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• The existing GCE Geography has a six-unit structure, with three AS units and three further A2 units.
• From September 2008 this will be revised to a four-unit structure.
• These revised structures apply to all A level geography specifications.

WJEC Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Geography

The following is a summary and rough guide. It is always wise to have your own copy of the specification and to check important details carefully (this is not in any way an ‘official’ site). See the foot of this page on how to contact WJEC.

The full specification and some examiners' reports are available online from WJEC:

http://www.wjec.co.uk/geography.html

Assessment

The AS is made up of three equally weighted units (each worth a third of an AS or 16.7% of an Advanced qualification).

• GG1 - ‘Process and issues in Physical Environments’, a 1hr 15mins exam containing data response, structured extended prose and stimulus material assessments.
• GG2 - ‘Process and issues in Human Environments’, a 1hr 15mins exam containing data response, structured extended prose and stimulus material assessments.
• GG3 - ‘Investigative Geography, Physical and Human Environments’. Assessing the application of skills acquired in units GG1 and GG2. There is a choice between GG3(a) and GG3(b). GG3(a) is an externally marked examination paper which assesses the skills acquired in GG1 and GG2 through a 1hr 30mins paper of structured questions that include data from fieldwork investigations of physical and human environments. There is the option of doing GG3(b) instead, an internally assessed (externally moderated) 2000 word Fieldwork Report. Make sure you know which one your centre has opted for!

Scale of study

Exam tips

GG1: Physical Environments

Generalisation A: Global tectonic processes, hazards and response.

"Earthquakes and volcanoes are major hazards in tectonically active environments of the world. There are differing human responses to these events."

1. Global tectonic processes (landforms, boundaries,volcanoes, earthquakes, secondary hazards).
2. Tectonic hazards (interaction of tectonic processes and human activity, threat to people).
3. Impacts of tectonic activity (types of; comparison of two contrasting events).
4. Range of responses (modification of effects and vulnerability; comparison of two contrasting events).

Generalisation B: Drainage basins: hydrology and selected landforms.

"The drainage basin operates as a system with inputs, flows, stores and outputs. Water and sediment move through the system. The characteristics of the system depend upon a range of physical and human factors."

1. The drainage basin as a system, flood hydrographs and river regimes.
2. Influence of physical and human factors on the passage of water through drainage basins (comparative analysis of hydrographs and regimes of differing basins).
3. Major landform features produced by erosion, transport and deposition of one floodplain (field investigation possible).
4. The causes and effects of flooding (causes and impacts of flooding in two contrasting drainage basins).

Generalisation C: Small scale ecosystems.

"An ecosystem consists of an ordered and highly integrated community of plants and animals together with the abiotic elements of the environment. Human action can cause changes in a small scale ecosystem."

1. Structures of an ecosystem (trophic levels) and biotic components (producers, consumers, niche).
2. Functioning of a small scale ecosystem (energy flows, nutrient cycling).
3. Links and interactions within one small scale ecosystem (development of one soil type, influence of microclimate).
4. The ecosystem is a dynamic system (seres, climatic climax, human activity and ‘plagioclimax’).

• NB: Field investigation possible for all/each of 1-4.

GG2: Human Environments

Generalisation A: Dynamic populations.

"Natural rates of population change vary globally over space and time. These variations give rise to changes in population size and demographic character and pose significant challenges and opportunities."

1. Population change reflects changes in fertility and mortality over time (demographic transition model, stages, is fifth stage a valid concept?).
2. Factors influencing variations in fertility and mortality (examination of contrasting countries).
3. Characteristic age-sex structure of DTM stages (pyramids and dependency ratios for three contrasting countries - expanding, stabilising, decreasing).
4. Demographic characteristics of countries present challenges and opportunities (shrinking labour pool and old-age dependency; expanding labour pool and youth dependency).

Generalisation B: Aspects of rural change.

"Regional change is occuring in some MEDCs as population and employment are decentralising. This counter-urbanisation process complicates attempts to distinguish between urban and rural areas. The increasing but selective use of the countryside for residential, industrial and leisure purposes has many impacts on the rural area, and may lead to conflict between different interest groups. There is a need for careful management."

1. Counterurbanisation is characterised by a shift of people and employment from metropolitan to non-metropolitan areas. Rural-urban distinction becoming blurred. (Census data analysis comparing metro areas and rural areas in an MEDC.)
2. Causes of population and employment growth in one non-metropolitan region (transport & communications, quality of life, attractiveness for business).
3. Within one rural area, nature and extent of changes in population and employment vary in relation to accessibility to urban centre, scenic quality and planning decisions. (Field investigation of villages possible here.)
4. Changes in rural areas have consequences. Conflict between newcomers and established residents in one area (increased house prices, holiday homes). Demand for rural leisure space and recreation in one area (eg impact of a golf course). Study of one planning policy illustrating need to balance demands (eg a national park).

Generalisation C: Changing urban environments in MEDCs. (Growth and decline in an urban area.)

"Changing urban patterns of growth and decline at a local scale are a response to demographic, economic, social and political forces. Urban decision-makers have implemented various policies to improve and regenerate areas of decline; this may encourage re-urbanisation."

1. Population movements lead to spatial patterns of segregation (and deprivation).
2. Reasons for deprivation and segregation (demographic, economic,cultural, political).
3. Shifts in the economy create areas of growth and decline within cities - decline in the core and suburbanisation at the urban rural fringe of one MEDC urban area.
4. Urban decision-makers in one urban area have implemented policies to tackle deprivation and decline (enquiry exercise).

WJEC information

The Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC/CBAC Cyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru) was established in 1948 and is now established as a company owned and controlled by the 22 unitary councils in Wales. Although it offers many specialist services, such as Welsh-medium resources, its examination syllabuses are available throughout England and Wales.

Many geography teachers and students will be familiar with the WJEC GCSE Geography B (Avery Hill) syllabus. The specification for AS and AL Geography meets the criteria issued by the ACCAC/QCA in March 1999.

For further information, contact : Welsh Joint Education Committee, 245 Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YX Telephone: 029 2026 5000

http://www.wjec.co.uk