Senior Phase courses

National 5

Course Information

The National 5 Geography exam is split into two different sections.

Section one features an 80 mark paper completed under exam conditions in 2 hours 20 minutes. This paper is worth 80% of the overall grade and covers a range of topics.

Section two is an assignment which is worth 20% of the final grade.

Physical Environments

Here we study the physical processes of the earth and how it alters our natural environment. Topics:

§ Coasts

§ Glaciation

§ Weather

You'll learn how features, such as sea stacks and aretes form, along with looking at human interactions on these landscapes. Learn about the weather we experience in the UK and how it affects our lives.

Human Environments

Learn about societies across the world and how they continue to change. Topics include:

§ Rural

§ Urban

§ Population

Farming is essential to life, learn how it differs across the world from the UK to India. Cities develop and change over time, learn about life in the Dharavi slum and how Glasgow slums are now part of history. As populations explode in developing countries, they're shrinking in some developed nations, find out why!

Global Issues

We are all global citizens. Uncover the issues affecting mankind and our future from a global perspective. Topics covered are:

§ Climate Change

§ Environmental Hazards

We are in a climate emergency, learn what's causing it and what can be done to minimise its effects. A natural hazard is the threat of a naturally occurring event happening in a particular area often without warning, which has negative impacts on people and the landscape. Examples of natural hazards include tropical storms, earthquakes and volcanoes.

Higher

Course Information

The Higher Geography exam is split into three different sections. Question Paper 1 is completed under timed exam conditions, lasting 110 minutes and worth 100 marks. The topics are physical and human environments.

Question Paper 2 is worth 60 marks and completed under timed exam conditions lasting 70 minutes. The topics are global issues and geographical skills.

The final section is an assignment. This is worth 30 marks.

Physical Environments

Here we will investigate ecosystems and biodiversity. We will look at interdependence between natures plants and animals. Finally we will look deeper at human influences on biodiversity.

Human Environments

The earth provides use everything we need to survive. In this section we will look at plate tectonics and how they create deposits of certain minerals.

We also discover how earth's largest systems work. This includes circulation in oceans and atmosphere. This is the section where we also look into our changing climate.

Global Issues

In this section we will study Development and health which looks at validity of development indicators, differences in levels of development between developing countries, a water-related disease: causes, impact, management and primary healthcare strategies. Finally, we look at River basin management exploring the need for water management. Learners develop and apply geographical skills and knowledge and understanding to a mapping question.

Advanced Higher

Course Information

The course assessment consists of three components. Component 1 is a question paper worth 50 marks, with a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Component 2 is a project-folio focused on a geographical study, worth 60 marks, as detailed in the 'Course assessment' section. Component 3 is another project-folio, this time addressing a geographical issue, and is worth 40 marks, also outlined in the 'Course assessment' section.

Geographical Issues

Pupils will undertake research into a current geographical issue, critically evaluating different viewpoints and reaching a conclusion.

Geographical Study

Pupils will undertake a research project, gathering primary data in the field and analysing that data to reach a conclusion - residential trip to Isle of Skye.

Geographical Skills

Pupils will study a range of gathering and processing techniques to allow them to conduct their study, pupils will work on advanced mapping techniques, choosing and evaluating appropriate sites for developments and learn a range of statistical techniques.

Travel and Tourism

This course offers a global exploration of Travel and Tourism, with a strong focus on key industry themes including employability, customer experience, and customer service. Learners will also examine tourism within Scotland, the wider UK, and international destinations.

Assessment is entirely internal, with no final exam. To successfully complete the course, students must achieve all required units.