Why Should I Study Geography at GCSE or A Level?

Wondering where in the world Geography can take you? Madeleine helps navigate why you should choose to study the subject GCSE or A Level and what to expect if if you do!

For students with a keen interest in the world around them, Geography can be one of the most important subjects on the syllabus. This is because Geography can involve both the study of the natural world and the study of the people that live in it. Thanks to the popularity of shows such as The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and The World’s Busiest Cities on the BBC, more and more young people are beginning to actively engage with and learn about physical and human geography – and subsequently the world around them. And what better time to learn about these than now, when we face climate and ecology-based issues that hopefully the world’s brightest potential geographers, earth-scientists and urban planners will have a hand in solving!

Luckily for geographers, they’ll be happy to know that within this one topic there is a plethora of areas of study to choose from! Most of these fall between two sub-categories: Human Geography and Physical Geography.

Human Geography deals with the study of the cultures, economies and communities of people on earth and how these interact with each other and the earth’s environment. This path can lead you to studying the variation in cultures across different regions of the world; the patterns in standards of living and quality of life among earth’s inhabitants and how these correlate with location; the connections between human economic systems and the biophysical environment around it – the list goes on!

On the flip side, Physical Geography involves the study of the patterns and systems of the natural environment, such as the biosphere, geosphere and atmosphere. Physical Geographers can become experts in the study of glaciers; or begin to understand how the surface of the earth is shaped; or even learn about the earth’s climate and how it shapes weather conditions.

So what do the various exam boards offer for the young geographers out there in schools?

The AQA GCSE Geography syllabus includes both physical and human geography within one balanced framework, while allowing students to investigate the connection between these two different worlds. Through this framework students can discover case studies from all over the world, including the UK, higher income countries, newly emerging economies and lower income countries, across a range of topics such as climate change, poverty and the challenge of sustainable resource use. There are three papers to be sat at the end of this course:

Paper 1. Living with the physical environment

Paper 2. Challenges in the human environment

Paper 3. Geographical applications

AQA A Level Geography continues the study of Physical and Human Geography in topics such as hot desert systems, natural hazards, international trade and urbanisation, but also introduces an additional fieldwork investigation of between 3,000 and 4,000 words to be completed as coursework. In this way, the syllabus can act as an excellent preparation for university studies, as learning how to conduct and write extended projects is one of the most important skills to have once you reach university! While this kind of task might seem daunting, it’s nothing you can’t do, and you can always ask one of our expert geography tutors to give you a helping hand!

Over at OCR, there are two syllabus available. The Geography A (Geographical Themes) is structured around comparison between the UK and the rest of the world. The syllabus contains three main components: Living in the UK Today, The World Around Us and Geographical Skills. Through this syllabus, students study the environmental problems facing the UK, as well as the cultures of the people within it, whilst also having the opportunity to study the cultures and ecosystems of the planet as a whole. Meanwhile, Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) is focused around the relationship between human and physical geography, with components on Our Natural World, People and Society and Geographical Exploration. Topics include global hazards, climate change, urban futures and resource reliance.

Like the AQA A Level, the OCR A Level Geography syllabus requires an Independent Investigation to be completed as coursework – so, with either exam board, geographers will be given the chance to investigate the world around them in-depth and develop their research skills!

So, what are you waiting for?! Sign up to study Geography and who knows where in the world it will take you…

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Blog Post Crafted by Madeleine

Madeleine is a former Company Manager at Titanium Tutors. She read Japanese at Trinity College, Cambridge where she was also a choral scholar. During her time at university, she somehow managed to balance singing evensong three times a week, performing in various operas and concerts, and studying for her degree. She spent her third year in Kyoto, where she studied at Doshisha University and taught English to Japanese children. Despite the fact that she read Japanese at university, Madeleine’s main passion in life is opera and she hopes to become the next Maria Callas some day.