SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY – MAY 2012 CURRICULUM EVENTS – COURSE AIMS AND STRUCTURE
SUBJECT:
GEOGRAPHY
PURPOSE:
Geography opens up for learners the physical environment around them, and the ways in which people
interact with this environment. The purpose of Geography is to develop the learner’s understanding of our changing world
and its human and physical processes. Opportunities for practical activities, including fieldwork, will be encouraged, so tha t
learners can interact with their environmen t.
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
COURSE AIMS
The main aims of this Course are to
enable learners to develop:
 a range of geographical skills and
techniques
 an appreciation of the ways in
which people and the
environment interact in response
to physical and human processes
at local, national, international
and global scales
 awareness of spatial relationships
and an understanding of the
changing world in a balanced,
critical and sympathetic way
 a geographical perspective on
environmental and social issues
The main aims of Geography
are to enable learners to
develop:
The main aims of Geography
are to enable learners to
develop:
 a range of geographical
skills and techniques
 straightforward
understanding of the ways
in which people and the
environment interact in
response to physical and
human processes at local,
national, international and
global scales
 straightforward
understanding of spatial
relationships and of the
 a range of geographical
skills and techniques
 detailed understanding of
the ways in which people
and the environment
interact in response to
physical and human
processes at local,
national, international,
and global scales
 detailed understanding of
spatial relationships and
of the changing world in a
The main aims of this Course are to
enable learners to develop:
 a wide range of geographical
skills and techniques
 an understanding of the
complexity of ways in which
people and the environment
interact in response to physical
and human processes at local,
national, international and
global scales
 understanding of spatial
relationships and of the
complexity of the changing
world in a balanced, critical and
sympathetic way
National 3
 an interest in, and concern for,
the environment and sustainable
development
National 4
changing world in a
balanced, critical and
sympathetic way
 a geographical
perspective on
environmental and social
issues
 an interest in, and
concern for, the
environment leading to
sustainable development
National 5
balanced, critical and
sympathetic way
 a geographical
perspective on
environmental and social
issues
 an interest in, and
concern for, the
environment leading to
sustainable development
Higher
 a geographical perspective on
environmental and social issues
and their significance
 an interest in, understanding of,
and concern for the
environment and sustainable
development
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
3 Units

Geography: Physical
Environments
1) Use mapping skills in
geographical contexts in the
United Kingdom
2) Draw on basic knowledge and
understanding of landscape
types and weather in the United
Kingdom

Geography: Human
Environments
Course Structure:
3 Units and Added Value Unit

Geography: Physical
Environments
1) Use a limited range of
mapping skills in
geographical contexts in
the United Kingdom
2) Draw on straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of physical
environments and
weather in the United
Kingdom
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course
Assessment

Geography: Physical
Environments
1) Use a range of mapping
skills in geographical
contexts in the United
Kingdom
2) Draw on detailed
knowledge and
understanding of physical
environments and
weather in the United
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course Assessment

Geography: Physical
Environments
1) Use a wide range of mapping
skills and techniques in physical
environment contexts
2) Draw on and apply knowledge
and understanding of the
processes and interactions at
work within physical
environments on a local, regional
or global scale
National 3
1) Use research skills in the context
of developed and developing
countries
2) Draw on basic knowledge and
understanding of human
environments in developed and
developing countries

National 4
National 5
Kingdom

Geography: Human
Environments
1) Use a limited range of
research skills applied to
developed and developing
countries
2) Draw on straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of human
environments in
developed and developing
countries
Geography: Global Issues
1) Use numerical and graphical
information in the context of
global geographic/environmental
issues
2) Draw on basic knowledge and
understanding of global
 Geography: Global Issues
geographic/environmental issues 1) Use a limited range of
numerical and graphical
In a Hierarchy
information in the context
of global geographical
issues
2) Draw on straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of a
significant global
geographical issue
and Added Value Unit
Geography Assignment
1) Research and use
information relating to a

