National 4/5 Geography
Content
The National Geography course builds on a range of skills developed during S1 to S3 and explores a number of contemporary issues in more depth and detail.
The course consists of three units alongside an Added Value Unit, where pupils will carry out fieldwork, process data and explain findings.
Unit 1: Human Environments
- Urban: A case study of Glasgow and Mumbai
- Population: Development indicators, reasons for differences in populations in EMDCs and ELDCs
- Rural: Exploration of changes in farming in both developed and developing countries
Unit 2: Physical Environments
- Limestone Landscapes: Limestone features, land use, land use conflicts and solutions in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
- Weather: Weather station circles, high and low pressure systems and impacts
- River Landscapes: River features and land use along the River Tay.
Unit 3: Global Issues
- Environmental Hazards: The causes and impacts of volcanoes, earthquakes and tropical storms alongside the management of these environmental hazards.
- Health: The causes and impacts of heart disease, malaria and HIV/AIDS alongside the management of these diseases.
Additionally, a range of geographical skills will be explored concurrently throughout each unit. Geographical skills encompassed in the national course include: map skills, data and graph interpretation and fieldwork.
National 4 Assessment
To pass National 4 Geography candidates must pass all of the mandatory units and the Added Value Unit mentioned above. There is no external exam for National 4 Geography.
National 5 Assessment
In National 5 Geography, there will be an assessment carried out in class at the end of each topic. This will assess knowledge and skills and will assist with target setting in preparation for the final exam. External assessment will consist of the Added Value Unit write up which is carried out in exam conditions in 1 hour. The Added Value Unit is worth 20% of the overall grade. Additionally, students must complete the exam which will assess knowledge and skills and will last for 2 hours 20 minutes. The external exam is worth 80 marks, making up 80% of the overall grade.
Homework
Homework is a key aspect of National Geography and will be issued regularly to consolidate knowledge and skills learned in class. Homework is very important in helping learners progress therefore, we operate a 100% homework policy meaning parents will be contacted if homework is not completed. We encourage all parents to actively support and encourage student to complete homework.
Entry Requirements for National 4
- Completed the S3 Specialism in Geography
- By negotiation with the department
Entry Requirements for National 5
- Completed the S3 Specialism in Geography and/or National 4 Geography or National 4 in any other Humanities subject or English
- By negotiation with the department
Value of National Geography
While the National course builds on knowledge and skills attained in S1-3 Geography, it will also lead on to the study of Higher and Advanced Higher. Geography is a diverse subject which lends itself to careers in landscape architecture, agriculture, geographical information systems, cartography, town planning, surveying, conservation, teaching, tourism and many more.
National 4/5 Travel and Tourism
Content
National Travel and Tourism explores a number of aspects relating to the travel and tourism industry and provides opportunity to hear first-hand from people who currently work in this sector. The course is made up of four main units which are detailed below.
Unit 1: Customer Service
- Establish and respond to customer needs in a travel and tourism environment.
- Promote a wide range of services and/or products from the travel and tourism industry.
- Deal with a customer issue in a travel and tourism environment.
Unit 2: Scotland
- Carry out an investigation of travel and tourism in Scotland.
- Meet customer travel and tourism needs.
Unit 3: Employability
- Investigate different careers from across the travel and tourism industry.
- Evaluate employability skills and attitudes during a work-related practical activity.
- Evaluate own potential for employment for a chosen job role in the travel and tourism industry.
Unit 4: UK and Worldwide
- Carry out an investigation of travel and tourism in the UK and rest of the world.
- Meet customer travel and tourism needs.
Entry Requirements
- Completed the S3 Specialism in Geography
- By negotiation with the department
Assessment
To pass National 5 Travel and Tourism candidates must pass all of the mandatory units as mentioned above. There is no external exam for National 5 Travel and Tourism and units can be completed open book.
Value of Course
While National Travel and Tourism explores a number of important aspects relating to the travel and tourism industry, such as customer service, it also incorporates a number of highly transferable employability skills preparing pupils for the world of work. The course lends itself to careers in hospitality, events management, public relations and travel agency.
Geography at Higher Level
Content
Higher Geography continues to build upon knowledge and skills acquired in previous years while exploring a broader range of topics in greater detail.
The course consists of three units alongside an Added Value Unit, where pupils will carry out fieldwork, process data and explain findings.
