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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:

  • 8 September 2025
  • 5 January 2026

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)
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