At The Cedars we follow the incredibly diverse, world-spanning and exciting international A-Level course, offered by the Cambridge International exam board (CIE). Divided into 6 core and 4 advanced units, the syllabus is well and truly balanced between human and physical geography. You can see the full syllabus here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/664556-2025-2026-syllabus.pdf

In Lower Sixth, we tackle the six core units that make up the AS and in Upper Sixth we opt for a further four units that give a very in-depth analysis to make up the Advanced course.

The option to sit the AS exams in November of Upper Sixth rather than sitting all exams in the summer is available although most students will follow a linear course and sit AS and Advanced exams together at the end of Upper Sixth.

Course overview:

Core Physical Geography   

– Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology   

– Atmosphere and weather   

– Rocks and weathering  

Core Human Geography   

– Population   

– Migration   

– Settlement dynamics 

Advanced Physical Geography   

 – Coastal environments   

– Hazardous environments  

Advanced Human Geography  

– Environmental management    

– Economic transition 

Examination/Assessment  

Four examinations each lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and each worth 25% of the overall A Level grade will be sat at the end of Upper Sixth.  

Why study A-Level Geography?

Geography is a subject that spans both the natural and social sciences and its strong skills base and breadth in content make it a rigorous and very highly regarded subject at A-Level. Rooted in current political, socio-economic, and environmental affairs, Geography challenges students to question the world around them and go deep into understanding the physical and human processes that shape it. Arguably, the study of geography has never been more important than now as the world faces the challenges of climate change, resource depletion and land degradation alongside rapidly expanding economic and technological advancements and social change.  

From international development to statistical analysis of climate change patterns to the study of global fertility rates to environmental management, Geography is the ultimate multi-disciplinary subject. Embedded throughout the course are core numerical, decision-making, statistical and literary skills that enable a thorough evaluation not only of the themes we study but also the methods by which we study them.  

Requirements: a good grasp of Maths is needed for the interpretation of maps and graphs and a willingness to rote learn is needed to acquire extensive new terminology. Geography uses a large range of case studies at local through to regional and national scales, so a good memory is important as well as the ability to write essays that evaluate and debate wide-ranging issues. Keeping up with the news is essential to get the most out of this contemporary subject as rarely will there be articles in the news that do not relate in some way to our course and studies. Being open-minded and interested in issues beyond the UK is vital, as is the ability to debate and reflect on different viewpoints to achieve a balanced understanding. A proactive attitude is needed as Geographers not only seek to understand the challenges of the world around them but how to help overcome them. 

In short, Geography is ideal for the curious, for the analytical, for the reflective and above all for those who are interested in exploring current affairs and the natural world.  

A Level Geography helps students to develop:  

· an understanding of the principal processes operating within physical geography and human geography  

· an understanding of the causes and effects of change on natural and human environments and their relationship to current environmental issues

· an awareness of the usefulness of geographical analysis to understand and solve contemporary human and environmental problems  

· strong place knowledge and a good grasp of current affairs

· the ability to handle and evaluate different types and sources of information  

· the skills to think logically, and to present an ordered and coherent argument in a variety of ways  

· an excellent foundation for studies beyond A Level in Geography, in further or higher education, and for professional courses.  

*image taken from Collins textbook: Cambridge International Geography A level.