AQA A-Level Geography
Explore your course, one topic at a time.
Ofqual Regulated: 601/8940/X
Course version · 601/8940/XVersion from Sept 2016Change version
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Official Regulatory Specification
Regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) in England
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 601/8940/X
- Awarding Organisation
- AQA
- Regulatory Type
- GCE A Level
- National Level & Units
- A-Level • 33 units
Sector Subject Area: Geography
This qualification is officially accredited under the national framework. Credits and certified outcomes are recognised by employers, further education colleges, and training providers throughout the UK.
Explore your topics
13 topics
A-level Geography2 topics
Course topics11 topics
- Glacial Systems and Landscapes8 objectives
- Hazards6 objectives
- Contemporary Urban Environments6 objectives
- Changing Places6 objectives
- A-level Geography: Non-exam assessment - Geographical investigation3 objectives
- Global Systems and Global Governance6 objectives
- Population and the Environment6 objectives
- Coastal Systems and Landscapes6 objectives
- Hot Desert Systems and Landscapes6 objectives
- Resource Security6 objectives
- Water and Carbon Cycles6 objectives
Assessment and exam guidance
What Gets Top Grades
A*/Grade 9
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
AQA
State
1 mark
Give a single fact or term
Identify
1 mark
Name, select, or recognise
Outline
2 marks
Set out main features briefly
Describe
2-4 marks
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Explain
3-6 marks
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
Compare
2-4 marks
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Analyse
6-9 marks
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Evaluate
6-12 marks
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Assess
6-12 marks
Make judgments about importance with justification
Calculate
2-4 marks
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Confusing plucking with abrasion.
- •Forgetting that glacial movement is influenced by both internal and external factors.
- •Misidentifying depositional landforms.
- •Many students confuse the formation mechanisms of tropical storms and tornadoes, e.g., incorrectly stating that tornadoes require warm ocean water.
- •A common error is neglecting to discuss the role of Coriolis force in tropical storm rotation, or misunderstanding why storms don't form at the equator.
- •When evaluating management, students often describe strategies without critically assessing their limitations or comparing effectiveness across different levels of development.
- •Confusing the concentric zone model with the sector model by misplacing the location of industry or high-class residential areas, often due to oversimplifying the historical context.
- •Describing urban change processes without explaining the underlying causes or consequences, leading to narrative rather than analytical responses.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Use diagrams to illustrate erosional and depositional features.
- •Link processes to specific landform examples.
- •Explain how climate change impacts glacial movement.
- •In essay responses, always structure your evaluation around clear criteria such as cost, sustainability, and stakeholder benefits when assessing hazard management strategies.
- •Use specific named case studies for both tropical storms (e.g., Hurricane Katrina, Typhoon Haiyan) and tornadoes (e.g., Moore, Oklahoma 2013) to support your points and demonstrate depth of knowledge.
- •When analysing land use patterns, always link the model to a specific named urban area and highlight deviations from the model to show critical understanding.
- •For 'evaluate' questions, structure your argument around 'pros vs cons' or 'short-term vs long-term', and use connectives like 'however', 'on the other hand' to demonstrate balanced judgement.
- •In data response questions, reference figures precisely (e.g., 'as shown in Figure 1, land values peak at the CBD') and always consider anomalies or outliers in the data set.
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