A-Level Geography
A-Level Geography
This section contains comprehensive revision notes for A-Level Geography, aligned with the AQA specification. Content is organised into three core areas:
Physical Geography
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Water and Carbon Cycles | Drainage basin hydrology, the water budget, the carbon cycle, and climate change feedbacks |
| Coastal Systems and Landscapes | Waves, erosion, transportation, deposition, landforms, and coastal management |
| Glacial Systems and Landscapes | Glacial processes, erosional and depositional landforms, and periglacial environments |
| Hazards | Tectonic and atmospheric hazards, vulnerability, and risk management |
Human Geography
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Changing Places | Sense of place, endogenous and exogenous factors, and regeneration |
| Global Systems and Governance | Globalisation, trade, TNCs, global governance, and geopolitics |
| Contemporary Urban Environments | Urbanisation, urban forms, segregation, and sustainable cities |
| Population and the Environment | Demographic transition, food security, energy, and health |
Fieldwork
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Fieldwork Methodology | Research design, data collection, statistical tests, GIS, and evaluation |
Exam Structure
A-Level Geography is assessed through three written papers and a non-examined fieldwork assessment:
- Paper 1 (2 hours 30 minutes, 40%): Physical Geography — Water and Carbon Cycles, Coastal Systems or Glacial Systems or Hazards (two of three)
- Paper 2 (2 hours 30 minutes, 40%): Human Geography — Changing Places, Global Systems, Contemporary Urban Environments or Population and the Environment
- Paper 3 (2 hours, 20%): Geographical Debate — synoptic assessment drawing on content from both physical and human geography
- Non-examined Assessment: Fieldwork write-up (3,000–4,000 words), internally marked and moderated
Study Tips
- Use named case studies — examiners reward specific, located examples with factual detail rather than vague generalisations.
- Know your AO weightings — AO1 (knowledge), AO2 (application), AO3 (analysis), AO4 (skills). Higher-mark questions require balanced analysis and evaluation.
- Practise 20- and 33-mark essays — plan before writing; embed case studies throughout rather than bolted on at the end.
- Master key terminology — definitions are frequently tested directly in shorter-answer questions.
- Link physical and human processes — synoptic links are essential for Paper 3 and strengthen answers across all papers.
Source: Content aligned with AQA Geography (7037) specification. Case studies drawn from widely-used textbooks and publicly available data.