Geography: Human
Environments
1) Use a range of research
skills applied to developed
and developing countries
2) Draw on detailed
knowledge and
understanding of human
environments in
developed and developing
countries


Geography: Global Issues
1) Use a range of numerical
and graphical
information in the
context of global
geographical issues
2) Draw on detailed
knowledge and
understanding of a
significant global
geographical issue
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and
Assignment
Higher
 Geography: Human
Environments
1) Use a wide range of research
skills and techniques in human
environment contexts
2) Draw on and apply knowledge
and understanding of the
processes and interactions at
work within human
environments on a local,
regional and global scale
Geography: Global Issues
1) Use a wide range of graphical
and numerical skills and
techniques in the context of
global geographic issues
2) Draw on and apply knowledge
and understanding of
significant global issues
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and Assignment
In a Hierarchy
National 3
National 4
geographical topic or issue
National 5
In a Hierarchy
Higher
In a Hierarchy
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
 using mapping skills in familiar
contexts
 using research skills in familiar
contexts
 using numerical and graphical
information in familiar contexts
 using knowledge and
understanding to give basic,
factual descriptions of key aspects
of the physical environment of
the United Kingdom
 using knowledge and
understanding to give basic,
factual descriptions of key aspects
of human environments of
developed and developing
countries
 using knowledge and
understanding to give basic,
factual descriptions of key aspects
of global geographic/
environmental issues
 developing and applying
straightforward skills,
knowledge and
understanding in
geographical contexts
 with support, researching
and using information
collected from a limited
range of sources about
geographical issues which
are familiar
 using straightforward
mapping skills, including
the use of Ordnance
Survey maps in familiar
contexts
 using straightforward
research skills, including
fieldwork skills, in familiar
contexts
 using and interpreting a
limited range of numerical
and graphical information
in familiar contexts
 developing and applying
skills, and detailed
knowledge and
understanding in
geographical contexts
 with guidance,
researching and using
information collected
from a range of sources
about geographical issues
which are mostly familiar
 using a range of mapping
skills, including the use of
Ordnance Survey maps in
mostly familiar contexts
 using a range of research
skills, including fieldwork
skills, in mostly familiar
contexts
 using and interpreting a
range of numerical and
graphical information in
mostly familiar contexts
 demonstrating knowledge
 developing and applying skills,
knowledge and understanding
across complex physical, human
and global issues
 researching and evaluating a
wide range of information
collected from a range of
sources about complex
geographical issues
 using a wide range of mapping
skills and techniques in
geographical contexts which may
be familiar or unfamiliar,
including the use of Ordnance
Survey maps
 using a wide range of research
skills and techniques, including
fieldwork skills, in geographical
contexts which may be familiar
or unfamiliar
 using a wide range of numerical
and graphical skills and
techniques in geographical
contexts which may be familiar
National 3
National 4
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of the
physical environment of
Scotland and/or the
United Kingdom by giving
factual descriptions and
straightforward
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of the
human environment in a
global context by giving
factual descriptions and
straightforward
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of
selected global issues by
giving factual descriptions
and straightforward
explanations
National 5
and understanding of the
physical environment of
Scotland and/or the
United Kingdom by giving
descriptions which are
mainly factual with some
theoretical content and
giving detailed
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of the
human environment in a
global context by giving
descriptions which are
mainly factual with some
theoretical content and
giving detailed
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of
selected global issues by
giving descriptions which
are mainly factual with
some theoretical content
and giving detailed
explanations
Higher
or unfamiliar
 developing and applying factual
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding and giving
detailed explanations of the
complex processes and
interactions at work within
physical environments on a local,
regional and global scale
 developing and applying factual
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding and giving
detailed explanations of the
complex processes and
interactions at work within
human environments in a range
of urban and rural and
developed and developing
societies
 developing and applying factual
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding and giving
detailed explanations of complex
global geographical issues which
demonstrate the interaction of
physical and human factors