Intensive A Level Geography in one year!!

hey
I'm currently in lower sixth and studying for 4 AS levels (and general studies). French and geography clashed on my timetable and i chose to do french.
i regret taking French and i have decided that i wouldn't mind doing a geography degree. I know that it is not necessary to have studied A level to take the degree but i would still like to enrol on a geography course before going to uni!
i've found somewhere where i can take Geography A level (AS and A2) in one year as a part time course/ distance learning course.
Do you think this would be really difficult to do with all my other subects and how are you finding AS/A2 geography ( in comparison to GCSE)?

Would be grateful for any replies!!!
Thanks!

Reply 1

Christina

I found that the jump from GCSE to AS was not too bad at all. The jump from AS to A2 is bigger. However I think it is progressive and I definately could not have jumped straight into the A2 course. The A2 course is a lot harder, simply because you have to start writing essays unlike the AS which seems more of a continuation of GCSE where the longest answer is about a page. This may not be the case for other exam boards; I was Edexcel B.

It is completely your choice, but you would be subjecting yourself to a lot of work. I started doing Spanish AS in Lower Sixth at a local college but could not manage it with all the work.

4 AS's in itself are a lot of work and I would advise to try and talk to your college / sixth form about perhaping swapping from French to Geography. I know it does seem a bit late, but I swapped two of my AS's in about November of Lower Sixth. I did have quite a bit of work to catch up but it was definately worth it in the end.

If you are prepared to work really hard all year then go for it, but it could impede on your other AS's which would not be good. Alternatively you could do the AS / A2 in one year but maybe drop French to lower your work load.

My suggestions. Good luck whatever you do :smile:

Reply 2

tessa

1

yeah i agree with christina the jump from GCSE to AS wasnt to bad...but A2 was much harder maybe just do geog AS either next year as an AS in a year and drop another AS if your college lets you so u do 3 a levels and an AS or something like that might be better

Reply 3

achwplc

A2 Ggeography is hard

Reply 4

loser88

12

Jump from GCSE to AS barely recognisable, the only thing that's changed since AS is is the structure and the only thing that will be hard is the timing in the exam....i could write for DAYS!

Reply 5

thorondor

7

KymmyC

hey
I'm currently in lower sixth and studying for 4 AS levels (and general studies). French and geography clashed on my timetable and i chose to do french.
i regret taking French and i have decided that i wouldn't mind doing a geography degree. I know that it is not necessary to have studied A level to take the degree but i would still like to enrol on a geography course before going to uni!
i've found somewhere where i can take Geography A level (AS and A2) in one year as a part time course/ distance learning course.
Do you think this would be really difficult to do with all my other subects and how are you finding AS/A2 geography ( in comparison to GCSE)?

Would be grateful for any replies!!!
Thanks!

I think to be honest the A level geography is quite easy. There is not too much to learn, and i'd say you could probably quite easily prepare for the full course in a couple of months if you put in the effort. Much of the geography A level does not really challenge you, some of it is just a memory test. To revise i just wrote out all my notes in the weeks before my exams, did the past papers, and basically memorised the past mark schemes, and found a lot of the same/very similar questions came up and i could give the answers almost word for word what was on the marks scheme :smile:

And i eneded up with 300/300 at AS. The A2 is alright so far, quite a lot crammed into module 4, for which in my syllabus you only answer two questions. The other two papers seem to be more essay question based, so will require some work.

Be careful with the distance learning courses. Check the Exam board of the Geography A level you will do and see if the reccommend any specific organisations. The one i know is the NEC (National Extension College). Discuss with your teachers whether actually paying for such a course is neccessary. Make sure you are sure about exams and such, finding out where you can take them and if they will clash with any of your current exams.

I don't think all that many unis actually demand geography A level to do a degree in it, but certainly it's an advantage. In fact Oxbridge doesn't actual require it, but they highly reccommend it. A scottish uni might be worth a shot, since they have lower requirements for A level students than English unis due to the Scottish Highers being to a lower standard.

Well good luck!

Reply 6

Christina

JaDaAu

I think to be honest the A level geography is quite easy. There is not too much to learn, and i'd say you could probably quite easily prepare for the full course in a couple of months if you put in the effort. Much of the geography A level does not really challenge you, some of it is just a memory test.

True. However it might prove really hard to do that alongside four other AS's. It is probably very possible but a social life may have to be neglected for a while.

Reply 7

KymmyC

OP

Thank you very much for your replies!! i will definitely bear in mind what you have told me!!
I've scheduled a meeting with my head of year to discuss taking geography A level out of school alongside my other subjects and i've found a nearby college which would be willing to take me to do the course for FREE starting in september!!!

Intensive A Level Geography in one year!!

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