GCSE Geography New Specification Launch Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Follow us on Rupert Sheard

Qualification reform Start teaching reformed GCSE (and new GCE) Final exams for legacy specs and controlled assessment First assessment reformed GCSE (and new GCE) Reformed GCSE specification available September 2015 Reformed GCSE subject content (DfE) published April 2014 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 2

Key Features of the specification Balanced understanding of physical, human and environmental geography Thematic approach to the subject, with an emphasis on contemporary issues and future changes Flexibility: centres are free to choose their own exemplars and case study material Choice of optional content in selected themes, including landscapes, ecosystems and use of resources The use of a wide range of investigative skills and approaches, including mathematics and statistics and modern information technologies An issues evaluation and decision making exercise, contributing a problem solving element to assessment An assessment structure that is manageable and realistic, with 3 short papers totalling 4 hours Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 3

Overview of specification content 1. Living with the Physical Environment 2. Challenges in the Human Environment 3. Geographical Applications Challenge of Natural Hazards: tectonic hazards, tropical storms, extreme weather in the UK, climate change Urban Challenges: Global patterns, two contrasting cities, sustainable urban futures Issue Evaluation: Theme of issue can be selected from any part of the specification. Based on secondary sources Physical Landscapes in the UK: Two from coastal, river, glacial landscapes The Changing Economic World: Global patterns, closing the development gap, contrasting studies of economic development Fieldwork: two fieldwork enquiries, contrasting environments, physical and human geography, enquiry process. The Living World: Local ecosystems, tropical rainforests, one from hot deserts and cold environments The Challenge of Resource Management: Overview of resources in the UK, global resource security-one from food, water, energy Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 4

Geography of the UK The geography of the UK is integrated into the physical and human geography themes studied: The challenge of natural hazards-extreme weather in the UK. Physical landscapes in the United Kingdom-coastal landscapes, river landscapes, glacial landscapes The living world- small scale local ecosystem Urban issues and challenges-major city in the UK Changing economic world- economic futures in the UK Challenge of resource management-overview of food, water and energy resources in the UK Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 5

Specification/Assessment at a glance Unit 1: Living with the Physical Environment 35 %The study of physical processes and patterns Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes Candidates answer 5 questions out of 7 (2 compulsory) 88 marks, including 3 SPAG Unit 2: Challenges in the Human Environment 35 %The study of human geography themes and issues Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes Candidates answer 4 questions out of 6 (3 compulsory) 88 marks including 3 SPAG Unit 3 Geographical Applications 30 %*Issue evaluation, based on resource booklet, and fieldwork Assessment 1 hour 15 minutes Candidates answer all questions 76 marks, including 6 SPAG Assessment of fieldwork represents 15% of total assessment. Assessment of maths and statistical skills must be 10% of total assessment Total marks 240 (plus 12 SPAG-5% of total) Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 6

Summary of Assessment Unit 1 – Living with the Physical Environment 35% of the assessment Candidates answer questions on: The challenge of natural hazards - tectonic hazards, tropical storms, extreme weather in the UK, climate change (30 marks +3 SPAG) Physical landscapes in the United Kingdom - 2 from coastal landscapes, river landscapes, glacial landscapes (30 marks) The living world - ecosystems, tropical rainforests, 2 from hot deserts and cold environments (25 marks) Questions will be a mix of multiple choice, short structured responses and extended writing. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 7

Summary of Assessment Unit 2 Challenges in the Human Environment 35% of the assessment Candidates answer questions on: Urban issues and challenges (30 marks+ 3 SPAG) The changing economic world (30 marks) The challenge of resource management-general overview, one from food, water and energy (25 marks) Questions will be a mix of multiple choice, short structured responses and extended writing. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 8

Summary of Assessment Unit 3 - Geographical Applications 30% of the assessment Section A - Issue Evaluation Compulsory structured questions on a theme – leading up to an extended writing task based on a pre-release Sources Booklet – to be issued to students in advance. The theme will arise from the subject content of Units 1 or 2 but may extend beyond it through the use of the resources. The theme could combine human and physical aspects. (34 marks +3 SPAG) Section B - Fieldwork Compulsory questions based on candidates’ enquiry work and the use of fieldwork materials in an unfamiliar context (36 marks +3 SPAG) Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 9

