Key Stage 4 GCSE Geography

In the summer term the students choose options, one of which is Geography.  There is a lot of work and a certain commitment is needed for them to achieve their true potential.  We build on the knowledge and skills they have learned during Key Stage 3.

The GCSE examination is divided into 3 papers.

Paper 1 focuses on Physical Geography.  It is a written paper of 1 hr 45 minutes and they have to answer 4 questions.

Q1 is Ordnance Survey map work.  This is a skills based question and they need to be able to observe and understand information from an O/S map of part of Britain.

Q2 Focuses on Plate Tectonics.  Students must be able to describe the physical processes, which lead to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and they must also be able to describe Case Studies f places throughout the world that have experienced these natural phenomena.

Q3 Is all about Coastal Erosion and defence against the elements.  This is usually quite easy for the students to understand as we live on an Island and are able to do some fieldwork to see the results of erosion and how the States of Guernsey try to prevent major problems.

Q4 Looks at Glaciation (the effect of Ice on the land) We look at the physical processes and the human activities which take place in these areas such as tourism, making Hydro-Electric power and farming on the fertile soil left after the Ice ages.

Paper 2 is examining Human Geography.  The paper lasts 1 hour 30 mins. and the students have to answer 3 questions.

Q1 Asks the students to look at Settlements in both MEDCs and LEDCs and how the increase in urbanisation is handled in places such as London,

 Paris and Bombay. City models are studied and we look at how they can be useful to geographers.  During this module we revise O/S map work to enable the students to describe the shape and function of settlements effectively.                                                                                            

Q2 Looks at the change in Industry in both MEDCs and LEDCs studying the change in business and employment structure and how traditional industries such as coal-mining in Britain have been replaced by car manufacturing and Hi Tec industries thanks to the investment of foreign companies encouraged by government incentives to lessen the burden of unemployment on the British taxpayer.  A study is made of the change in shopping patterns and the growth of out of town shopping centres. We use fieldwork in Guernsey to understand how far people are prepared to go to buy certain goods and compare our local facilities with those on the mainland.

Q3 Is in two parts, Managing Resources examines the decline in the availability of non-renewable energy resources and the substitution of more eco-friendly renewable resources.  The second part looks at Tourism.  The development of the industry after the advent of the railways and how today it is a huge industry due to increased wealth of people in the MEDCs and the availability of Long Haul flights, which enables us to visit LEDCs.  Although these holidays have boosted the wealth of the countries involved it can also harm the natural environment.

Paper 3 Coursework.

The coursework is worth 25% of the final grade. At the end of Year 10 we carry out a survey in St Peter Port to look at the Central Business District. This coursework links into the module studied on Settlement. During the summer holiday the students are expected to carry out a little individual research i.e. taking photographs of the sites used in Town and repeating the data capture methods either in town or in another centre of Guernsey such as Cobo to compare the two centres. At the beginning of Year 11 we spend lessons and homework time completing the coursework before the Mock exams to give an reasonably accurate assessment of their final grade