Geology A2

Geology AS/A Level
Science, Psychology & Engineering
Board and Syllabus details
Board: OCR - Syllabus: AS Level (3884), A Level (7884)
About the subject

Geology covers work done for Geography at GCSE and Science. Topics include earthquakes, hazards, volcanoes, glaciations, hydrology and rivers systems. The AS course contains work that will help with AS Geography and Environmental Science.
The work is about a third practical work. This involves studying rocks and minerals.
There is a piece of coursework to write, this will be based on fieldwork. Fieldwork is a key component of the AS and A2 work. Students will have the opportunity to visit Iceland and Santorini, Greece. Both trips will be optional. A range of day trips is also offered to allow students to carry out coursework fieldwork.
Students should have an interest in the natural world, especially the physical aspects of the planet. A key aspect of the course is that students learn new study skills. Teaching will include a variety of styles that at first will seem strange and difficult to relate to. Independent learning using research on the internet plays a key part in the learning process.

Learning Styles
Lessons will vary from GCSE learning. Research assignments will be set every week. Students must learn time management skills.
Practical work will run every week. Notes will be recorded in a notebook. Videos and interactive whiteboard will present a wide range of data to students in a challenging way.
GCSE Maths concepts will be used to a basic level.

Subject combinations and progression
Good combinations would be Geography, Environmental Science, Physics, Biology and Physics. If students are intending to follow a career in Geology they should study 2 science courses in the second year.

Subject modules and assessment
AS Level Module 2831 can be taken in January of the first year. All other Modules taken in June.
AS Level
Module 2831 Global Tectonics/Geological Structures - 30%
Module 2832 Rock Cycle - 30%
Module 2833 Economic Geology and Coursework - 20% and 20%
The percentages show AS Level weighting. The weightings will be halved for A Level.
A2 Level Module 2834 can be taken in January of the second year. All other Modules taken in June.
A2 Level
Module 2834 Palaeontology - 15%
Module 2835 Petrology - 15%
Module 2836 Geology skills - 10%
Coursework - 10%
.

Entry Requirements

GCSE additional and core science BB preferred or Geology B with another science or Mathematics B preferred.