Edexcel B GCSE Geography 

Consists of 3 papers:

Global Geographical Issues Paper 1

1 hour and 30 minutes 37.5% 0f the total marks

Topic 1 The Hazardous Earth.

Understanding of the global circulation of the atmosphere and changing climate and tectonics. Plus two in depth case studies of an extreme weather hazard (tropical cyclones) and tectonic hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes) at contrasting locations.

Topic 2 Development Dynamics.

To develop an understanding of the scale of global inequality. Plus an in depth study of how one emerging country India is developing and the consequences for its people, environment and the country’s relationship with the wider world.

Topic 3 Challenges of our urban world

Over 50 % of all people now live in the world’s cities. What challenges does this present? An overview of the causes and challenges of rapid urbanisation across the world. Plus one in depth study of a megacity in an emerging country:  Mumbai, India.

The UK and Geographical issues Paper 2

Paper 1 hour and 30 minutes and 37.5% of the total marks

Topic 4 The UK and the Physical landscape.

The UK's evolving physical landscape - an overview of the varied physical landscapes in the UK resulting from geology, geomorphic processes and human activity over time. Plus two in depth studies of distinctive landscapes – Coastal change and conflict and River processes and pressures

Topic 5 The UK’s evolving human landscape.

The UK's evolving human landscape - an overview of the changing and varied human landscape of the UK, including the socio-economic and political processes that influence it. A case study of how a major UK city is changing: London

Topic 6 Fieldwork

2 days of compulsory fieldwork will be undertaken – a trip to the River Pang will take place for the Physical Landscape and a visit to Maidenhead and Cookham will cover the elements of the Human Landscape.

People and Environmental issues Making Geographical decisions Paper 3 (DME)

Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes and 25% of the total marks

Topic 7

People and the biosphere – an overview of the global distribution and characteristics of large-scale ecosystems, why the biosphere is important to human wellbeing and how humans use and modify it in order to obtain resources

Topic 8

Forests under threat – a detailed study of tropical rainforests and the taiga, looking at processes and interactions and issues related to their biodiversity and to their sustainable use and management

Topic 9

Consuming energy resources – a study of renewable and non-renewable energy, its supply and demand, access and energy security issues, its sustainable use and management.

The DME exam

The examination will consist of a booklet of sources, provided in the examination, that exemplify a geographical issue drawing from Topics 7, 8 and 9 and underpinning conceptual knowledge from Components 1 and 2. It requires students to make effective use of, analyse and interpret the resource material provided in the examination. environment.

Summary

The three exams include multiple-choice questions, short open, open response, calculations and 8-mark extended writing questions and one 12 mark answer on the DME paper.

The aim of this course is to facilitate enquiry-based learning, provide an engaging real-world focus with focused and manageable fieldwork, straightforward assessments that are accessible for all abilities and to support the progression to A-Level.