GCE 2008 Geography
GCE 2008 Geography
Why choose Edexcel?
This new GCE Geography specification builds on
the strengths of current specifications, namely
Edexcel GCE Geography specification A
(8214/9214) and Edexcel GCE Geography
specification B (8215/9215).
• The Specification is brand new and
exciting
• The content recognizes the need to
engage with students and challenge them
• The geography is issues and enquiry based
and expects students to research and
question
• Fieldwork is integral, as are skills needed
in higher education
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Guiding issues
• Evidence of assessment overload,
especially at AS
• Changing global geography, not
reflected by old specifications
• Declining numbers/competition from
newer subjects
• A need for renewal, recognised in the
Geography Action Plan
• Evidence of a repeated curriculum
• The ‘stretch and challenge’ agenda
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Guiding principles
• AS should be stimulating and inspiring • Geography should be current and
‘real’, but set in historical and
theoretical contexts
• A2 should be challenging and
questioning
• Choice should be present at AS and A2
• The loss of coursework should not
lead to a loss of fieldwork
• Quality resources should be available
to teachers at an early stage
• A balance of local, global and regional
geographies
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GCE 2008
Who was involved?
GCE 2008 Geography
Student surveys and
focus groups
Extensive survey
of HE views
Centre surveys and
teacher focus groups
The FSC’s Juniper Hall:
new spec. birthplace
Chief examiners and
Principal examiners
from both Spec A and B
Edexcel Geography
support team (revisers,
subject officers)
Expert input:
Dr Rita Gardiner (RGS)
David Lambert (GA)
Eleanor Rawling
Vivien Pointon
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
What are the key changes?
• 1 new specification; not an amalgam of A
and B
• 4 units, rather than 6
• No coursework – completely exam tested
• Reduction in assessment burden on
candidates
• Refreshed content
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
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GCE 2008 Geography
AS Unit 1 – Global Challenges
Global hazards, global hazard trends, global
hazard patterns
WORLD at RISK
Climate change and its causes, global
warming impacts and options
The challenge of global hazards for the
future
Globalisation, global groupings, global networks
GOING GLOBAL
Population and roots, on the move, world cities
The challenge of a globalising world
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 1 – Global Challenges
1 ½ hour examination including
resource booklet
Combination of:
• data response / short questions
• objective items
• longer / guided essay questions
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GCE 2008
Using Figure 4(a):
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 1: data response
Figure 4(b)
Figure 4(a)
Migrations to and from the EU
(a) Which EU country was the source of most
immigrants to the UK?
(1)
(i) Suggest reasons for this flow.
(2)
(b) Which EU country was the destination for most
UK emigration?
(1)
(i) Suggest reasons for this flow.
(2)
(c) Which of the following population movements is
best described as economic migration?
Tick the most appropriate box
People forced to leave a country to escape from famine
Those who arrive claiming to be victims of persecution
People travelling abroad to find work elsewhere
People entering a country unofficially
Those who retire to ‘a place in the sun’
(1)
Using Figure 4(b):
(d) Explain why the UK is a ‘global hub’ for the
movement of people.
(4)
(11 marks)
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 1: guided essays
10. Study Figure 10.
(a) Suggest why the various
groups shown hold differing
views about this global trade
(10)
(b) Explain how people can
manage the environmental
and social costs of
globalisation for a better
world.
(15)
UK customers are generally happy but some businesses and workers are less pleased
Millions of Chinese people and their government support this venture
Maersk shipping lines has offices in 150 countries, and 500 large container ships
Critics of this world-wide commercial activity see this as ‘globalisation gone mad’
GCE 2008
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GCE 2008 Geography
AS Unit 2 – Geographical Investigations
PHYSICAL
EXTREME WEATHER: extreme weather
watch, extreme impacts, increasing risks,
management
OR
CROWDED COASTS: competition for coasts,
coping with pressure, increasing risks,
management
HUMAN
UNEQUAL SPACES: Recognising inequality,
inequality for whom?, managing urban and
rural inequality
OR
REBRANDING PLACES: time to rebrand,
rebranding strategies, managing rural and
urban rebranding
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 2 – Geographical Investigations
1 hour examination including
resource booklet
2 longer response questions
Questions in three parts:
• data response
• investigation skills
• impacts/management issues
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 2 – data response
(a) Suggest some of the physical and
economic factors that may have made Florida
a crowded coast.
(10)
(b) Using named examples, examine some of
the environmental costs of coastal
developments such as those shown in Florida.
