Barcelona Field Studies Centre

Edexcel GCSE Geography Syllabus A Assessment

Entry tiers

Candidates for this qualification must be entered for one of two tiers. The Higher Tier is targeted at grades A* to D, and the Foundation Tier is targeted at grades C to G. A safety net is provided for candidates entered for the Higher Tier in this specification, and an allowed grade E can be awarded on the Higher Tier. Candidates failing to achieve grade E on the Higher Tier will be reported as Unclassified.

Assessment of the specification consists of:

• For Higher Tier candidates – two written papers (Paper 3H, 1 hour 45 minutes, and Paper4H, 1 hour 15 minutes) and coursework;

• For Foundation Tier candidates – two written papers (Paper 1F, 1 hour 45 minutes, and Paper 2F, 1 hour 15 minutes) and coursework.

Papers 1F and 3H

Written paper, 1 hour 45 minutes

These papers will consist of four compulsory questions, one on each of the core units. The style of the paper will be structured data-response questions, with an emphasis on the testing of skills and understanding. There will be some opportunities for extended writing and a limited requirement for recall of specified case study material. A variety of resources will be made available in the examination. A 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey map extract will be used, and other resources may include maps at other scales, graphs, diagrams, newspaper articles and photographs.

Differentiation will be achieved by:

• task – stimulus material may differ between the tiers, and there will be more demanding tasks set in Paper 3H

• outcome – since there will be some common questions for which the mark schemes will credit different levels of response.

Papers 2F and 4H

Written paper, 1 hour 15 minutes

These papers will consist of four questions, testing Units B5, B6, C7 and C8.

Candidates choose two questions, one testing either Unit B5 or B6, and one testing either Unit C7 or C8.