.
Thinking of going to university?
Open Study College are proud to partner with QA Higher Education, providing students with the unique opportunity to progress into higher education. This partnership aims to support our students in finding and securing a university place at one of QA Higher Education’s conveniently located teaching centres across the UK.
QA Higher Education partner with Middlesex University, Northumbria University, Solent University, Ulster University and the University of Roehampton to provide a variety of courses ranging from level 4 foundation programmes to level 6 undergraduate and level 7 postgraduate degrees.
With teaching centres located in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton, and several intakes a year, students can go on to study higher education without waiting for September to roll around and without having to move away from home.
Each qualification is designed to support your career progression, with the choice of subjects ranging from business to computing, accounting to events management and cyber security to digital marketing.
For more information about QA Higher Education, go to their website. Or alternatively, speak to a member of our team on 03300 563100.
Q&As
Your Questions Answered
Is this the same qualification as an A Level from a school or college?
Yes! You study the same coursework, take the same examinations and get the same qualification. The only difference is that the course is designed to be studied from home, and you receive full tutor support via email.
What skills are needed to enrol onto this course?
It is recommended you have at least a grade C at GCSE level maths or above, as a range of maths skills are needed for the completion of this course.
What is included in the cost of my course?
- Dedicated personal tutor support
- Dedicated student support
- Assignment marking and feedback
- FREE CV writing service
- FREE TOTUM student discount card (formerly NUS Extra card)
- *Comprehensive study guide
- *Open Study College pen and highlighter
- *Student study planner
- *Student notebook
* Not included with the online study option
Is there a required reading list?
We recommend the following text books 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)
Textbooks can be purchased from most good booksellers.
Do I have to sit an exam?
Yes, you will need to take the standard A Level examinations in order to fully complete this course. You will be responsible for booking your exams. We can help you to find your nearest exam centre and we have 7 recommended exam centres across the country. You can contact us for help with this whenever you are ready.
Are there any additional costs?
You will be required to pay a fee to the examination centre of your choice and your exam when taking the A Level exams. You will also be required to pay for your fieldwork part of the course.
What if I live outside the UK?
You are still able to study this A Level course but must take the examinations within the UK as this is the only guaranteed way to access examination centres.
What happens if I lose my course pack?
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.
What if I still have questions?
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 Student Support Team a call on 03300 563 100 and they’ll do their best to help.
