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Geography specification (WJEC) |
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Geography specification (WJEC) |
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WJEC Advanced GCE in Geography
The following is very much 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 is available in 'pdf' format online from WJEC:
http://www.wjec.co.uk/geography.html
An Advanced GCE in Geography consists of the three AS modules (GG1, GG2, GG3), plus three A2 modules (GG4, GG5, GG6). These are assessed as shown in the tables below.
AS assessment
| GG1 | Process and issues in Physical Environments, a 1hr 15mins exam. | 16.7% |
| GG2 | Process and issues in Human Environments, a 1hr 15mins exam. | 16.7% |
| GG3 | Investigative Geography, Physical and Human Environments. Assessing the application of skills acquired in units GG1 and GG2 either in a 1hr 30mins exam (a) or a 2,000 word report (b). | 16.7% |
A2 assessment
| GG4 | A 1hr 30mins essay paper, with two essays to be completed, one from each option. | 15% |
| GG5 | A 3hr synoptic paper, (to include 30 minutes reading time). Section A: Structured essay section. Section B: Decision Making Exercise | 20% |
| GG6 | A personal investigation of 3,500 words submitted either for internal Individual Investigation assessment, or an external Geographical Assignment. | 15% |
GG4 GEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
Two from four options are chosen:
Physical (a) Landforms: Process and Management or (b) Climatic Hazards: Causes and Management.
Human (c) Inequalities in Development or (d) Changing Geographies of Economic Activities.
Each option is studied at two scales - global and regional. The region in the Human section must be outside the UK to ensure a wider place coverage progressing from AS. The understanding of contemporary ideas of process, change, patterns and impacts at the global scale forms the base for the active study and critical review of currently proposed management policies at the regional scale.
Within each option further choices are made.
GG4(a): LANDFORMS: PROCESS AND MANAGEMENT
A study of one of glacial, coastal or arid environments.
"Geomorphic processes are influenced by atmospheric processes, globally and within a region. A study of the processes involved in a geomorphic environment can be undertaken through the systems approach."
"The interaction between geomorphological processes, landforms and human activities needs careful management. Management strategies may result in costs and benefits and require evaluation."
GG4(c): INEQUALITIES IN DEVELOPMENT
"Global inequalities may be identified on the basis of different measures of development and well being. The patterns of world development are changing in relation to changing definitions and concepts of development and to changes in the development process itself."
"The development of a Region gives rise to spatial inequalities. These are characterised by the emergence of a core and a periphery. Unequal development within the Region poses challenges that need to be tackled with clear and co-ordinated strategies. Region here is defined as either a major world region such as Sub-Saharan Africa, the European Union, or a nation state such as Japan or Brazil, which is significant by virtue of its size, population or economic power."
SYNOPTIC UNIT GG5: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development: "...meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Bruntland 1987)
Sustainable Development is the concept which requires candidates to draw on their knowledge and understanding of the connections between different aspects of the subject. Sustainable Development is studied through four aspects, each developing from different parts of the specification.
A. Food Supply Population is developed to relate to food supply - itself affected by physical and human processes.
B. Water Supply Water supply developed from physical processes, and water demand, developed from human processes. The physical environment and human environment are affected by one major scheme.
C. The Natural Environment Terrestrial, atmospheric and biotic processes are developed to understand the origin of one distinctive biome. Links are made between this physical resource and human demand.
D. The Urban Environment Changing population patterns are developed in relation to their effects on the urban environment (housing, transport and waste disposal).
GG6 PERSONAL ENQUIRY
There are two routes for the personal enquiry: Individual investigation or Geographical assignment. The first route allows the candidate freedom of choice in the topic of the enquiry, which is internally assessed and moderated by WJEC. The Geographical assignment topic for enquiry is given by WJEC 18 months before submission and candidates devise their own focussed enquiry from this investigative topic (marked by WJEC).
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
