Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE Geology

Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE Geology

Entry Requirements
There are no special requirements beyond the normal 5 GCSE grades A-C.

About the Course
Geology is a new subject to most students. However it involves many areas of study which will be familiar to you. For example, you may already have studied rivers, glaciers or volcanoes in geography and earthquakes, plate tectonics, evolution, crystal growth or rock types in science. Geology combines all these areas in what is often called Earth Science. The subject is distinctive in that it studies how different rocks are formed and how they may be identified. Practical work is important and includes map work, identification of specimens and about nine days fieldwork when you will visit many of the famous geological localities in Cumbria.

20% of the marks are for Practical Skills. This involves undertaking tasks involving practical work and / or fieldwork in controlled conditions.

Fieldwork is essential to geology and you will have numerous opportunities to visit locations within Cumbria, which is one of the classical areas of British geology. In the second year you will have the option to travel further afield and visit an internationally renowned geological location.

Geology has strong links with geography and science. Although it is best studied along with other science A levels, in the past students have studied geology with a variety of other subjects. No previous knowledge of sciences is assumed. Each year some students progress to degree courses in geology, applied geology or related disciplines.

If you intend to study geology or earth sciences at university you should choose at least two of your advanced level subjects from geology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

You will follow the OCR specification. The units are as follows:

Unit 1 (AS) Global Tectonics, examined in January of year 1. You will learn about the composition of the Earth's crust, mantle and core, earthquakes, continental drift and plate tectonics.

Unit 2 (AS) Rocks - Processes and Products, examined in June of year 1. In this unit you will study the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. You will learn how to identify rocks and minerals.

Unit 3 (AS) Practical Skills in Geology. This involves a centre-based or fieldwork task plus an evaluative task.

Unit 4 (A2) Environmental Geology, examined in January of year 2. This unit covers water supply, energy resources, metal deposits, building materials and the geology of civil engineering.

Unit 5 (A2) Evolution of Life, Earth and Climate, examined in June of year 2. You will undertake a detailed study of the major groups of invertebrate fossils, evolution and extinction, ecology and the use of fossils in dating.

Unit 6 (A2) Practical Skills in Geology 2. As in AS, this involves a centre-based or fieldwork task plus an evaluative task.