Edexcel AS Level Geography Tutors Online

Edexcel AS Level Geography is code 8GE0, and its full title is the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Geography. First teaching was September 2016 and first certification was 2017. This page works from Issue 5.

The qualification consists of two externally examined papers, and students must complete all assessment in May and June in any single year, so both papers are sat in the same summer.

Paper 1 is Dynamic Landscapes, code 8GE0/01. It is a written examination of 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 50% of the qualification, carrying 90 marks. Its content is Area of study 1, Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards, plus Area of study 1, Topic 2: Landscape Systems, Processes and Change. Topic 2 is taken as one sub-topic from either 2A Glaciated Landscapes and Change or 2B Coastal Landscapes and Change.

Paper 2 is Dynamic Places, code 8GE0/02. It is a written examination of 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 50% of the qualification, carrying 90 marks. Its content is Area of study 2, Topic 3: Globalisation, plus Area of study 2, Topic 4: Shaping Places. Topic 4 is taken as one sub-topic from either 4A Regenerating Places or 4B Diverse Places.

Both papers are built the same way. Each is an externally assessed written examination comprising three sections, and students answer Section A and either Section B or Section C. On Paper 1, Section A relates to Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards, Section B relates to Topic 2A: Glaciated Landscapes and Change, and Section C relates to Topic 2B: Coastal Landscapes and Change. On Paper 2, Section A relates to Topic 3: Globalisation, Section B relates to Topic 4A: Regenerating Places, and Section C relates to Topic 4B: Diverse Places.

So the choice on each paper is real but narrow. Section A is compulsory and covers the core topic. Then a student picks one of the two optional sections, which is the same as picking which sub-topic they have been taught. Everything else on the paper is compulsory.

The question types are wide. The examination may include multiple choice questions, short open, open response, calculations and resource linked questions, and it includes 12 mark and 16 mark extended writing questions. Calculators are required.

Fieldwork is examined in writing, not by a separate piece of coursework. In optional Sections B or C, one question will assess fieldwork in relation to the chosen sub-topic, so fieldwork is assessed in relation to Glaciated Landscapes and Change or Coastal Landscapes and Change on Paper 1, and Regenerating Places or Diverse Places on Paper 2.

Every section ends with one 16 mark synoptic question, and the specification explains what that question does. It assesses a student's understanding of one of three synoptic themes and of one of the core geographical concepts. Synoptic assessment requires students to work across different parts of a qualification and to show their accumulated knowledge and understanding of a topic or subject area.

The links run the way you would expect. In Paper 1, the 16 mark synoptic questions link Topic 1 to Topic 2A or 2B depending on question choice. In Paper 2, Topic 3 is linked to Topic 4A or 4B depending on question choice. Because every section closes with one, a student meets a synoptic question three times across the two papers.

The assessment objectives are three, and the weightings are printed with decimal places rather than as whole numbers. AO1, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of places, environments, concepts, processes, interactions and change at a variety of scales, is 40%. AO2, apply knowledge and understanding in different contexts to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues, is 35.6%. AO3, use a variety of relevant quantitative, qualitative and fieldwork skills to investigate geographical questions and issues, interpret, analyse and evaluate data and evidence, and construct arguments and draw conclusions, is 24.4%.

Knowledge and understanding is the largest objective at 40%, which is a higher share than in most of the other AS subjects. The two skill based objectives carry the rest between them, so a student who knows the content well but cannot use skills to investigate and conclude can reach only the 40% that AO1 carries.

Both papers are weighted identically. The breakdown table gives each paper 20 for AO1, 17.8 for AO2 and 12.2 for AO3 out of that paper's 50, and the column totals print as 40%, 35.6% and 24.4%. Neither paper leans towards knowledge or towards skills, so there is no paper a student can afford to treat as the easier one.

The qualification is graded and certificated on a five grade scale from A to E using the total subject mark, and individual papers are not graded. The first certification opportunity was 2017, and students whose level of achievement is below the minimum judged by Pearson to be of sufficient standard receive an unclassified U result.

There are no prior learning or other requirements for this qualification. Pearson notes that students who would benefit most are likely to have a Level 2 qualification such as a GCSE in Geography.

On codes: the qualification number is 601/8416/4, the subject code is 8GE0, and the paper codes are 8GE0/01 and 8GE0/02. Two discount codes are printed, RF4 for the Key Stage 4 performance table and 3910 for the 16 to 18 performance table.