AQA AS Geography specification (7036)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA AS Geography exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA AS Geography specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA AS Geography (7036) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The AQA AS Level in Geography aims to excite curiosity, challenge perceptions, and develop students' investigative and analytical skills. It encourages critical thinking about the physical and human world, highlightinSubject content breakdown
3.1 Physical geography
- Water and carbon cycles: natural systems, stores and transfers, drainage basins, human and natural changes, carbon budget and climate links, case studies on rainforest and river catchments
- Coastal systems and landscapes: systems approach, geomorphological processes, landform development, sea level change, coastal management, case studies including UK and international examples
- Glacial systems and landscapes: glaciated and periglacial environments, processes of erosion and deposition, landscape development, human impacts, case studies of UK and non-UK glacial environments
3.2 Human geography
- Changing places: place concepts, insider/outsider perspectives, demographic and cultural characteristics, meanings and representations, contrasting place studies, qualitative and quantitative analysis
3.3 People and the environment (options)
- Hazards: tectonic, volcanic, seismic, storm and wildfire hazards; impacts, responses, and case studies in multi-hazard zones
- Contemporary urban environments: urbanisation, urban forms, inequality, climate, drainage, waste, environmental issues, sustainable development, case studies of two contrasting urban areas
3.4 Geography fieldwork investigation
- Minimum of two days’ fieldwork in both physical and human geography
- Understanding all stages of enquiry: preparation, data collection, analysis, conclusion, evaluation
3.5 Geographical skills checklist
- Qualitative: interviews, media, perception studies, textual and visual interpretation
- Quantitative: geospatial technologies, GIS, statistical techniques, graphs, maps
- Specific skills: cartographic, graphical, statistical, ICT and fieldwork-related skills:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Assessment structure
Component 1: Physical geography and people and the environment
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks
- 50% of AS Level
- Section A: Choose one of Water and carbon cycles, Coastal systems and landscapes, or Glacial systems and landscapes
- Section B: Choose one of Hazards or Contemporary urban environments
- Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, and extended prose
Component 2: Human geography and geography fieldwork investigation
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks
- 50% of AS Level
- Section A: Changing places – compulsory questions
- Section B: Fieldwork and geographical skills – one compulsory and one optional question
- Includes extended writing and data interpretation questions:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA AS Geography isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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