GCSE Geography
At Barts, we offer a great deal of flexibility when it comes to exam boards for all our subjects, including Geography. While our Geography tutor’s preference is for Edexcel iGCSE, due to the very straight-forward nature of the exam papers, we can teach other exam board specifications as well. If you would like to stick to an exam board that you are familiar with, we will support and encourage that. However, switching exam boards for one reason or another is not uncommon and our tutors will support you with this transition.
Studying Geography will allow you to explore some of the critical issues facing the world today. You will delve into sustainability, climate change, the effects of urbanisation on rural areas, and environmental degradation. Alongside new knowledge, you will develop analytical and technical skills that have real-world applications and will stand you in good stead, whatever path you choose in your future; whether that be A Levels, apprenticeship, university, or straight into the workplace!
No matter which exam board specification you choose, the content you are taught remains broadly similar, with slight variations in the way the exam is ‘built’, so to speak. For IGCSE, there are two exams: Physical, and Human Geography, with Physical exploring river, coastal, and hazardous environments, and Human, exploring rural and urban environments, and economic activity and energy. Both exams also have fieldwork components which allow students to undertake investigations using quantitative and qualitative data. The process here is broadly similar to science, where the skills of research methods, data analysis and drawing conclusions are developed.
Our Geography tutor, Howell, is extremely knowledgeable but very patient and his students’ results are always fantastic. His students always enjoy their lessons with Howell.
At Barts, you will be set plenty of past paper practice questions to help prepare you for your examinations. These are typically sat during Supervised Study which takes place in our exam room, and is invigilated by our Examinations Officer. Past papers are invaluable to become familiar with the structure and style of each paper, as well as practising under timed conditions. Mock exams run in the Spring term and are compulsory for all students. This gives our tutor the opportunity to find any gaps in the students’ knowledge, and helps to direct the focus of revision in the run up to exams.
At Barts, we rely on the expert knowledge and experience of our tutors, many of whom have been teaching at Barts for quite a while, and have excellent results behind them. We avoid wasting valuable learning time on flashy powerpoints or interactive whiteboards because we believe that the most motivating thing for a student is to feel like they are making good progress, with supportive and encouraging tutors who really know their subjects!
If you would like to get in touch to discuss coming to Barts to study, for the first time or as a retake, Geography or any other subject for that matter, please do get in touch with us through our contact page.