Geography is an interesting and diverse, broad-based academic subject. The course covers both Physical and Human environments and the complex interaction of processes that shape our world. Geography combines well with both the Arts and Sciences and is highly regarded by universities because it opens up a wide range of options for degree study. Employers and universities regard Geography as a robust academic subject rich in skills, knowledge and understanding. Pupils study three Physical topics: • Ecosystems • Cold Environments or Coastal Landscapes • Water and Carbon You will study three Human topics: • Changing Places • Urban Environments • Global systems and Governance They take part in two field trips: the first is a residential trip during which they collect data to support the course content. This trip also introduces them to a wide variety of data capture techniques that they use in their independent investigation. The second trip is a day trip to explore a more local destination as a case study for the Changing Places topic. During the course pupils answer a range of styles of question. Some questions are worth between four and six marks and can be based around the interpretation of a map, graph or photograph. Nine-mark questions require longer responses in which pupils are required to develop ideas by including case study material. Twenty-mark essay questions are more synoptic in nature, with pupils bringing different aspects of the course together, often making links between the Human and Physical content.