Unit 1: Physical Environments
- Lithosphere: Glaciated landscapes and coastal landscapes
- Atmosphere: Global heat budget, redistribution of energy by atmospheric and oceanic circulation, Intertropical Convergence Zone
- Hydrosphere: River landscapes, hydrological cycle, interpretation of hydrographs
- Biosphere: Properties and formations of podzol, brown earth and gley soils
Unit 2: Human Environments
- Population: Data collection, population structures, forced and voluntary migration
- Rural: Rural land degradation, land use conflicts and their management in a glaciated landscape
- Urban: The need, management and impacts of recent urban changes in developing and developed world cities
Unit 3: Global Issues
- River Basin Management: Physical characteristics of Colorado River Basin, the need for water management, selection and development of sites and consequences of water control projects.
- Global Climate Change: Physical and human causes, local and global effects, management strategies and their limitations.
Added Value Unit
- The assignment enables learners to demonstrate the application of their skills, knowledge and understanding within the context of a geographical topic or issue. Pupils will have the opportunity to gather fieldwork on a day trip to Keswick, Lake District. Learners will then process data and analyse findings before completing a write up of their report under timed conditions (1 hour 30 minutes). This write up is worth 27% of the overall grade.
Additionally, a range of geographical skills will be explored concurrently throughout each unit. Geographical skills encompassed in the national course include: map skills, data and graph interpretation and fieldwork.
Homework
Homework is a key aspect of Higher Geography and will be issued regularly to consolidate knowledge and skills learned in class. Homework is very important in helping learners progress therefore, we operate a 100% homework policy meaning parents will be contacted if homework is not completed. We encourage all parents to actively support and encourage student to complete homework.
Assessment
There are two papers which make up the Higher Geography Exam. Paper 1 is worth 46% examines the Physical Environments and Human Environments Units. Paper 1 lasts for 1 hour 50 minutes. Paper 2 examines the Global Issues Unit and Geographical Skills. This paper is worth 27% and lasts for 1 hour 10 minutes. Additionally, the Added Value Unit is worth 27%. The work in preparation for this assessed piece of work is carried out in class before a write up is completed under timed and exam conditions.
Entry Requirements
- Completed and passed Geography, any other Humanities subject or English at National 5 level.
Value of Course
Higher Geography builds upon knowledge and skills attained from S1 until S4 as well as exploring a broad range of topics and issues. Additionally, it will also lead on to the study of Advanced Higher Geography in S6. Geography is a diverse subject which lends itself to careers in landscape architecture, agriculture, geographical information systems, cartography, town planning, surveying, conservation, teaching, tourism and many more.
Geography at Advanced Higher Level
Content and Assessment
Advanced Higher Geography provides learners with the opportunity to build upon their knowledge and skills from Higher. Students will develop a range of geographical skills including: map skills, graphical techniques and a range of statistical techniques for analysing and interpreting data, in preparation for completing independent research. Advanced Higher Geography has two main components: project folio (70%) and the exam (30%).
Project Folio (70%)
Geographical Study (60%)
Learners will undertake independent Geographical Study, which will develop their investigative skills. The Geographical Study will require learners to:
- Develop independent geographical research skills.
- Apply a wide range of research methods and fieldwork techniques.
- Apply an appropriate statistical technique in a geographical context.
- Apply an appropriate mapping technique in a geographical context.
Geographical Issue (40%)
- Learners will be required to critically evaluate viewpoints using evidence from a wide range of courses relating to a complex, current geographical issue.
Exam (30%)
The question paper is worth 50 marks and makes up 30% of the overall grade. The question paper will be broken down into 3 sections.
- Map Interpretation
- Gathering and Processing Techniques
- Geographical Data Handling
Leaners will develop these skills throughout the course of the year and will put some into practice when completing the project folio – standing them in good stead for the exam.
Entry Requirements
- C Grade or more at Higher Geography
Homework
Homework is a key aspect of Advanced Higher Geography and will be issued regularly to consolidate knowledge and skills learned in class. Homework is very important in helping learners progress therefore, we operate a 100% homework policy meaning parents will be contacted if homework is not completed. We encourage all parents to actively support and encourage student to complete homework.
Value of Course
Advanced Higher Geography looks are a broad range of important geographical skills in detail. The course is fantastic preparation for any learner who aspires to study Geography, Environmental Science or any other Social Science at university level as it prepares learners for the demands of independent learning.