(10)
(c) Describe and explain a programme of
fieldwork and research you would use to
investigate the impacts of either coastal
erosion or coastal flooding, along a stretch of
coastline.
(15)
TOTAL 35 marks
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
A2 Unit 3 – Contested Planet
Over-arching themes
The planet is ‘contested’ in a variety of ways, for example:
Increasing demands on a diminishing resource base.
Conflicting over the use of resources versus their protection.
Questions of economic development and inequality.
Should the aim be to make current patterns of consumption more
sustainable, or are more radical actions needed?
Is technological development the solution to problems of resource
depletion and environmental degradation, or it is part of the
problem?
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Organisation of Unit 3
PLAYERS
Providing resources:
the costs and problems of consumption;
management options and challenges
Synoptic
Unequal patterns of consumption:
poverty – v - wealth
The role of technology:
In overcoming resource scarcity: inequality
and resource management issues.
Themes
FUTURES
ACTIONS
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
A2 Unit 3 – Contested Planet
Energy Security
Energy demand, supply, impacts of energy security, the
future of energy supply
Water Conflicts
Geography of water supply, risks of water insecurity, water
conflicts and the future
Biodiversity under Threat
Defining biodiversity, what threatens biodiversity,
management of threats
Superpower Geographies
Superpowers and geopolitics, impacts and influence of
superpower economies, superpower change and futures
Bridging the Development Gap
Causes, implications at different scales, reducing the
development gap
The Technological Fix
Inequalities in access to technology, technology and
development, technology and the planet’s future
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 3 – Contested Planet
2½ hour examination including
resource booklet
Pre-released synoptic materials
• Section A – 2 extended essay
questions
• Section B – 3 synoptic short essay
style questions
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Paper overview
A2 Unit 3 – Contested Planet
Q1 Water
Q5 Development
Q6 a-c
Synoptic
TECHNOLOGICAL
FIX
Q4 Superpowers
Q2 Energy
Q3 Biodiversity
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 3: extended essays
(a) Explain the pattern of alien species
invasions, and suggest the possible
impacts of alien species on
ecosystems
(15)
(b) Evaluate the relative importance of
global and local threats to one named
global ecosystem.
(15)
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
A2 Unit 4 – Geographical Research
Choice for centres and candidates
Physical and Human options, but not a physical and human
divide
Some ‘old favourites’ renewed (tectonic hazards)
Some new topics (cultural diversity / glaciation)
Research
Flexibility in teaching and learning
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Tectonic activity and hazards
A2 Unit 4 – Geographical Research
Hazards and causes, physical impacts, human impacts,
hazard response and the future
Cold Environments
Location, climatic processes and their causes, landforms
and landscapes, glaciation, challenges, opportunities and
management
Life on the margins and food supply
Feast or famine, causes of food supply inequalities,
desertification and life at the margins, management and
security
The world of cultural diversity
Definition and value of culture, spatial cultural variations,
impact of globalization, cultural attitudes and the
environment
Pollution and Human Health at Risk
Health risks, complex causes, pollution and health risk
links, managing health risks
Consuming the rural landscape
Growth of leisure and tourism landscapes, fragility of rural
landscapes, impact on rural landscapes, management
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
Assessment for Unit 4 – Geographical Research
1½ hour examination
Pre-released materials
(a research steer)
• 1 long report question relating
to chosen option study
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 Geography
A2 Unit 4 – Geographical Research
OPTION 1: Tectonic activity and hazards
The physical causes of tectonic hazards and responses to
them
OPTION 1: Tectonic activity and hazards
Question 1
Discuss the relationship between the nature of tectonic hazards
and human responses to them.
(70)
OPTION 5: Pollution and Human health at risk
The need for international action
OPTION 5: Pollution and Human health at risk
Question 5
Explain why international initiatives are increasingly needed to
cope with the risks of disease and pollution.
(70)
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GCE 2008
GCE 2008 – e-Spec
Electronic, interactive
version of the specification
Content easy to evaluate
and discuss
Free inside the specification
in September 2007
GCE 2008
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GCE 2008 – How do I Keep Up to Date?
Keep informed – sign up for email alerts on:
• www.edexcel.org.uk/gce2008
Regional Office and Team Support
Keep in touch :
• GCE enquiries – telephone 0844 576 0025
• ‘Ask the Expert’ service www.edexcel.org.uk/about/ask
GCE 2008
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