General questions Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 10

Content and skills for Paper/Unit 1 Living with the Physical Environment Natural Hazards - involves the study of tectonic hazards, weather hazards and climate change. Note that there is only one case study of tectonic hazards and that the content is much reduced compared with existing specifications. Climate change focuses on causes and management (mitigation and adaptation). Physical Landscapes in the UK - involves the study of 2 different landscapes, the processes of erosion and deposition, and the landforms which result. Human intervention and management of the landscapes are considered. Again the content for each individual landscape is reduced compared with existing courses The Living World - focuses on the characteristics of ecosystems at different scales and threats to biodiversity. There is compulsory study of a local ecosystem and tropical rainforests, then a choice between hot deserts and cold environments. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 11

Content and skills for Paper/Unit 2 Challenges in the Human Environment Urban issues and challenges. Involves the study of global trends and patterns, the impacts of rapid urbanisation and the resulting opportunities and challenges in two contrasting cities. Includes sustainable methods of managing urban living. Detailed study of a UK city and one in a LIC/NEE. The changing economic world. Looks at the complexities of measuring development and ways of reducing the development gap. Issues of trading relationships, international aid and the role of TNCs are explored. Detailed study of one named LIC or NEE and a contrasting study of economic futures in the UK and the place of the UK in the wider world The challenges of resource management. Studies the increasing global demand for resources, highlighting stark inequalities. Issues of resource provision in the UK. Resource security in relation to either food, or water or energy-reasons for insecurity, impacts, strategies to increase supply including sustainable solutions. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 12

Structure of Question Paper 3 Length of paper 1 hour 15 minutes % of total marks 30% Number of sections 2 Section A 34 marks (plus 3 SPAG) Section B 36 marks (plus 3 SPAG) Question types in each section - multiple choice, short structured questions, completion of graphs, photo interpretation/description, interpretation of maps on different scales, data response, longer extended writing responses All questions compulsory Approximately 65% questions levels marked. One 9 mark question with 3 levels of response Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 13

Issue Evaluation Students learn about an issue, study options to solve it and make a decision. They consider the points of view of the stakeholders involved, make an appraisal of the advantages and disadvantages, and evaluate the alternatives Resource sheet will consist of a mix of geographical sources such as maps on different scales, photographs, satellite images, factfiles, statistics, graphs, newspaper extracts, quotes from different interest groups Assessment will consist of a series of shorter questions related to the contemporary geographical issue, based on the interpretation of the resources. These lead to a more extended piece of writing (9 marks), involving a decision with some justification. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 14

Fieldwork assessment Students need to undertake two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data, collected as part of a fieldwork exercise The two enquiries must be carried out in contrasting environments and show an understanding of both physical and human geography In at least one of the enquiries students are expected to show an understanding about the interaction between physical and human geography Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 15

Geographical Skills Skills will be assessed in all three written exams. Ordnance Survey maps or other map extracts may be used in any of the three exams. Cartographic-atlas maps, OS maps, maps with photographs Graphical skills- selecting and constructing appropriate graphs, charts, maps Numerical skills- number, area, scale, proportion, ratio Statistical skills- central tendency, spread, scatter plots Use and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data from primary and secondary sources, including GIS Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 16

AQA ongoing support and resources AQA website e-AQA Secure Key Materials ERA (Enhanced Results Analysis) Training courses Preparing to teach events AQA family of businesses (Exampro, Teach it, Alfie) Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 17

Subject resources On-line teacher resources will be available: Resource lists including texts for students, recommended academic books, web sites and other resources, including Schemes of Work Digital specification, which will include links to lesson plans and other items and which will be updated throughout the life of the specification Additional sample questions, students’ answers and examiner commentaries Three approved publishers for GCSE Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 18

Contact points for more information and guidance Geography Subject Team: Tony Floyd, GCSE Geography Qualifications Developer Tel: Teacher Support and CPD Managers: Robert Kirkham and Marion Bristow Tel: AQA Website: Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 19

Final questions Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.Slide 20

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