Kings Bournemouth
Go
Kings Brighton
Go
Kings London
Go
Kings Oxford
Go
Kings Bournemouth
Go
Kings Brighton
Go
Kings London
Go
Kings Oxford
Go
Chat Inactive
Contact Inactive
Apply Form Inactive
Booking Form Apply
Contact Form Contact
Chat Chat

A-level Geography factsheet

Overview

Geography bridges arts and sciences, with links between Biology, History, Economics and English. What makes up the world around us and how does it affect us? Students explore dynamic landscapes and places, physical systems and sustainability, human systems and geopolitics.

Key Facts

Start Dates:

  • 9 September 2024
  • 6 January 2025

Colleges:

  • Bournemouth
  • Brighton
  • London
  • Oxford

Entry level:

  • Academic: Completed 10 years of schooling (GCSE or equivalent)
  • English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

Minimum age:

  • 16

Length:

  • 2 Academic Years (3 terms)
  • We also offer entry from Year 12

Lessons:

  • Average 7 hours per week for each A-level subject (plus homework and private study)

Learning outcomes

  • Gain UK national university entrance qualification
  • Raise English to university level
  • Develop study skills required at degree level
  • Develop specialist subject expertise

Course content and structure

The following syllabus outline is based on Cambridge exam board content. Please note that exam boards may vary from college to college.

Physical Core

Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology

  • The drainage basin system and rainfall
  • River channel processes and landforms
  • The human impact

Atmosphere and weather

  • Local and global energy budgets
  • Weather processes and phenomena
  • The human impact

Rocks and weathering

  • Elementary plate tectonics
  • Weathering and rocks
  • Slope processes and development
  • The human impact

Physical Options

Tropical environments

  • Tropical climates
  • Tropical ecosystems
  • Tropical landforms
  • Sustainable management of tropical environments

Coastal environments

  • Wave, marine and sub-aerial processes
  • Cliffed and constructive coasts
  • Coral reefs
  • Sustainable management of coasts

Hazardous environments

  • Resulting from tectonic movement
  • Resulting from mass movements
  • Resulting from atmospheric disturbances

Arid and semi-arid environments

  • Distribution and climatic characteristics
  • Processes producing desert landforms
  • Soils and vegetation
  • Sustainable management

Human Core

Population

  • Population change
  • Demographic transition
  • Population resource relationships
  • The management of natural increase

Migration

  • Migration and population change
  • Internal migration
  • International migration

Settlement dynamics

  • Changes in rural settlements
  • Urban trends and issues of urbanisation
  • Urban trends and issues of urbanisation
  • The management of urban settlements

Human Options

Production, location and change

  • Agricultural systems and food production
  • The management of agricultural change
  • Manufacturing / related service industry
  • The management of industrial change

Environmental management

  • Sustainable energy supplies
  • The management of energy supply
  • Environmental degradation
  • The management of a degraded environment

Global interdependence

  • Trade flows and trading patterns
  • Debt and aid and their management
  • The development of international tourism
  • The management of a tourist destination

Economic transition

  • National development
  • The globalisation of industrial activity
  • Regional development
  • The management of development

Typical A-level subject combinations with Geography

Sample enrichment activities

  • Dorset Coast field trip
  • Houses of Parliament trip
  • Bletchley Park visit
  • Victoria and Albert museum
  • Current Affairs and News Club

Sample academic calendar (2023-2024 and 2024-2025)

Year 1

Sept

11th: term starts
Student induction

Oct

23 – 27th: half term
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

15th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

8th: term starts

Feb

15th – 16th: half term
Progress tests
University fairs

Mar

End of term exams
22nd: term ends

Apr

8th: term starts

May

Progress tests

June

Exams
14th: term ends

Year 2

Sept

9th: term starts

Oct

21st Oct – 1st Nov: half term
15th October: UCAS deadline (Medicine)
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

13th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

6th: term starts
15th January: UCAS deadline (other subjects)

February

13th – 14th: half term
Progress tests

Mar

21st: term ends
Mock exams

Apr

7th: term starts
Progress tests

May

Final exams

June

13th June: term ends

Recommended reading

Below is a list of books which may help you prepare for your studies prior to arrival. Please note that additional books, and online resources such as websites and journals will be shared once you begin your course.

  • Nagle, G and Guinness, P Cambridge International A and AS Level Geography International A and AS Level Geography Hodder Education, 2011
  • Burtenshaw, D Economy and Development Philip Allan Updates, 2006
  • Carr M New Patterns, Process and Change in Human Geography Nelson Thornes, 1999
  • Cook, I Hordern, B McGahan, H Ritson, P, Geography in Focus Causeway Press, 2000
  • Dicken, P Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy, Sage Publications, 2010
  • Gillett, M & J Physical Environment: A Case Study Approach Hodder and Stoughton, 2003
  • Guinness, P and Nagle, G Advanced  Geography: Concepts and Cases Hodder and Stoughton, 1999 Hart C Geography for AS, Cambridge University Press, 2000
  • Heelas, R Tropical Environments: Contrasting Regimes and Challenges Nelson Thornes, 2001
  • Holmes, D Ecosystems and Biodiversity Holmes, D Ecosystems and Biodiversity Philip Allan Updates, 2006
  • Hordern, B. Rivers & Coasts Phillip Allan Updates, 2006 

Degree progression

Many students who do Geography at A-level use their qualification to do a degree in Geography or a related subject. Besides teaching, A-level geography is required for a number of careers, including research, science-based careers and environmental based careers.

Having a Geography A-level can be advantageous when applying for jobs in a variety of sectors, including environment and sustainability, physical systems, society, business, geographical techniques, development and global issues, settlement and travel, tourism, leisure and culture.

Example degree courses which require or accept Geography A-level include:

  • Archaeology
  • Earth Sciences
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • International Relations
  • International Development
  • Leisure and Tourism
  • Oceanography
  • Politics

Sample alumni progression

Ya Gan

  • Geography/Economics/Maths
  • LSE (Government with Economics)

Taron Pipoyan

  • Geography/Politics/Economics
  • King’s College London (Politics)

Tamta Janiashvili

  • Geography/Economics/Maths
  • University of York (Economics)

Yueqi Li

  • Geography/Economics/Maths/Further Maths
  • UCL (Maths with Economics)

Gaochuan Zhang

  • Geography/Economics/Maths
  • Durham University (Marketing)
© Kings Education 2024

Thank you for your enquiry.
We'll be in touch soon.
The Kings Admissions Team

Close
Close
Factfiles
Factfiles
Video
Video
Photos
Photos
VR Tours
VR Tours
  • Locations here
  • Learning here
  • Popular searches here
Close

Contact Us

ENQUIRY FORM

More ways to get in touch

Full contact list

Enquiry form

Back to Contact Us page
Are you
select
a student
parent
other
First name

We need your first name to identify you and communicate with you.

Read our full Privacy notice

Last name

We need your last name to identify you and communicate with you.

Read our full Privacy notice

Email

We need your email address to identify you and communicate with you.

Read our full Privacy notice

Phone

We need your phone number to identify you and communicate with you.

Read our full Privacy notice

Preferred way of communication
Email
Email
Phone
Both
Student Nationality
Select
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina-Faso
Cambodia
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sesotho (LSO )
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We need your nationality to provide appropriate information and assistance for you.

Read our full Privacy notice

Preferred location
Select
Bournemouth
Brighton
London
Oxford
I am not sure
Course of interest
Select
Your questions
Yes, I wish to receive marketing from Kings Education relating to our products and latest offers.
Yes
No

Fields marked with * are mandatory.